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 the band, Grooms who rely upon literary sources of comfort during the long and emotionally draining tours.

EM: What is your favorite song to play live? And why?
Grooms – “Into the Arms”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Our favorite song is a new one called “Into the Arms” that we don’t have recorded just yet.  But after that, our song “At the Pool” is probably our favorite to play.  It’s got our noisiest parts, but also some of our more peaceful and quiet.  So we get to spread our wings.

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

We just, tonight, played Madison, Wisconsin for the first time and it’s a totally amazing town.  We parked at the venue and walked around in random separate directions.  After walking around the capitol building for a bit I noticed this one strip that had, for lack of a better term, the cutest vibe to it.  The people at our show were super nice too.  I think I’d like to retire here someday.  From what, not sure.

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

Des Moines is a fairly weird and interesting city to me.  I’m not sure what it is, but it seems like there’s something lurking beneath the surface of it, and I’m not even sure what the surface is.  At first, I felt just fine there, but then there’s something about the vibe it puts off, that was extremely foreign.  Maybe it’s their nutso capitol building.

EM: What kind of vehicle do you tour in?

Dodge Grand Caravan 2000.  Used to be white.  Kinda beige now.

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

Potato Chips and Soloing over Alanis Morissette in Chicago or Spell Master in Kansas City.  We always love getting to play with our buddies in JEFF the Brotherhood, from Nashville too.

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

I generally like DIY/all ages/gallery type venues the most, even if the sound isn’t so hot.  So, places like Contemporary Space 13 in Cincinnati and Project Lodge in Madison.  I hate kids not being able to see our show because they’re not old enough, and a lot of proper venues have the weirdest and wrongest air about them.  Something’s usually missing in the galleries and lofts.

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

Emily and I ADORE Skyline Chili in the Cincinnati area, although it’s far from healthy.  I think Papasito’s, in Dallas takes the cake though.  Best salsa I’ve ever had.

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

Nights off are so awkward, especially if you don’t have anything to do.  You just don’t know what to do with yourself.  On Thanksgiving day, we went to see 2012 in Chicago.  It took up a good chunk of time.  You have to find things to do usually.  I’d be okay sitting and reading a book for hours usually, but it doesn’t always work out that way.  Sometimes you go to a show in the town you’re stuck in.  But movies are probably the best option, if you’ve got the extra coin for it, which we often don’t.

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

Probably IT by Stephen King or something essay-based, like Joan Didion or Marilynne Robinson.

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

Smoked mozzarella string cheese.

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

Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left
Portishead  – Third
REM – Automatic for the People

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

Probably a modified Boss Digital Delay 5.  Knobs have been screwed around with so that we can make more noise with it, basically.

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

I have a journal where I write down prayers.  It’s beyond nerdy in most ways.  I always like to have something by Kierkegaard to read, too.

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

I wasn’t in the best emotional place going out on this current tour, so it’s rough to transport yourself around like this, undercutting any stability you might have had before, on top of that.  You just feel so cut off from anything permanent and reliable.

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

Meeting amazing people and sleeping on floors and couches in strange places that those people invite us to.

***
Band label – http://deathbyaudiorecords.blogspot.com/

Grooms’ MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/groomsmusic