Video premiere: Friends first in I Am the Avalanche's '177'

As Vinnie Caruana watched two of his best friends get engaged in a Brooklyn backyard, the I Am the Avalanche frontman was inspired to write a song.

Now, about two years have passed — as the video for that song, 177, premieres on USA TODAY — and the couple, Conrad and Katie, are married and have started a family.

"It's really special, because since the song was written and recorded, they had a son," says Caruana. And the kid is already doing big things: "Two weeks into the world and already in his first music video."

The band — rounded out by Brandon Swanson (guitar), Cory Perez (guitar), John Oliva (bass) and Brett "The Ratt" Romnes (drums) — filmed the video during a live show at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, an intimate bar venue owned by Caruana's friends, and in the couple's actual backyard.

"177 is my friends' address in Brooklyn," he explains. "They're one of the few friends in Brooklyn that have a backyard, so that's where the party spot is."

The song is an homage to hanging out with friends — and specifically that special night when "we were all part of the surprise engagement," Caruana says. "It moved me to the point where I wanted to honor them with a song, because they're really great people."

The hometown aspect, he says, is also an important part of 177. "The song is about part of our community, and it also takes place in our community, among friends."

The track is off I Am the Avalanche's March release, Wolverines. You can catch the band live as they hit Riot Fest's Chicago (Sept. 14) and Denver (Sept. 20) weekends, with a string of dates in between and after.