Travie McCoy | Gym Class Heroes are back, Papercut Chronicles, Billionaire, Bruno, Addiction, Sia #86

The latest episode of Go With Elmo is a true time capsule for fans of 2000s alternative, hip-hop, pop-punk, and everything in between. Host Elmo Lovano sits down with none other than Travis “Travy” McCoy, the dynamic frontman of Gym Class Heroes and a prolific solo artist, for a free-flowing, candid, hilarious, and at times, deeply moving conversation. This episode isn’t just a nostalgic look back at the Warped Tour era—it’s a journey through music history, creativity, survival, and what it means to truly leave your mark.

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About the Guest: Travy McCoy

Travis McCoy, best known as “Travy”, is the unmistakable voice and driving creative force behind Gym Class Heroes. Over his two-decade-plus career, Travy’s chart-topping hits like “Cupid’s Chokehold,” “Stereo Hearts,” and his solo smash “Billionaire” (featuring Bruno Mars) have made a seismic impact across genres. He’s also known for his candidness about his struggles with addiction and his dedication to mentoring younger artists. This episode peels back the curtain on the real Travy—his beginnings, challenges, and infectious humor.

Episode Recap

The episode kicks off with banter about 80s commercials and childhood memories, quickly establishing the playful and inviting tone characteristic of Elmo’s hosting style. But as the conversation deepens, listeners are treated to insider stories from the birth of Gym Class Heroes, touring tales from the iconic Warped Tour, and the gritty realities of the music industry.

Below are the key takeaways and most fascinating highlights from this epic sit-down.

Childhood Inspirations and Early Nostalgia

The episode begins with Travy and Elmo joking about classic peanut butter Twix commercials and their respective upbringings. Travy opens up about spending formative years in a studio apartment with his dad—a place packed with music and, humorously, memorable trips to the downstairs cigar and comic shop. This nostalgic motif continues throughout the podcast, underscoring how the keepsakes and memories artists carry from childhood often fuel their creative spirits for decades.

Takeaway: The things we love as kids—whether it’s comic books, candy bars, or music—often lay the groundwork for lasting inspiration and identity as artists.

The Birth of Gym Class Heroes: High School Days and Genre-Bending

One of the most captivating sections is Travy’s detailed retelling of Gym Class Heroes’ formation. It all started with two bands from a small town in upstate New York—one punk, one jazz-influenced—and an impromptu freestyle at a basement party. From flipping drumheads to jamming on Mapex kits, the group’s roots are as organic as it gets. Travy emphasizes that originality came from ignoring outside pressures and merging disparate influences: punk, funk, jazz, and hip hop.

Key highlight: The story of “Taxi Driver”—a breakout song inspired by Jizza’s “Labels,” full of band-name easter eggs—shows how musical curiosity, respect for genre-blending, and a bit of friendly high school rivalry can redefine a scene.

Pure Volume, MySpace, and the DIY Digital Age

The episode provides a vivid portrait of the early 2000s music industry, where Pure Volume and MySpace were the playgrounds for up-and-coming artists. Travy recalls how Gym Class Heroes’ pure volume demo caught the attention of Fall Out Boy’s team, which soon led to a fortuitous meeting and eventual management. There’s a sense of awe as both Elmo and Travy reminisce about the magic of being featured on MySpace’s front page and reaching audiences before “follower counts” dictated careers.

Insight: Before social media metrics monopolized A&R decisions, genuine connection—through message boards, fan-made content, and relentless touring—was everything.

The Warped Tour Era: Band Camp, Friendship, and Grit

Warped Tour looms large in this episode, not just as a festival, but as a rite of passage and life school. Travy conjures vivid images of sweaty van rides, tent stages, communal barbecues, and impromptu DJ sets. The tour, he argues, breeds grit and camaraderie; it’s the reason Gym Class Heroes could weather setbacks and stay innovative.

Memorable moments

Sneaking into backstage areas by sheer confidence
Learning from fellow artists in wildly diverse scenes (ska, punk, metal, slam poetry!)
The importance of customizing your “cog” in the industry machine: standing out, resisting creative stagnation, and making each contribution a legacy shift.

Hitmaking, Collaboration, and the Fight for Credit

One of the most revealing parts of the conversation is Travy’s candid account of writing hits like “Cupid’s Chokehold,” “Billionaire,” and “Stereo Hearts.” He shares how, as an emerging artist, he had to fiercely advocate for the right collaborators (including fighting to keep Bruno Mars on the “Billionaire” hook before the world knew the name). Listeners get rare insight into the complexities—and frustrations—of royalty splits, artist credits, and watching your featuring artists become household names while your contributions sometimes fade from mainstream memory.

Standout quote:

“These were my songs. For instance, when I play them people think I’m covering someone else’s song. But these songs wouldn’t exist without me fighting for them.”

Wisdom, Survival, and Mentorship

As the conversation deepens, Travy shifts from wisecracks to wisdom. He reflects on “survivor’s guilt” after losing talented friends, emphasizing the artist’s responsibility to mentor and guide the younger generation. Both Elmo and Travy ruminate on the importance of Rafiki, Timon, and Pumba types in every artist’s life—a Lion King metaphor for chosen family and guidance.

Travy’s frankness about addiction, redemption, and ultimately, hope, is powerful. Sia’s compassion (getting her rainbow-colored tampons becomes a symbol of real friendship), run-ins with danger in foreign countries during chemical dependence, and eventually, self-forgiveness and support for others: these moments hit hard.

Takeaway: The longevity of any creative career—especially in music—is rooted not just in hits, but in resilience, mentorship, and the community you build.

“Aliens, Breitlings, and Everything In Between”: Ending on a Light (and Cosmic) Note

From nerding out about watches to musing on UFOs, the episode ends with plenty of laughs and a salute to curiosity. For Travy, being a “Breitling boy” is more than a flex—it’s about symbolism, collecting meaning, and marking milestones. The playful banter about aliens, the moon landing, and favorite bands reminds us that even music’s biggest stars are real people: fans, explorers, and storytellers at heart.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Go With Elmo isn’t just for die-hard Gym Class Heroes fans. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider, hustled to chase a dream, or needed a reminder that being original—and vulnerable—will always be in style. Travy McCoy’s story is one of reinvention, humility, and above all, the power of showing up as yourself, both on and off the stage.

Don’t miss this major episode—packed with old-school nostalgia, industry secrets, and the kind of life advice you’ll want to tattoo on your arm.

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