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 Fort Knox Five who reveal their secret remedy to staying healthy on the road while touring the world over with the likes of Gwen Stefani, Beastie Boys and Jurassic Five.

EM: What is your favorite song to play live?
Fort Knox Five – “Shift” (featuring Africa Bambaata and Mustafa Akbar)

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

This tour was amazing across the board. We went to tons of places. Most of them we had never been before. It is hard to choose a favorite city. San Francisco is one of our all time favorite cities. We ended our tour there on Halloween. We played a massive party at Treasure Island called Ghostship. It was put together by the Space Cowboys and Sunset Promotions. The party was sold out, and the production was really good. It was the best possible way to end the tour on such a high note.

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

Hitting up some of the towns in the south, and mid west seemed strange on the surface. Once the nights got going, they were huge surprises. Lawrence, Kansas was amazing. We drove through Iowa to get there. We were kind of expecting the worse, but it turned out to be amazing. The scene there is very vibey, and the people danced hard all night. We really enjoyed that night! Big props to the Cicada Rhythm crew!

EM: What kind of vehicle do you tour in?

It is nothing fancy, that is for sure. For our latest tour with Kraak & Smaak, we had a Ford E-150 12 passenger van. It was big enough to fit all of our backline, and everyone was comfortable to travel across the country.

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

This latest tour with Mark and Wim from Kraak & Smaak was really good. It was a great experience getting to really know our funky compatriots from the Netherlands. We have done some pretty heavy touring with everyone from Gwen Stefani and the Black Eyed Peas to Jurassic 5 and the Beastie Boys. Driving across the country with Mark & Wim was awesome!!

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

The Belly Up in Aspen was really fun. The venue is absolutely amazing. The staff was incredibly professional. The sound and lighting is TOP NOTCH! They recorded our set from that night, it came out very well. We are very excited to get back there in the future. Plus the town of Aspen is lots of fun, and absolutely beautiful.

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

We found this amazing spot in Flagstaff, Arizona called Macy’s European Bakery. It was this organic coffee shop. They had amazing coffee, and delicious healthy meals. I think we all enjoyed that one a lot.

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

I don’t think there were any nights off while on tour. Maybe one, but most of the time was consumed by travel.

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

We did the audio book thing on this our. We checked out Dan Brown’s latest “The Last Symbol.” I highly advise the audio book thing for the van. It is a great way to pass time while on the road. We were all very into this book. It is something that we all looked forward to every day, that there was a long drive.

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

We had several ipods loaded with lots of big funk & soul compilations. We spent a lot of time listening to each others mix cds, old school hip hop, reggae, and of course future Fort Knox Five and Kraak & Smaak tunes.

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

We purchased these little ART Tube Pre-Amps before the tour. Z-Trip suggested them to us. They basically beef up any digital sound, and make it sound more analog. This is great if you are running serato. They are very inexpensive, but really can make a difference. The sound was really booming at every show.

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

There are a few little things we don’t leave home without. We carry Oil of Oregano everywhere we go. This can help you if you are getting a sore throat, or feeling the early stages of a cold. Ear Plugs are an essential item for any tour. It is really important to keep your ears in great shape. Especially if music is your bread and butter. Last but not least, a great tour manager. Andy, who ran this tour for us, made sure to keep our spirits high at all times. He also handled many of the daily tasks such as getting us to the venues on time, collecting fees, advancing show. We had never used a tour manager before. It made our lives so much easier.

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

Being away from our wives and family is the hardest thing about being on the road. After that, being away from the studio.

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

The best thing about a tour is bonding with your other tour mates. Seeing and experiencing new places is also top of the list.  But its really about the relationships you forge in that van, that experience can’t be beat.

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http://www.fortknoxrecordings.com

via EM Staff, 16 December 2009 8:27am | |