I Set My Friends on Fire

I Set My Friends on Fire
Matt Mehana with Joe Nelson, at Vans Warped Tour 2011
Background information
Origin	Miami, Florida, United States
Genres	Post-hardcore electronicore[1] metalcore electronica crunkcore Nintendocore experimental
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Independent, Epitaph
Associated acts	We Are the Cavalry From First To Last The Human Abstract The Bunny The Bear Lights Out Paris Smosh
Website	Official Facebook
Members	Matt Mehana Nate Blasdell Jonathan Rosell Chris Thompson Conor Mitchener
Past members	Nabil Moo Chris Lent Josh Miller Joe Mosey

I Set My Friends on Fire (ISMFOF) is an experimental music group from Miami, Florida. The band was formed in 2007 by Matt Mehana and former member Nabil Moo. The group signed with Epitaph Records before releasing their debut album, You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter, in 2008. The band's second album, Astral Rejection, was released on June 21, 2011. Their third album, Caterpillar Sex, is scheduled to be released in sometime in 2016.

History

I Set My Friends on Fire EP (2007–2008)

Matt Mehana and Nabil Moo were previously in a well-received local act named We Are The Cavalry. After their disbanding, Mehana and Moo began making songs under the name "I Set My Friends on Fire". Some assumed that the new name was derived from the Aiden song of the same title. The group, however, explained that the name was purely original, as well as their hatred of Aiden. They garnered a large audience due in part to MySpace, where their first single, a rendition of Soulja Boy Tell 'Em's "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" (originally entitled "Crank That Cavalry Boy") received more than one million plays.^[2][3] Nonetheless, the duo's MySpace page was removed three times because MySpace had assumed that the duo were using software to increase the number of plays.^[2] The band released a self-titled EP before releasing their first album. The EP features the songs "Crank That", "ASL", and "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beerholder".

You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter (2008–2009)

The duo then signed to Epitaph Records,^[4] who released their debut album You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter on October 7, 2008.^[2] The band received negative to mixed reception from various critics. You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter reached No. 29 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.^[5] The song "Things That Rhyme with Orange" was the second single from the album and their third single overall. The music video was released

Works with Smosh (2008–2009)

On November 21, 2008 the comedy duo Smosh had teamed up with I Set My Friends on Fire and released their first music video and second single, called "Sex Ed Rocks" with over 20,000,000 views.^[6] Later in September 2009, they teamed up yet again and released their second music video and fourth single, called "Four Years Foreplay" with over 7,000,000 views.^[7] "Four Years Foreplay" featured I Set My Friends On Fire's new drummer Chris Lent from From First To Last. In an interview with BVTV, Matt stated that he and Anthony Padilla of Smosh had been talking about new ideas.^[8]

Astral Rejection (2010–2012)

I Set My Friends on Fire entered the studio in early 2010 to write and record their second album. The group performed at The Bamboozle on May 1, 2010 and then entered the studio for a second time on June 2, 2010 to finish up their upcoming album. The first single from the album, "Excite Dyke", was exclusively released via digital download on June 15, 2010, as part of a new Epitaph compilation CD entitled "New Noise Vol. 1".^[9]

In 2010, the band played on the "Scream It Like You Mean It 2010" tour with Silverstein, Emery, We Came As Romans, Dance Gavin Dance, Sky Eats Airplane, Ivoryline, and Close To Home. It was announced on this tour that Nabil Moo had left the band.^[8] Blake Steiner, guitarist for the band From First to Last, played for I Set My Friends on Fire for the remainder of the tour. In support of the upcoming album, the band took part in the fourth annual Artery Foundation Across the Nation Tour and played all of Warped Tour 2011. The band also played the Artery Foundation SXSW Showdown 2011 on March 17 in Texas, alongside Asking Alexandria, Whitechapel, Chiodos, Dance Gavin Dance, Iwrestledabearonce, Of Mice and Men, and more. I Set My Friends on Fire opened for A Skylit Drive on their European Identity On Fire tour in September 2011 along with Woe, Is Me and Sleeping With Sirens.

