Fair to Midland Have More in Common With Beach Boys Than Dream Theater

Fair to Midland are preparing for the release of their as-yet-untitled eOne debu with a spring tour. Scale the Summit and Periphery will join up with the band on the month-long trek. Noisecreep caught up with drummer Brett Stowers before the Texas band -- known for their intricate and forward-thinking style, which many would deem 'prog' for lack of a better word -- hit the road.

Stowers doesn't mind when people apply the prog tag to the band, even though he doesn't quite agree with the assessment. "If the term prog feels comfortable to someone as a way to describe our sound, more power to 'em," Stowers told Noisecreep. "I personally don't see it, though. I guess it's all in how you define prog. Normally we use a pretty basic, old-school song structure, but we try to do it in a weird/creative way. I'd say we probably have more in common with the Beach Boys than Dream Theater."

While prog is in the ear of the beholder, Fair to Midland continue to do what they do. The band got its liftoff from Serjical Strike, the label owned and operated by System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian. Teaming up with a musician of Tankian's stature helped them learn "a lot about the business/financial side of the music industry, which coming from being a local Dallas band, we didn't have a lot of previous experience in," Stowers said.

With experience behind them -- and a new album plus lots of touring in front of them -- Stowers revealed the most essential item he needs to bring on the road, and it's one that most bands tote: an iPhone and/or laptop. "It gets boring on those long drives, and being able to pop on a movie or game keeps us from actually having to interact with each other," Stowers said.

Fair to Midland Tour Dates

3/3 -- Houston, TX -- Warehouse Live

3/4 -- Dallas, TX -- Trees

3/5 -- Austin, TX -- Emo's

3/6 -- Lubbock, TX -- Jake's Sport Cafe

3/8 -- Mesa, AZ -- The Underground

3/9 -- Victorville, CA -- VVEC

3/11 -- Los Angeles, CA -- Whiskey

3/12 -- Bakersfield, CA -- Jerry's Pizza

3/13 -- Sacramento, CA -- Ace Of Spades

3/15 -- Portland, OR -- Hawthorne Theater

3/16 -- Seattle, WA -- Studio Seven

3/17 -- Spokane, WA -- The A Club

3/18 -- Boise, ID -- The Venue

3/20 -- Colorado Springs, CO -- The Black Sheep

3/21 -- Denver, CO -- Marquis Theater

3/23 -- Cedar Falls, IA -- The Wheelhouse

3/24 -- St Paul, MN -- Station 4

3/25 -- Flint, MI -- The Machine Shop

3/26 -- Madison, WI -- The Annex

3/28 -- Chicago, IL -- The Bottom Lounge

3/29 -- Toronto, CANADA -- Mod Club

3/30 -- Pittsburgh, PA -- Smiling Moose

4/1 -- Hartford, CT -- Webster Underground

4/2 -- Worcester, MA -- The Palladium

4/3 -- Philadelphia, PA -- Barbary

4/6 -- New York, NY -- Santos Party House

4/7 -- West Springfield, PA -- Jaxx

4/8 -- Knoxville, TN -- The Cider House

4/9 -- Asheville, NC -- The Orange Peel

4/10 -- Atlanta, GA -- The Masquerade

4/12 -- New Orleans, LA -- The Parish at HOB

4/13 -- Little Rock, AR -- Juanita's

4/14 -- Tulsa, OK -- The Marquee

4/15 -- Oklahoma City, OK -- Conservatory