Vocalist. Guitarist. Star Wars enthusiast. Mr. Clean!? This edition of Fistful of Questions goes out to The Fulcrum’s co-frontman Chio.
What is your full name?
Anthony Joseph Chiofalo
Do you have any aliases?
“Chio” on account of my last name.
What bands are you actively involved with?
The Fulcrum.
What was the first instrument that you played?
Piano…though “played” is a strong term for what I did.
Tell me about one of your first musical memories?
At age 5, I would listen to Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits on a boom box in my room. I really felt music for the first time through that. It also inspired the aforementioned piano lessons…
What was the name of the first band you were in?
Absolute Zero. In 8th grade, there were very few kids who played rock instruments and wanted to be in a band. But somehow, four of us found each other.
The guy who sang in that band passed away this summer, so I’d like to take this opportunity to say rest in peace Tommy. I always had a great time hanging with you. You are missed.
Eric Bruno, my co-frontman, started The Fulcrum in 2016. It was really his brain child early on. He had a few drummers and bassists until he found Anthony (our current bassist) and Joe (our former drummer) in late ‘18 or early ‘19. After they put out the Spindled Mirrors EP, Eric put an ad on Craigslist seeking another guitarist or keyboard player.
I saw the ad, and when I heard the music, I was astounded by how unique it was. I really couldn’t relate it to anything and that was important to me because that’s kind of my whole angle with creating music—to make it truly original. It was obvious they had the same viewpoint. So I responded immediately, auditioned, and we played our first show as a four-piece a month later, on June 29, 2019.
In early 2020, Joe moved and left the band, but we were lucky enough to find Bill later that year. We’ve been playing together ever since.
What inspired the name The Fulcrum?
Eric has said that music is “the fulcrum” in his life. He’s always viewed music as the thing which everything else pivots around. When he told me that, I thought it was so great, and totally true for me also.
How long did it take you to write and record Collide?
Within a few months of releasing our first LP Annihilate, we were actively working on the next one. I’m going to say by April 2022 we were writing it. We recorded in January ‘23 and finished mixing in April ‘23. So the whole thing was about a year of writing and recording.
If you could insert yourself into any one band what band would it be and why?
Probably Lamb of God. I’ve been in a wall of death, now I want to see it from above.
Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it? If so… What was the song and artist?
I don’t know if I’ve wished I wrote anyone else’s song, per se’, but periodically, there are songs that have just struck me and I can’t get over how good they are. Every Time I Die - INRIhab comes to mind.
Tons. Good music is good music. I like soul music a lot. The lyricism of certain rappers inspires me. I’m a huge Dave Matthews fan. So yeah, I’m all over the place.
What’s a non-rock/metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?
We jokingly started playing The Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive at practice once. It was in our own style and kind of worked. I guess we’d continue exploring that.
What band have you played with that has really impressed you with their live show?
Our homies in Stonehenge just tore it up at our album release show last week. Our other friends in Sunflower Shotgun have an awesome live presence.
Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
I would like to say Revolution in Amityville, NY, but it shut down.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
Get our gear in the door and use the bathroom.
What’s the weirdest experience you have ever had at a live show?
One of our band members has a quasi-stalker. They’re not dangerous, but they have mastered the art of “making it awkward.”
The year is 2004. Where are you at and what are you listening to?
I was a sophomore or junior in high school. I was going between classic rock and heavy metal. I was really into Lamb of God, Down, and Hatebreed, as well as Thin Lizzy and Sabbath. I went to Ozzfest ‘04 at Jones Beach and saw most of the bands I loved, all in one day. It’s still one of my best concert memories.
What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?
I think it’s important to “stick with it”. Seems remedial, but the people who find some form of success in music (or anything) just keep doing it. Focus on the parts you love, improve however you can, and try to forget any external markers that could deflate you.
What is an absolute band killer?
Ego. There’s many talented people who cannot deal with other people and so their bands fall apart. You gotta treat a band like a job and learn to function effectively in your role.
Have you ever recorded a song that you really didn’t like, but somebody else in the band really did?
No.
If you were to start your own music festival what would be the name of that festival and who would be the three headlining bands?
“Fulcrum Fest”. It’d be us and…King Gizzard and Tool, maybe. I think their fans would enjoy our stuff, since, ya know, we’re their fans.
What’s the longest time you’ve gone without bathing?
I don’t even know if I've broken 36 hours. Showers are a priority for me.
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
I don’t like peanut butter.
Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?
It is now.
Do unicorns sleep standing up?
If you find one, I promise I will stand there and watch it until we know the answer.
Give me three albums that I should listen to immediately, if not sooner.
Let’s call this “Long Island Delicacies”.
Moon Tooth - Phototroph
Glassjaw - Worship and Tribute
Envy on the Coast - Low Country
You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time. What album will it be?
I’d pick the longest Dave Matthews live album. I think there’s a double album from a performance at Fenway. We’re talking about 72 hours of the same shit, so the longer and less predictable, the better.
You are writing a book about your life thus far. What is the title of that book?
Finding Brilliance in the Black. It’s a line Eric wrote in our song “Brilliance” which has recently become our tagline as a band. I don’t know exactly why, but it speaks to us. So, if Eric signs off on it, I’d use that.
What is your favorite song by Taylor Swift?
The One.
Queens of the Stone Age or King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard (if you had to choose)?
Damn, that’s tough. I go way back with QUOTSA, but Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava and PetroDragonic Apocalypse really blew me away. I guess King Gizz, it is.
Doobies or Boobies (if you had to pick one)?
Boobies.
Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)?
Pancakes. You can put so much good shit in them.
Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)?
I love Star Wars, man.
Favorite band t-shirt you own?
I got a Metallica shirt in 8th grade that I loved and wore the hell out of. I don’t know when I got rid of it/lost it, but a few years ago I found it on the internet, mint condish, and now I have it again.
Favorite meal?
Any form of Mexican food.
Favorite book?
Most recently, Rick Rubin’s book. If you’re an artist of any sort, or even a person aspiring to do more creatively, it’ll speak to you.
Goodfellas
Favorite album?
Every Time I Die - The Big Dirty
Favorite video game?
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Favorite Professional Wrestler?
It’s been a long time, so I gotta pick an OG. I’ll say Undertaker.
Huge thank you to Chio for taking the time to answer my questions. Several of which really resonated with me. As for the rest of you, you know what to do. Click on the link that’s been so generously provided below and immerse yourself in the deceptively good sounds of The Fulcrum’s latest album Collide. You will be glad that you did!
~El Pedo Caliente (aka Uncle Jameson from the Fistful of DOOM show)
https://thefulcrum.bandcamp.com/album/collide
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