The second single from Astral Rejection, titled "It Comes Naturally" was released on iTunes on March 21, 2011,^[10] with a lyric video released on YouTube March 23.^[11] Later on May 24, 2011, the single "Life Hertz" was released on PureVolume, then SoundCloud ^[12] and YouTube on May 26.^[13] Weeks later on June 13, 2011, the title track "Astral Rejection" was released as a music video on YouTube.^[14] It was directed by Jon Schnepp of Metalocalypse. The full album Astral Rejection was released and streamed on ISMFOF's on June 16, 2011.^[15] Astral Rejection was released in stores on June 21, 2011.^[16] On July 18, the music video for "It Comes Naturally" was released on YouTube^[17] with the directors being Nicholas Lent and co-founder and ex-member Nabil Moo.^[18] On October 18, now former drummer Chris Lent stated on his Facebook page that he left the band because he was "generally unhappy". ISMFOF is currently headlining "The DMT, Sleep Paralysis, & All That Hyphy Shit Tour!" with supporting acts Greeley Estates, A Bullet For Pretty Boy and A Lot Like Birds, with Matt Mingus from Dance Gavin Dance playing drums, and Airick Delgado from An Oceans Betrayal playing guitar, respectively. On July 2, ISMFOF announced via Facebook about their upcoming tour, "The Baby Red Light District Tour" with Our Last Night, The Color Morale and FACT.

Caterpillar Sex (2013–present)

On February 8, 2013, I Set My Friends on Fire posted a status on their Facebook stating that "a lot of new material has been written" and it is to be "nothing like the first or second album".^[19]

March 8, 2013, Mehana released a clip from a new demo, and announced that the next album will be called Caterpillar Sex.^[20] Afterwards releasing songs that could potentially be album songs (in ascending order): April 16, 2013‍—‌Midwife Toad‍—‌later this track became available for purchase from Official.fm,^[21] September 2, 2013‍—‌The "D" In Capitation‍—‌which also became available for purchase later,^[21] December 13, 2013‍—‌My Little Cabbage Planetarium, February 27, 2014‍—‌Pro Seizures, May 15, 2014‍—‌Nobody Wants To Be Parrot Man. On March 6, 2015, Mehana featured in experimental band American Awesome Alliance's new music video which premiered on Alternative Press.^[22]

On September 3, 2015, Mehana played his first show in over three years, a solo set at Railroad Blues in Miami where he played material from all three albums. Soon after, a short US/Canada run was announced for November featuring an entirely new lineup besides Mehana, consisting of Nate Blasdell, formerly of The Bunny The Bear , Jonathan Rosell, known as JohnyTiger, along with Joe Mosey and Josh Miller formerly of Lights Out Paris . The band went on to tour Europe and Russia in January 2016. Shortly after, Josh Miller was let go from the line up and replaced by Cody Wagner. A month later, drummer Chris Thompson, of Time And Distance, joined the band. The band toured Canada and Australia in the spring. Bassist Joe Mosey was fired from the band while on tour in Australia and replaced by Connor Mitchener. The band headlined a pair of US tours over the summer then announced they would be taking the fall off.

The band stated in an interview that the new album had been delayed due to label issues. When asked if Epitaph Records would be putting out the new record, the band responded that they are currently without a label and are self managed, stating that "they are happier than ever, with full control of their music and tour schedule". A new release date has not been set or announced.

Musical style

	"Infinite Suck" "Infinite Suck", the second track on I Set My Friends on Fire's sophomore album, Astral Rejection, demonstrates the band's experimental style and use of electronica characteristics.
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I Set My Friends on Fire is recognized for their experimental musical style. The group blends elements from a variety of genres, including electronica, crunkcore, post-hardcore and more. AllMusic describes the group's style as "a tornado of musical influences and genres."^[23]

Typical characteristics of the band's music include screamed vocals, auto-tuned vocals, and electronic sounds produced by synthesizers and sequencers. Their music is known to include constant transitions between chaotic, abrasive, post-hardcore passages and softer electronic ballads. Song titles and lyrics generally discuss sexual or humorous themes, often making use of large words and comprehensive vocabulary.

Band members

Current members

• Matt Mehana – lead vocals, programming (2007–present)
• Nate Blasdell – lead guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
• Jonathan Rosell – rhythm guitar (2015–present)
• Chris Thompson – drums (2016–present)
• Connor Mitchener – bass guitar (2016–present)

Former members

• Nabil Moo – guitar, vocals, bass guitar, sequencer, programming (2007–2010)
• Chris Lent – drums, guitar, sequencer (2009–2011)
• Josh Miller – drums (2015-2016)

Touring Members

• Joe Mosey – bass guitar, (2015-2016)
• Cody Wagner – Drums, (2016)
• Blake Steiner – lead guitar (2010-2011)
• Evan Perry – DJ (2011)
• Ashton Howarth – rhythm guitar (2011)
• Andrew Tapley – rhythm guitar, bass guitar (2011)
• Matt Mingus – drums (2012)
• Joe Nelson – lead guitar, backing vocals (2011-2012)
• Airick Delgado – rhythm guitar (2012)
• August Bartell – drums (2012)

Discography

Albums/EPs

Singles

Videography

References

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External links

• Official Myspace
• Epitaph Records