"If Paramore and Cute Is What We Aim For only released one album, I think Cute Is What We Aim For would have gone down as a more popular band."

Fred Cimato joins the podcast to set the record straight on the legacy of Cute Is What We Aim For. He discusses the "indefensible" behavior of frontman Shaant Hacikyan, the stalled 2026 reunion plans, and why he hated recording 'Rotation' with John Feldmann.

Fred Cimato is finally talking. After blowing up on TikTok with the real story behind Cute Is What We Aim For, the founding bassist joins us to set the record straight on one of the most chaotic bands in Fueled By Ramen history. He opens up about the "indefensible" behavior of frontman Shaant Hacikyan, why the 2026 reunion tour is stalled, and the painful reality of watching their labelmates Paramore become superstars while his band imploded. Fred also details the disaster of recording 'Rotation' with John Feldmann ("a dog sh*t record"), why 'The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch' was a bigger debut than anyone admits, and the secrets behind "Curse of Curves."

"Nobody has more reason to hate that guy than I do. Nobody... But, like, a lot of people have it wrong, and people add stuff onto him that he doesn't deserve."

"I thought that Feldman was a terrible producer. I thought he was the worst guy ever for the job... I thought we were making a dog s*** record."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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I think that a lot of people argue about what emo is because they're trying to protect their own identity as part of it.

The Emo Social Club debuts on Idobi Radio! Brian and Lizzie discuss the Warped Tour 2026 lineup announcements and the reality of festival budgets. Brian argues that while fans want My Chemical Romance, the price tag might be impossible for the tour to sustain.

The Emo Social Club has officially moved to Idobi Radio! For our debut episode, we look at the only news that matters right now: The Warped Tour 2026 lineup announcements. Brian and Lizzie debate which heavy hitters are likely to take the main stage—from the return of Fall Out Boy to the potential for a Bring Me The Horizon headline slot. Brian argues that while fans want My Chemical Romance, the price tag might be impossible for the tour to sustain. Plus, we tackle the internet’s favorite argument: Gatekeeping. We look back at being "called emo" in 2005 vs. 2026, and why the term "Midwest Emo" might just be a weather pattern rather than a genre. Whether you were in the pit in 2005 or discovered the scene on TikTok, this episode covers the past, present, and future of pop punk.

"I think that a lot of people argue about what emo is because they're trying to protect their own identity as part of it."

"I think what happens in the Midwest is generally more influential on emo music than what happens on the coasts."

"Realistically, I'm like, Warped Tour cannot afford My Chemical Romance. That is millions of dollars."

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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And then it's, like, the coolest thing you've ever f***ing heard.

Brian and Lizzie dive into the cultural impact and musical complexity of Twenty One Pilots' 2015 masterpiece, Blurryface. They explore the album's guerrilla marketing leak, its consortium of A-list producers, and its lasting influence on the pop landscape.

Was Blurryface the biggest record to emerge from the 2010s emo scene? Brian and Lizzie investigate the monumental impact of Twenty One Pilots' 2015 genre-defying album. They discuss the duo's Ohio roots, their place in Fueled by Ramen's emo history, and the album's unique production, which brought together producers from hip hop, pop, and indie rock. The hosts explore the strategic album leak, the creation of the 'Blurryface' character to personify insecurity and mental health struggles, and how the record smuggled alternative art into the mainstream. Featuring in-depth analysis of landmark tracks like the billion-stream hit "Stressed Out," the reggae-infused "Ride," and the fan-favorite "Tear In My Heart," this episode debates whether the album's pop punk adjacency and massive success cement its place as one of the best emo albums of all time.

"This is very much a radio sounding record, although the music and the songwriting is not super radio friendly."

"By wrapping a high concept album about depression and insecurity in glossy pop production, Twenty One Pilots smuggled alternative art into the mainstream."

"I wasn't raised in the hood, but I know a thing or two about pain and darkness. And it's like, I don't think that you need to say that in a rap song."

Artist Website: https://www.twentyonepilots.com/

Artist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twentyonepilots/

Artist Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YQKmKGau1PzlV9sRsech5

Artist Tour Page: https://www.twentyonepilots.com/tour

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

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