Page 11 - RockRevoltMagazine-Fall2016

After the terrorist attacks at the Bataclan in Paris, did that have an
impact on the way you tour or how you might think things through now
compared to the past?
Yeah you definitely have to be aware of that. It’s kind of like the end of
the innocence. It’s the same thing that happened, in a lot of ways with
air travel. People don’t have the luxury now of just walking right onto
the plane. The Bataclan thing was tough, I played that club and that
really hit hard, it was very sad.
You take the extra precautions now?
Absolutely.
Currently in the U.S. we have the Presidential election going on, I’m not
going to ask who you endorse, but if one of the campaigns wanted to use
your music would you be ok with that?
We probably wouldn’t be comfortable with it. I just think it’s so
polarizing, if one team using your song the people that support the other
team are going to be like what the hell did they do that for? Politics is
so difficult and such a touchy subject, politics and religion are the two
things you just don’t talk about. But we did make a record that definitely
deals with the idea of leaders and heroes so it’s going to be a question,
also it’s 2016 an election year.
You’ve been many of the big European festivals, you’ve played all over
the U.S., give the fans an idea of what some of the differences might be in
the vibe.
Well the U.S. is definitely catching up, I think there’s been an effort in the
last five years to build the festivals to the point that they are in Europe
where you have great bands and a reason for people to gather and have
a good time. But Europe has been doing it for a long time so there’s a
learning curve there. Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, Download Festival,
I could go on and on. A festival I really like in Europe is Hellfest.
Is that France?
Yeah it’s in France and it’s a fun festival because, I mean come on its
fucking Hellfest (laughing). That says it right there. But the festivals are
great over there.
What’s going on with you solo record?
You know I actually worked on it the other day, working on the mixes
with my buddy Brian Spurber, been mixing via the internet on off
days. Yeah, it’s a different kind of record, people that have heard it say
it reminds them a bit of the Mayfield Four era. It’s safe to say its more
acoustic based overall, a lot of the songs were written on an acoustic
guitar. But as we got in the studio then you start layering and adding
more parts. Initially I just wanted to go out and tour the record with just
an acoustic guitar and I had a buddy say bro there’s no way you’re going
to go out with just an acoustic guitar. How many tracks of guitar are on
this thing? When there’s a window I’m going to get it out there and do
some touring on it.
When you are off tour what are you doing?
You know what I’m a fan, in the last five years I’ve become a really big
fan of architecture. I’m really into the whole modernist movement.
I like to read and go and see buildings, I read about buildings and
architects. If I’m on the road and have a day off I like to go see a Frank
Lloyd Wright home, I just really into that. That’s my hobby now.
I really appreciate your time today, thank you Myles. 