Inspired by the Minutemen song, Evil Monito’s “Tour Spiel” provides an intimate look into the musician’s tumultuous life on the road. Each week, we’ll check in with some of our favorite artists touring stateside or abroad and find out what it’s like to be packed in a van or waiting at the baggage claim for hours on end.  It’s ultimately the memorable experiences with friends that make life on the road rewarding, or at the very least interesting.  This week it’s Phil Elverum of Mount Eerie confiding his intense distaste of Florida’s culture and the band’s relentless work ethics during their past stateside tour. 

EM: What is your favorite song to play live? And why?
Mount Eerie – “The Mouth of Sky”

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I love playing “the Mouth of Sky” because it’s the loudest, and probably it’s the least fun to listen to for the audience.

EM: What city did you most enjoy while on tour? Why?

New York City.  We were there on Halloween and many people were dressed crazy and we played with some fine bands (especially Liturgy).  Also, it’s an excellent city.  Everyone knows that.

EM: What are some of the strangest or most interesting cities or towns you’ve traveled through?

People have really weird corny taste in the Netherlands.  People in SE Oregon laughed too much at the Ray Romano movie in the dollar theater in Lakeview.  Amarillo, TX is vacant and windy.  Battle Mountain, NV is cool.  The whole state of Florida is completely fucked.  It should be surrendered to predatory nature.

EM: What kind of vehicle do you tour in?

This last tour was a huge white “band-on-tour” van (and at some points dividing up into 4 or 5 jeeps), but normally a Toyota pickup.

EM: Who have been your favorite band(s) to play on tour with?

Electric Warrior Man

EM: What is your favorite venue to play in? Why?

Slime’s House of Boogie.  I like the built in speakers and the simplicity of the way the place is run, with Slime doing pretty much everything.  Also our music sounded really nice in there.  The high ceilings, the fabric walls, the octagon shape.

EM: While on tour, what is the band’s consensus as the favorite spot to eat?

No consensus.  Everyone just does their own thing, rogue mercenary style.  We end up splitting up a lot.  Some of us do exclusively Cup O Soups from gas stations, while I prefer to find a fancy restaurant.  Food is the only thing I care about while touring.

EM: On nights off while on tour, how do you occupy your time?

I avoid nights off at all costs.  I only have nights off when I can’t get a show in Miles City, MT or Minot or Williston, ND or Spearfish SD or somewhere in central Wyoming.  Everywhere else is flush with available shows.  NO NIGHTS OFF!!!!!

EM: If the band had to agree on one “must-read” book for long nights in the hotel, what would it be?

NO HOTELS, unless someone is deathly ill or the pumper’s place seems like it might be gross, judging by his vibe (and it’s always a him.  The rare female pumper probably has a nice enough place to stay at because females generally live cleaner.)  But anyways, very little reading gets done on tour.  I bring books, but have no downtime.  I guess for famous huge bands touring there’s a lot of sitting around and waiting.  But not for me.  I have shit to do, always.

EM: What is the most interesting thing you’ve found or bought while on tour?

It’s a tie between a black ceramic lifesize sheep’s head and a samurai sword.

EM: What are some of the best records to listen to on the road?

Books on tape, early Stereolab, the Black Orpheus soundtrack, the audio of the Big Lebowski, top 40 hip hop radio

EM: What’s the most unique piece of equipment on your tour?

It’s probably my performance harness

EM: What are some comfort items that you take when embarking on a long tour?

Underwear

EM: What is the hardest thing about being on the road?

The absence of physical intimacy, other peoples’ smells

EM: What is the best thing about being on the road?

The non-stop barrage of surprising experiences all day every day.

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