Memphis May Fire Frontman Says He Was Only Allowed to See Christian Rock Bands Growing Up
This week is the midway mark of the Motel 6 Rock Yourself to Sleep tour which features Alesana, A Skylit Drive, Sleeping With Sirens, Attila, Serianna and Texas metalcore greats Memphis May Fire.
At the tour's Los Angeles House of Blues stop, Noisecreep caught up with Memphis May Fire vocalist Matty Mullins shortly after the band's sweat-filled, crowd-pleasing set.
How has the chemistry been like between all of the bands on the tour?
On the real, from the bottom of my heart, this is my favorite tour that I have ever done in the five years that I have been doing this. First of all, all the bands on this tour have all toured together before and we are all good buddies. And that makes it easy from day one. Everyone is comfortable with each other, there are no egos, everybody is cool with load in/load out, everybody is cool with sound check.
Rather than 'hurry up - it's 'do your thing, I've got your back.' On top of that, the shows have been selling out the majority of the tour and I'm talking about places like Irving Plaza in New York City. The crowd response has been awesome, merch sales are awesome - everything is over the top could not be better.
Irving Plaza is a great venue. Lots of history there.
I know! I love rooms like that. Like when we played The Whisky in Hollywood. I mean, Mötley Crüe used to play there!
You didn't see a lot of heavy shows growing up.
I grew up in Spokane, Washington, in a very Christian, conservative home. I am still very much a believer by the way, but no, back then I didn't get out to see a lot of different kinds of music. I do remember seeing Audio Adrenaline and The Newsboys, basically Christian rock, because that was what I was allowed to see by my parents.
What do your folks think of your music today?
At the beginning my folks were pretty upset with the whole thing at first, the music, the tattoos - but after observing the music scene I'm in now for a couple of years, they totally get it - they actually love it.They are so proud. My dad actually flew to Japan to see us play. My mom comes to the shows near home in Washington. They understand it all, they are supportive - it's really amazing and makes me happy.
Once the the Rock Yourself to Sleep Tour is done, Memphis May Fire will hit the road with Norma Jean, Oh, Sleeper and Stray From the Path before heading to Australia and Indonesia. Then it's back to the States for what Mullins called a "super secret tour."
Motel 6's Rock Yourself to Sleep: The Tour:
11/07/11 Tucson, AZ. Rialto Theatre
11/08/11 Albuquerque, NM. Sunshine Theater
11/09/11 El Paso TX. Club 101
11/10/11 Dallas TX. The Door
11/11/11 Houston TX. Warehouse
11/12/11 San Antonio TX, White Rabbit
11/13/11 New Orleans, LA. House Of Blues
11/14/11 Birmingham. AL. Zydeco
11/16/11 St. Petersburg FL. State Theatre
11/17/11Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Revolution
11/18/11 Orlando, FL. The Club at Firestone
11/19/11 Atlanta, GA. The Masquerade
11/20/11 Raleigh, NC. Lincoln Theatre
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