“I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” John D. Rockefeller
If ever there was a band that personifies perseverance, then it would be Devour the Day. Joey Chicago and Blake Allison could have chosen to throw in the towel when they reached the end of the road with their former band Egypt Central. For lesser bands and artists, that is exactly what would have happened, but not these guys. Their perseverance is paying off for them as they’ve been experiencing a stellar 2013/2014. We caught up with Joey and Blake a while back at Carolina Rebellion to touch base and catch up with them on all things Devour the Day.
So, we meet again! It’s been a while since we last talked. That was back in January when you guys were part of the Hell Pop Tour II. That tour seemed to be a success on so many levels. What did you guys take away from that tour when it ended?
Joey: I think there were two major things that we took away. One was that regardless of any predetermined idea about what any tour will be like, we attack it as if this is our opportunity to play our show and we’re going to have a good time. There’s nothing but good that can come from that approach. The other thing we took away was how to run a really great tour. In This Moment and all of the bands on that tour were all really great people and we would love to have that tour happen each and every month. We had such a great time!
I saw a couple of those shows and it was such a great bill from top to bottom. I think the audiences that were there proved that there’s definitely an audience out there hungry for real music like this.
Blake: I think that’s the biggest lesson outside of what Joey was saying. In This Moment is doing a very pop oriented thing within their set and we realized that we needed to play something a bit more metal, but I don’t think the kids cared what we played. They were there to hear great music and the cleverness of what In This Moment’s doing of disguising the pop music with metal aesthetic. I think it’s great and those kids love it and because we were a part of it, they got to see us in a different light. It really taught us a few things about the performance side of the band and it was probably one of the best experiences that we’ll ever have.
You could tell that you guys were very genuine up there and not just going through the motions. It wasn’t mechanical at all; you could really pick up on the passion for what you guys are doing.
Joey: Thank you for saying that; it’s always good to hear that from people who come see us.
You guys released the single entitled “Respect” a few months ago, which is the follow-up to “Move On.”
Blake: Yeah, “Move On” went Top 20 and that was really great because we felt like a lot of radio outlets took risks with playing that one. It was not one of our more, quote un-quote, active rock songs and I think the new single “Respect”, we’re giving back to radio what something right down the lane of active rock. I think it translates really, really well.
The whole world of music video seems to have changed almost as much as everything else in the music industry. Will you guys be doing a full video for this one?
Blake: There’s a lyric video out right now and we have talked about doing a full video. Our priority of using our budget right now for putting together videos or putting on a great show is leaning more towards the show. I think videos will be a thing in our career, but only when it’s not in the way of something else.
Devour the Day “Respect” (official) Lyric Video
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I can understand that because out on the road seems to be the more a primary focus now for a lot of bands. Do you guys enter a big festival like this one with a different mindset as opposed to a smaller show?
Joey: There’s not a lot of time at a place like this to grab someone’s attention and you also don’t have time to take them into many other places other than here’s aggressive music to punch your friend to. We just stay in that margin all the way from the front to the back and it works because I saw somebody get punched in the face today (laughs).
I guess you could say mission accomplished! Now, I know you guys are on several of these big festival shows, but are you on your own tour when as well?
Blake: Yeah, we’re doing a co-headling tour with Framing Hanley and some dates with Three Days Grace, a show with Rob Zombie and some other scattered dates in there as well; we’re staying as busy as possible.
I had a fan submitted question from Jason and he wanted me to ask you if draw inspiration from spirituality, especially on songs like “Good Man” because it really spoke to him on that level.
Joey: I think that, just like with the music, that it’s an evolution in our mind. At the point that the character within the song “Good Man” is at, and Blake and I have both been that character, he’s not really trying to name it. You know, it might be God, it might be Allah or anything, but it’s coming to that point where you’re crying out for help.
Blake: The focus is the idea that in a fox hole, there aren’t any atheists. There’s a book about that and that’s the moment that the song is really about.
A couple more quick questions and we’ll wrap this up. What’s the best and worst food when you’re out on the road?
Blake: Fast food is the worst and the best is festival and arena catering. You can’t beat it because it’s actual, real food. We’re trying to eat well while we’re out on the road, but it’s really hard. We’re eating a lot of eggs, which is best thing that we can do.
Joey: Sunny side up, upside down, easy side up, whatever (laughs).
Blake: Every side of an egg that’s possible. Slap it up, slam it down and spin it around (laughs).
Last question, have either of you ever bought anything off of an infomercial?
Blake: No, I haven’t.
Joey: I thought you said boned anything off of an infomercial.
Ok, we could go with that question instead.
Joey: That would still be a no (laughs)!
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