Texan metal gods Oh Sleeper are planning a return visit to our shores as part of the massive No Surrender tour. I recently caught up with the band’s lead vocalist Micah Kinard to chat about his love for Australia, his relationship with touring buddies The Chariot, and Oh Sleeper’s plans for world domination.
You were only just here in September. What made you want to return to Australia so soon?
Have you seen your country? We had an awesome time there. It was so much fun, and everyone we met and worked with down there was a total delight, so we definitely wanted to get back as soon as we could. The first offer that popped up we took, so we’re excited about it.
This tour’s traveling from the west to east of Australia. Are you looking forward to seeing a bit more of the countryside than you did last time?
I am! It was actually pretty surprising, when we went there last time, it was our first time ever and the shows were all great, we had an awesome time at them. But also Taperjean, the company that brought us over, they received a bunch of e-mails from other places that wanted us to come through there also. So that was a nice surprise. I think this time we’re trying to hit all those places that we got e-mails from and, like you said, see more of the countryside which I’m really excited about.
And it’s all happening in the space of just eight days. Does that fast and furious pace suit you, or would you prefer to do things a bit more leisurely?
You kind of just get used to it. We’ve been doing this for the past five, five and a half years and that’s just kind of the pace it’s set at, you know? I’m pretty sure anyone in a touring band, especially internationally, can relate. It’s just a lifestyle you’ve got to get used to. You start to realise that vacations for you are more just staying at your real house, sitting in your back yard in a lawn chair. That’s a vacation; not really getting up and going somewhere.
How do audiences in Australia differ from those back home?
Really they were super welcoming. The States are great. When you have a good show in the States, it’s definitely crazy and off the wall. But the thing that was really nice about going to Australia is that everyone had a genuine appreciation for you being there. Even if they didn’t come to see you, they still gave you the respect of watching and applauding and everything like that. The shows that we had over there, the vast majority of them got pretty crazy. And as far as the fans, they were stage diving and crowd surfing and everything like that. The crowds were good enough to get us thirsty to come back, so we’re excited.
You’re touring Australia with fellow countrymen The Chariot. Now you go way back with these guys and have toured America with them. Are you looking forward to having them on the road with you?
Oh definitely. The Chariot’s one of our favourite bands to tour with. We’ve done a number of tours with them over here in the States. It’s kind of a situation where everyone in the bands clicks with each another, with the respective members of the other bands and everything, we all mesh well and the second we get together it’s always a fun time, so thinking of touring the world with your some of your best friends is always a recipe for a good time.
This is The Chariot’s first time touring Australia. Are you planning on showing them around?
Oh definitely. And actually, we’re not going to have to try too hard on that one because Taperjean, the company that’s bringing us out, they really do a good job of making sure that we get the local experience, if you will, showing us a good blend of the tourist life and the local life and everything there. So long as they stick with us on that I think they’ll get a good viewing of Australia.
I believe that Aussie fans will get to hear some of the tracks from your third album a few months early. Are there any nerves about road-testing the new material?
Oh there’s always nerves. There’ll be nerves, there’ll be mess-ups; it’ll be interesting. Learning a new song as a band live is always a bit jarring, but we’re really excited to do it. We’ve been playing the same songs for the past two years, some songs for the past five years. The second you’re done with the new record you’re always itching the shock the set full of the new material. Since this album isn’t released we won’t be filling it too heavily with new material, but we definitely want to give a taste of what’s coming soon.
I believe you’re currently in the studio finishing up the album. How’s that process coming?
It’s going great. We’ve been up here for a week and we already have the rhythm guitar track, coming up on finishing the drums. So next we’ll go to bass, and then we’ll do leads, and then we’ll do vocals, and then add the sizzle after that’s done. We just get to sit down and go through and add little tweaks and ear candy to liven up the mix, but so far we’re on schedule. Things are going well.
What can music fans expect from the album?
Honestly I would say, expect a darker, heavier, slightly techier album than before. We definitely have still maintained the melody aspect, and we’re still going to have a couple of tracks that are softer and everything, but overall I’d say darker, heavier, techier overall vibe to it.
What can local music lovers expect when they catch your live show?
I think showgoers should always know that with most bands, the crowd has some of the biggest pull on how a live show turns out. If a crowd wants to see a good show, they have the sway to do that. If we get up there and everyone is pumped, even if just the first few rows are pumped and freaking out and they’ve got their hands in the air and they’re screaming and jumping along, then that’ll kick us into overdrive mode and we’ll just lose our minds on stage and just have a great time with them. But if you come to a show and you stand there with your arms crossed the entire time, just texting and doing whatever else you’re doing … it’s hard to motivate yourself to headbang for a straight hour, throw your back out trying to impress someone that doesn’t necessarily want to be impressed. But I know that the second that we see someone, if they’re there and ready to party then we’re definitely going to bring them one hell of a show.
After the Australian tour, what’s next on the horizon for Oh Sleeper?
Right after Australia we hop over to New Zealand and play some shows over there, and then we’re in the process of booking out some East Asia-Singapore shows, and I believe after that we’re going to come back and hit the United States pretty hard with the release of the album. Right now we’re trying to find out some Japan dates. We’re really trying to focus this album moreso on international touring and getting out to new demographics, rather than just solely focusing on the United States as we have for the last two albums.
Catch Oh Sleeper with The Chariot and our own I Am Villain at the following No Surrender shows.
22 April 2011 – Easter Festival, Toowoomba (All Ages – The Chariot & I Am Villain not appearing)
23 April 2011 – The Gaelic Theatre, Sydney (18+)
24 April 2011 – Strawberry Jam Festival, Perth (All Ages – The Chariot & I Am Villain not appearing)
26 April 2011 – Harp Hotel, Wollongong (18+)
27 April 2011 – The Bended Night Club, Bendigo (18+)
28 April 2011 – The National Hotel, Geelong (18+)
29 April 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
30 April 2011 – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (Licensed All Ages)
Image source: Blood Company