The Dallas, Texas, metal outfit, Even The Dead Love A Parade, are a band not like the ones we’re used to hearing on the radio. With crushing riffs, huge drums, and in your face vocals, this five-piece group is a straight forward metal band consisting by some of the best musicians in the industry.
When Braxton Henry (Guitars) and Clint Litton (Drums) decide to form a band, they soon started searching for the rest. The first addition was bassist Stevie Benton, better known as the bassist for international Rock band Drowning Pool, and later came Matt “Mattador” Raffaele. But, they were still missing their frontman. After lots of auditions, Raffaele discovered Jordan Condrey. His voice and his lyrics were exactly what they were looking for.
Here we speak with Jordan, who tells us everything about the forming of the band, their story so far, and of course their newly released EP via EMP Label Group.
What got me first into you was your name… Even The Dead Love A Parade! Please, tell me whose idea was it, and how did you come up with it?
Braxton (guitar) and Clint (drums) actually came up with the name watching an old B horror movie. Student Bodies, I believe.
I loved the process of how the band was formed. First, all the musicians got together, and later you found the best person to represent you as your frontman. How do you feel playing with each other after all these years?
All the other guys in the band have a lot of history together and have worked together in some form or fashion for years. It was kind of awkward and intimidating at first coming in as a complete outsider and being put on the spot. Friends are more understanding when you screw up or aren’t up to par that particular day; strangers want what was advertised. I soon found out it was more or less me putting a lot of pressure on myself. They were incredibly welcoming and hospitable, especially because I was at a real rough patch at the time I was brought into the fold. We then went on a three month tour together pretty much right out of the gate and got a crash course in getting to know each other, for better and worse. Our first show was the first stop on the tour. It’s like going to war immediately after being transferred to a new platoon; you don’t know each other, but you have to put your faith in each other to survive and succeed. That created a real brotherhood and respect between us. Jamming together has only gotten better over the years, more intuitive and natural. The excitement of making music together has only grown.
I really liked “Heart Poacher” your newly released video. Tell us more about it…
That video was done completely DIY before we had a label. Some good friends of the guys helped us do the lights and the recording. We shot the performance at the Palladium in Dallas. Then Matt and Co. filmed the actors and story shortly after. I’m really excited for how it turned out, especially doing it all within our camp with the help of friends. Planning and being stubborn as hell will get things done, even with a budget of less than $100.
And later you signed with EMP Label Group, the label owned by Megadeth bassist David Ellefson. Would you say it was a big step in your career?
Absolutely.
Your new EP was just released digitally with 5 songs, including “Heart Poacher” and “From Sex Tapes to Snuff Films”. For those who haven’t heard the full of it yet, how would you describe it?
A collection of down tuned interrogation footage from a paranoid killer.
Well, after that I must ask you. Where do you find the inspiration for the songs you write?
Basically all the horrific, corrupt, and tragic things this world has to offer. When you delve into and explore the worst aspects of life and the human animal, it makes you look for and be more appreciative of the wonderful.
Do you have any tours scheduled for the summer in support of your EP?
No tours planned yet; we are going to kind of cherry pick shows until everyone is ready. Hopefully by year’s end. Stevie is still going out and supporting the new Drowning Pool record. Braxton is putting the finishing touches on his other band’s debut record. They are called Poor Bastards. And I just finished up putting together the debut EP from my other band Villains which I’m incredibly excited about as well.
All these years you shared the stage with some big names like Five Finger Death Punch, Korn, Asking Alexandria, Eye Empire, Sevendust, Nothing More, and Hellyeah among others. What do you remember from all these collaborations?
We are a lot heavier and not as radio friendly, sonically or lyrically. So I remember a lot of confused faces from the folks who clearly came for more radio rock. There’s nothing wrong with that, if that’s what you enjoy. Then some of those shows they went insane for us. There was really no in between. That’s what I remember from a lot of those shows; the crowds either went crazy moshing and head banging or staring at us in shock and confusion. We’ve been on quite a few bills where we are the odd men out.
What was the most weird moment on stage so far?
During our last song, I tend to jump down on the railing and sing with the front row. One time a rabid 40something lady instantly reach out and latched onto my junk, white knuckle, not blinking. Just staring and squeezing. It was fucking terrifying. I’m still trying to sing and not screw up the song while this massive security guard was trying to get her to let go. I finally had to reach down and pinch her arm to get her to let go. She let go, but only to grab my arm and lick it! She then somehow immediately disappeared even though she was pretty much pushed up against the railing …lick…*bamf* gone!
Apart from music, what else do you do in your everyday life?
I’m a huge comic fan. I also collect Marvel/DC/Star Wars/Alien/Predator figures… like hardcore. It’s a pretty massive collection. The great part of that is my wife also loves comics and collecting figures as well. The inside of our house looks like Comic Con with silkscreen show posters everywhere.
Where do you see the band in let’s say, 10 years from today?
Hopefully a few albums in and still going strong. I love making music and writing. Be it on a label or for myself. I’ll still write and sing till the day I die. If people want to listen as well, even better.
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by Demetrious Ioannou, RockRevolt Journalist
