After Midnight Project

Anyone who has played in a full-time band can tell you that touring isn't all fun and games. Whether it's the truck stop food or the endless highway miles you have to drive with little to no sleep, touring can be as hard as it is fun. This is especially true for vocalists. The less than ideal sleeping and eating arrangements out on the road have laid waste to many a singer's vocal cords.

So while the rest of the band is backstage doing keg stands, you'll often find the frontman sitting on the bus drinking hot tea. Noisecreep asked After Midnight Project's Jason Evigan how he manages to keep his throat in shape and still live a somewhere rock 'n' roll lifestyle on the road.

You've been touring with Papa Roach in bigger places than you normally play. Has it been a tough adjustment for the band?

AMP sounds bigger and better in big rooms and on big systems so we were ready for bigger stages. I must say this is the first time we really feel pushed to keep up. That band rocks so hard live. Jacoby is a true rock star. We are learning a lot.

Do they party as hard as people expect them to? Is the backstage area complete debauchery?

Well let's see -- I fell asleep on their bus at 7 AM this morning with a Sprite, Kahlua and vodka mixed drink in my hand that their drummer Tony made for me. Jacoby was wearing a turquoise blue, one-piece pajama outfit and Tobin was playing air bass to MGMT. I'd say we had some fun (laughter).

Outside of being away from friends and family, what's the hardest part about touring for you at this point?

For me, right now, I just wish I had my studio. I have so much building up in me and I have no way to record it! I also jacked my back up so I've been trying to pop into a chiropractor whenever I get a chance. When I get on stage, the pain goes away but when I get off it feels like death!

As the vocalist, how physically taxing is it to sing night after night? Do you have a routine or health regimen to try and not blow your voice out?

Every morning I wake up and just hum for a good 20 minutes to myself. When you sing every night, your throat produces a lot of mucus to protect itself. So before I start talking I have to get rid of all that or I'll blow my voice out trying to speak. In the day, I try to jog and keep to myself and not talk too much. Talking is what really hurts your voice the most. I also do a mini-vocal warm up before sound check for about 40 minutes and a short cool down after the set. Tons of water! And when the sun sets, you have to keep them drinks flowing.

Do you ever look at your band mates and get jealous that they don't have to worry about that kind of stuff when you are touring?

Sometimes, but they have their own things that they have to worry about. Have you seen Christian and Spencer's abs?! Imagine doing 4,000 push-ups and sit-ups a day --I'm just kidding. I think everyone has their own routine and rituals so they can do the best on stage every night.

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