FIVE: Well, I was talking to Forrest downstairs and he mentioned to me that people say that he’ s a rock star and he’ s famous and all this but why not get a real job, but him and me both agree that you need to have a work ethic in this. I’ ve talked to other bands before where they sleep in their van and are almost too broke to afford something to eat on the road. Can you guys relate to that?
HM: There’ s a couple of us who do work regular jobs and save up money but even the guys on the road who do have jobs are eating the dollar menu. And then the people who can’ t afford the dollar menu, we pay for out-of-pocket or the tips that we gain at the merch table we use for food or whatever.
FIVE: How much does the label help out? Micah Peck: They give us CDs to sell. HM: They help out with some of the recording because we recorded most of it by ourselves. They press the albums for us, got us distribution. Make our posters. But that’ s thousands of dollars that we can’ t afford. But they don’ t give us money to tour, they don’ t book tours. They’ re an independent label. They signed us knowing that we have the ambition to go out and do the stuff ourselves.
Forrest Turner: Most of the big bands that are on, like, Fearless records go through a management company that books the tours for them. What’ s that one company that everybody goes though? The Artery Foundation, that’ s it. They make the dates for these bigger bands. But bands like us have one person that manages the band.
Moore: There are hundreds of thousands of bands worldwide, on the same level as us that are just trying to go out there and get some support. We do DIY touring. We go online, find people that book in cities we want to go to, message them, talk to them, then even at some point we have to find the local bands to play the shows. It’ s a lot of legwork. Even on something like an 11 day tours takes weeks of organizing and stressing over.
FIVE: Well, that attests to the drive you guys have. You write the music, play the music, you’ re your own management, booking agent. And in this internet age, a lot of bands are doing that because you’ re able to promote yourselves with that platform.
HM: This definitely wouldn’ t have happened like seven or eight years ago. Before Myspace and Facebook and social media in general, you would have to be lucky. [ all laugh ]
FT: You either get it or you don’ t. Back then you just have to hope someone is at that show to see but nowadays …
FIVE: To wrap up, most hated thing about touring and most loved thing about touring?
FT: Walmart showers. I’ m the king of Walmart showers.
JK: You can pick out the pretty boys who want to take a shower. Me, on the other hand, it’ s not an issue. [ everyone laughs ]
FT: This last tour, Keith didn’ t shower the entire week we were on tour.
Keith Tallman: Yeah, but you couldn’ t smell me could you? [ everyone laughs ]
HM: I remember one time on tour, I was in a Walmart family restroom taking care of business and then I finish up and I’ m walking out with my backpack and this lady with a stroller looks at me with the dirtiest look.
FT: I was in a regular restroom cleaning up one time and all these people kept looking at like“ what is the guy doing?”
MP: Sketchy people. It was freezing cold out while we were in Carolina and someone is outside banging on the van and I run out with a bat but they were gone. I thought I was going to have to hit somebody.
FT: My favorite thing, is one time, I saw my first black chick’ s boobies on this last tour. And it was awesome. [ laughs ] MP: Getting away from Pensacola. HM: My favorite thing is leaving. Hated is coming back.
Scream Out Loud is a band driven by their passion for playing live, touring and their fans. Each member of the band puts a part of himself into this project to keep it alive and well and no expense, tangible or otherwise is spared.
Scream Out Loud is currently preparing for their appearance at Jef Bond’ s Art Party which takes place on March, 9. They are also preparing a summer tour up the east coast. For more, check them out on their Facebook page, https:// www. facebook. com / screamoutloudfl.
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