Since 2014 Fiddlehead has been rocking the Boston hardcore scene and beyond, steadily growing a loyal following through 4 LPs and a purposefully limited touring schedule. Whether playing small rooms or large venues, the certified super-group - made up of Pat Flynn, Alex Dow, Alex Henery, Shawn Costa, and Nick Hinsch - have some stacked resumes resulting in a pretty tight ship. Though known for covering dark subjects such as loss and grieving, their passion strikes a cathartic chord whether you're stage diving at a show or rocking out on your commute. In our latest Pirate Radio we stopped to chat with guitarist Alex Henery about the origins of the band, their recent tour overseas, their new album, and much more. Check out the full interview and the playlist on our site.

How did Fiddlehead form?
I had just moved up to Boston in the winter of 2012 and one of the first people I met was Alex Dow. Not long after meeting him he surprisingly asked me to jam with a new band that was working on. The plan was I was going to play bass but at the first practice I ended up playing guitar and it stuck. In our first practice, we finished off a song called Birdnest that Dow and Pat had been writing together. I was surprised how quickly we all gelled together musically. It was instantly really fun and that’s been the theme for this band since day one. (I think there’s a photo from that first practice, I’ll try and find it)

For people who don’t know, how would you describe your sound? How has it evolved?
Somewhere in the realms of alternative hardcore punk. I’m not good at putting a label on it, but we’re inspired by a lot of bands in the alternative scene during the late 80s and 90s. I think a constant that runs throughout all our songs is a sense of urgency and raw emotion. Most of our songs are written in the practice space and we try not to overthink it. If it sounded good on the iPhone demo we're probably not gonna change much.

What has it been like coming up in the Boston area? Has it changed since you first started out?
Our first show was at America's Hardcore Fest, we were surrounded by our peers and the scene was definitely alive at that time. We rarely played in those early years, I was away a lot with my other band Basement. But it wasn’t as if Fiddlehead wasn’t a priority, we just didn’t play much anyway. The goal was never to tour, but to write music together, shows were kind of an afterthought.

Since I left Boston in 2022, I’m a little out of touch, but I know it’s always been tough to find good venues for hardcore shows. But there’s a lot of great people booking shows and making sure tours come through the area.

The energy you guys bring to your live shows is raw but always pure/ positive. How important is it to create a certain atmosphere when you’re performing live?
It’s something we talk about a lot as a band. Whether it’s the setlist, lighting, or making sure there’s no barrier, we try our best to make sure our sets are a place where people can best connect with our music. Unfortunately, there’s only so much you can control and most of it comes down to the people watching and participating in the show. We’re really fortunate that so many people who come see us really do care about the band and are the key to making our shows full of energy and passion. Since we don’t play that regularly I think plays into it, none of us want to take for granted the few times we are able to get up on stage and play these songs. It always feels special.

Going off that, your fans are some of the most dedicated, passionate people out there, what is it like having so many loyal supporters in your corner?
I love hearing that. And you’re right. Kids have been so supportive and show it by singing along or stage diving all set. It’s the best feeling to watch a crowd connect with the music and see the controlled chaos unfold on and off the stage.

A common theme is hearing how your music gives people the strength to get through tough times. Why do you think that is? The word “catharsis” comes to mind.
Since Pat has written about grief and loss a fair bit, it’s something many people can relate to, and have found peace in reciting those lyrics. Pat has a real gift when it comes to lyrics and he really puts in so much work when we’re demoing and coming up with ideas. Even as someone in the band, I am so impressed by his ability to write lyrics that speak to me and have made me really think about my own life and beliefs.

What have been some of the most memorable moments in the studio / on tour over the years? Which cities have been the most fun to play?  
We recently just got back from a tour that went to Japan, Southeast Asia and Australia and it was life-changing. They were some of the best shows we’ve ever played. Specifically in Jakarta and Sydney. I’ll remember those shows for a long time.

We were treated with so much kindness and kids were so excited we had made the trip over. The energy at those shows was unparalleled, everyone singing, non-stop stage diving, and just a real joy in the room. It was amazing.

I also have fond memories of playing SUNY Purchase, Chicago, and Montreal. All of them have been very social shows in their own way.

Where haven’t you played that you’d love to - and who would you love to share a bill with?
We really want to go to South America and India. And I’d love to play with Fontaines DC and Sebadoh. That would be a dream lineup.

You guys just dropped a new album entitled “Death is Nothing to Us”, coming off Between the Richness, what was the inspiration behind this new record? From album art alone it seems like a seasonal progression (stages of life) thing could be at play.
It definitely has felt like a bookend to the other two records in our accidental trilogy of LPs. The artwork was very conscious and I wanted the three covers to all have a similar look. The changing of leaves, the passing of time, and how we interact with the world around us. There is a strong message in this LP that I think can be personal for different listeners, but at its core, acknowledging the dark but trying to focus on the light, to keep moving, and remember there is a true richness in this life worth living. That’s my takeaway, and I’ve enjoyed hearing what other people get from listening to it. And how they have connected with it in their own personal way.

Compared to your other records, what was different about the creation process behind this one?
We demoed a lot. Which was super helpful to find the best track listing, to see what we might be missing. It also gave Pat a lot of time to work on lyrics and connect with the songs properly before getting to the studio. It was definitely the most prepared we have been since we rarely get time to be in the same room together. But at its core, it was the same, we worked on songs in a practice room and if we felt excited after writing it and still had that feeling a few months later it made the LP.