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 Elizabeth & the Catapult who schlepped around a helpenstill and endured creepy truck stops during their last tour.

EM: What is your favorite song to play live? And why?
Elizabeth & the Catapult – “Taller Children”

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Lately it’s been the title track off our album, which is lucky, “Taller Children” is a blast to play live because it grows and changes so much throughout the shape of the song. It’s fun to ride the wave.

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

Austin was our first taste of the warm weather in winter, and it’s also such a beautiful hip city—everyone always receives us so well when we come down there. I hope there will be many more stops to Austin in the near future.

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

Salt Lake City was really bizarre in a great way. The audience was so uninhibited and raucous the whole show, like they were rebelling against something. Also we got to go to Bryce Canyon the following day which is heaven on earth.

EM: What kind of vehicle do you tour in?

A small van, the little engine that could. We just renamed it Jean Claude Van Dam.

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

Christina Courtin, Greg Laswell.

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

We played this amazing Synagogue last time we swung through DC. The acoustics were to die for, and a lot of my modern day heroes have performed there….definitely worth our while.

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

Mexican. Always Mexican, we have cheese and beans coming out of our ears.  We never get tired of Mexican, especially in the south/west.

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

The other night we went off into the middle of the desert near Arizona and set off a bunch of fireworks under the stars.

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

Cavalier and Clay is one that a bunch of us just read – for a quick one with a lot of punch.  I’d reach for Metamorphosis by Kafka.

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

Creepy pictures of babies in truckstop restrooms

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

A lot of Prince, M Ward, Cat Power, Les Paul and Mary Ford.

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

It WAS the helpenstill (portable piano) we were lugging around with us. But it almost killed one of us on the last tour, so we had to finally put our foot down and just say no for this tour.

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

A really comfortable pillow and sleeping bag, a couple bags of haribo gummy bears, my books and a card set of UNO.

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

Not being able to spend more than one night in any given location

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

Not having to spend more than one night in any given location

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http://www.elizabethandthecatapult.com/

via EM Staff, 9 December 2009 8:39am | |