A Sit Down w/Every Time I Die

 

Okay, if you could just start out by saying your name, what band you’re in and what you do in the band?

Keith, and I’m the lead singer for Every Time I Die.

So, how long have you been on warped tour so far?

Uh, 3 weeks?

Okay, three weeks.

Yeah.

So far what’s the best part about being on Warped Tour?

Honestly, so far its been playing on main stage which is something we really haven’t done before. We were on in 2006 and we would get bumped out every great once in a while from the Hurley stage. I guess we always thought it would be a little harder doing the main stage but I think we’re doing really well and we’re holding our own so.

It’s undeniable that you guys are one of the largest hardcore/metal bands in underground music.

Yeah, yeah.

Do you feel that the big dirty will help keep you where you’re at or even increase your fan base?

Yeah, I think that you know, since it’s our fourth record and we’re sticking true to what we do. I think people realize that we’re not going anywhere. Also, the big dirty is really made to be a live album, so it’s really fun to play on stage. All of that really helps.

Cool. You guys seem to have a rather long history in music. With your first full
length being ‘Last Night in Town.’ all the way up to ‘’The Big Dirty,’ and every thing else in between. Of course the largest album you produced being ‘Hot Damn’?

Yeah! Haha, that’s weird, I mean I like it an all. Haha.

Haha. Right, all this being said it seems that you personally as the vocalist have evolved a lot from album to album. What do you feel has brought forth this process?

Yeah, I mean I guess I’ve just realized that I can’t half ass it, because my band
doesn’t half ass it. I’m just so fed up with all these singers that sing just because they
don’t know how to play an instrument and they write terrible lyrics and they have
terrible voices and they just don’t care. You know? I just don’t want to be like that so
I hammer down and I took vocal lessons because I just don’t want to be like that. I don’t
want to be just another generic singer.

You were also an English major correct?

Yes.

I imagine that also helps with writing.

Yeah, yeah. Defintely.

What city do you think has been the best city to play in so far on warped tour?

I’m gonna say Atlanta.

What would you say is one thing you MUST have while on a tour of this size?

You know what I just got? I got a pen called a “clicktionary,” so when I’m reading if I don’t know a word I just scan it and it tells me the meaning of the word. Which is really cool because, normally when I read I use this dictionary program in my cell phone; but it just takes so long and it ruins my train of thought. But now I can just scan it and move on.

So what’s the craziest thing you have done while on tour?

Like Ever?

Like ever, while on Warped Tour, whatever story you can think of.

Uh, I guess it would be a tour we did in 2006. While we were in Florida we hung out at Chris Kerpatricks house from N'Sync.

Drew (Owner, Get In Magazine): And played video games?

Yeah we played video games and we, well our bass player tried to steal one of the puppets from their video, and Chris threatened his life. Haha.

You hung out with Chris from N’Sync's house. You are a tough guy.

Yep. Haha.

Okay, you guys have a lot of history with tours.

Yeah.

Compose your ultimate tour, any band, living or dead.

Man, that’s kind of hard. I guess I could say?

(At this point let it be known that Josh James from Evergreen Terrace has entered the
interview.)

JJ: Evergreen Terrace!

Evergreen Terrace, I could say that.

JJ: Yeah, you could say that.

But I won’t. You guys got to big; you have all that radio play now. Haha.

JJ: Yeah right. You’re just mad because we’re still DIY (points at me), just like you
know. Later Keith! Haha.

Well, definitely not Evergreen Terrace now!

(Josh screams out as he walks away from us)

JJ: I showed you my dick! I showed you my d*** Keith, and this is how you repay me!

(Everyone bursts into laughter)

He didn’t just show me his d***. He showed everyone his d***.

(More laughter.)

Anyway, I guess I would say bands like Norma Jean, UnderOath, Dillinger Escape Plan. I mean those bands would really make the most sense. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to say bands like the Beatles but the truth is that would be a horrible show. So yeah, Norma Jean, Dillinger, Underoath, bands like that.

With you guys being very large but still yet very underground. I mean with no real
radio play, at least not down here and only a few spots on fuse. You really just don’t get the media attention that you deserve.

Yeah.

With all that being said, how has that affected you in terms of gas prices this year?
I mean this has become a really big issue.

It is a big issue, from what I’ve heard one of the bands was forced to drop off the tour because they couldn’t afford to keep going.

A few bands from what I’ve heard.

Yeah. I mean, I don’t notice it with the bus I mean they handle that so I won’t notice
it until we get home and we look at everything and say “Okay this is exactly how much we made and this is how much we spent on gas.” So yeah, it will eventually hit us, I mean it hits everybody!

To visit Every Time I Die's MySpace page click here

By. Tim Fisher

TimF@getinmagazine.com