Written by Ryan Curtiss

In the age of Youtube, you can find a video of almost anything. With all sorts of music just a click away, finding a cover or two of your favorite song or band has never been easier. In comes Ian Legge, better known as The Punk Cellist, a YouTuber who writes string versions of punk songs, such as The Menzingers' "Burn After Writing", NOFX's "The Idiots Are Taking Over", and the classic "Judy Is A Punk" by the Ramones has really taken off during these last eight months. I was lucky enough to interview him so he could tell me all about his progress with cello punk covers. 

How did you get started with this? 

This all started with me realizing the cello could mimic the power chords of the guitar with relative ease, and so I immediately went to work learning all of my favorite songs. 

Do you write all of the arrangements yourself?

Yes.

Who are some of your musical influences?

I have too many to name, but some influences that directly lead to this project were Apocalyptica and Two Cellos. My punk influence stems from punk bands like Propagandhi, NOFX, The Marked Men, and The Ramones, pop-punk/emo influences include New Found Glory, The Fullblast, Blink 182, Taking Back Sunday, and Set Your Goals. 

How was it being included in the Fest’s lineup?

I can’t be more excited, but also I’m a bit nervous. I’ve played the fest twice before, but it was with a five-piece punk band. This time around, I’m on my own!

What was the punk band you were in?

I played in Half Hearted Hero.

You’re studying acoustic engineering - What’s in the cards for you? What are you trying to do with that?

Acoustic engineering is the study of sound and the physics behind it. I hope to eventually join an acoustical consulting firm that works on projects related to acoustics. A firm like this could work on taking sound measurements of different indoor spaces (recording studios, concert halls, auditoriums, stadiums, hospital rooms, classrooms, apartments, etc.) and making recommendations on how to reach the desired outcome (enhanced listenability, ambient noise reduction, etc.). There are so many more branches of the acoustics field of work, the branch I just described is called Architectural Acoustics. I could literally go on all day about this stuff but I’ll spare ya. 

What’s your favorite cover that you’ve done?

That’s a really hard one. Because they’re all pieces of arranging and performing that I’m really proud of. But I’d have to say my cover of The Offspring’s "The Kids Aren’t Alright", came out way better than I expected it to. Really pumped on that one and I listen to it a lot still. 

How long have you been playing the cello?

I just hit 20 years. I started in September 2000! 4th grade Cushman Elementary Orchestra. 

You’ve got a decent following for someone who’s only been doing this for eight months: how have you promoted yourself?

Thank you!! When my buds in A Wilhelm Scream shared my short cover of their song The Rip, and then the Lawrence Arms shared my cover of The Revisionist, I really started gaining followers. Word of mouth is a powerful promotional tool!

If you're a fan of punk music, both old and new, you should definitely check Ian out. You're bound to find a cover you like. Check him out at The Punk Cellist on YouTube and Patreon for all your punk orchestral needs!