Frank Iero and the Patience

I’ve travelled hours to see bands before, but there’s only one band that I’ve travelled hours for through severe weather and a tornado warning to see. Frank Iero and the Patience just wrapped up their North American tour and I had the pleasure of attending their show in Baltimore, MD in April. They hit the road with Dave Hause and The Mermaid and If you've never heard of them I suggest you do yourself a favor and become familiar with them quickly. They put on a hell of a show and I for one always appreciate artists that can make me laugh, sing, and get in my feeling all in one set. If you're going to start somewhere, I suggest the song "Dirty Fucker", you can thank me later. No amount of rain, lightning, or twisters could have stood in my way of this show. (Okay, so maybe the twisters could have but fortunately the warning was a few counties over).

After spending time at home to recover from injuries sustained from a bus accident during their time in Australia, Iero finally announced the band was going back on the road and I could not have been more thrilled. My boys were alive and healthy and their fans could not have been more ready to see them back on the road. Baltimore was the closest city for me and I had no problem dragging my family all the way to Maryland to see my favorite artist.

The last time I saw Frank, he was with his first solo project The Cellabration. This time, he was back with his new project The Patience and a new album, Parachutes. The album was one of my favorite recent releases. Frank puts so much of himself into everything he does and this album was no exception, each track contains a different piece of him and his experiences and it’s a masterpiece. Being in the crowd and experiencing these songs live was incredible, especially when you get to scream your favorite lyrics back at him. Each song offers a different perspective on Iero's life and gives us a way of connecting with him through his lyrics and the ones we relate to the most. The first single from Parachutes, "I'm a Mess", is one of the many tracks I connect with. The chorus goes:

"Maybe I'm just lost they said.
Maybe I'm just tired or dead inside.
Something's wrong with me.
Maybe that's just how I am.
Maybe I'm a mess and I ain't gonna change."

And I felt every word deep in my soul.

Frank’s fans are nothing short of extremely passionate and halfway through the first few songs a pit opened and that’s when the fun began. I’m no stranger to mosh pits or crowd surfers but it was clear that some of the kids had never been in a pit before. Sometimes, you can kind of pinpoint good spots to stand if you want to avoid the pit. Pretty much any spot in the very back or on the outside of the crowd is a pretty safe bet. But, if you want to stand near the front or towards the middle, you’re going to deal with being pushed and getting closer to the people around you in ways you’ve never thought possible. Personally, I don’t care. The pit is where all the fun is and even if I don’t wanna be in the pit those that are push me towards the front of the crowd so it all works out in the end. Bottom line: whether you’re into it or not, don’t let people get hurt. Help people back up, don’t let someone hit the ground, don’t be an asshole. I’m not one for crowd surfing but I’ll pick others up and help them along their way when I can. I have a lot more fun when everyone around me is on the same level as I am. I love seeing everyone simultaneously jumping, headbanging, fists in the air, getting into the show. If the people around me as are hype as I am, it’s going to be a good night.

This show was also special because it’s the night that I finally got to me one of my long-time internet buds, Eden. After 10 years of friendship, we finally met in person. It was fitting that we met at a Frank Iero show because one of the things that brought us together all those years ago was our mutual love for My Chemical Romance. Frank and the boys are responsible for so many amazing bonds over the past few years and I am so thankful for that.