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 noise-pop guitarist  Matthew Whipple from Cymbals Eat Guitars who reveals the ‘randomness’ presented while on the open road, including the following necessities to keep the body (and mind) hydrated on tour: porn, dietary supplements and a good hobby.

EM: What is your favorite song to play live?

Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Plainclothes” (live on WOXY)

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It’s the band’s newest song and one of the first that we’ve really worked on arranging and writing together.  The song is sonically a little different from Why There Are Mountains and is just fresh and exciting for us to play.

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

London is a pretty amazing city… sadly, we didn’t get to experience it too much on our last tour.  It’s just full of great galleries and museums, good bars, tons of good food (i know… it’s London) and some really great people – including our record label.

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

Boise, Idaho is a pretty strange place.  Enough said.

Photo Licensed Under Creative Commons

EM:  What kind of vehicle do you tour in?

When we’re lucky, a Sprinter.  When we’re unlucky, my Astro.

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

The Flaming Lips… no contest.

EM: What is your favorite venue to play in?

The Music Hall of Williamsburg.  Bowery Presents treats the bands very well; it’s a great sounding venue and a lot of our friends are close by.

The Music Hall of Williamsburg.  Photo Licensed Under Creative Commons

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

Bite in Chicago, IL.

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

We all have different interests – Joe writes music, Matt watches movies, Whipple plays tennis and hikes and Brian builds pedals.

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

Porn.

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

There was a “mystery spot” somewhere in the mid-west where we paid $2 to find out what was behind a set of red doors.  That and a wolf hat…

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

We listen to a pretty wide range of music, depending on the driver or the mood.  We listen to lots of ambient music, Neil Young, Sonic Youth, NPR…

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

Brian’s pedals – he builds them himself, so each one is a special…

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

Waiting.

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

Being on the road!

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

A piece of perfumed cloth, a neck pillow, spirulina and an iPod.

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