Touring, for the sake of touring
Misery Signals advocate the asphalt and fan diet
William O’Donnell, staff
Life on the road is only for certain types of people. Often, in the case of musicians, it is the make-or-break factor for whether they wish to pursue a musical career. Misery Signals, a metal outfit based out of Milwaukee, WI., is notorious for their relentless touring schedule. And they love it.
I recently spoke to Stuart Ross, one of two guitarists in the band. When I asked about the fact that, hot on the heels of a Canadian headlining tour, they have booked another three-month tour that includes a journey through Europe and across North America, he very specifically remarked, “Honestly, we’d rather be on the road.” As we talked, he gave no hint of the typical tales of trouble and pain I often hear about — what it means to tour as an up-and-coming metal band. Even the idea of touring through the late stages of Canada’s winter did not seem to deter him, “I don’t know. I just go on-stage and do my thing.”
Perhaps being the band’s token Canuck aids Ross’ attitude. Ross originally hails from Edmonton, Alb. (also home to Jesse Zaraska, the band’s former lead vocalist). Ross knows what it means to face the prairie cold and does so with an upbeat attitude.
The band just so happens to currently be staying in Canada, Vancouver, more specifically, for the recording of their as-yet-untitled fourth studio album. “It’s going great. We just finished some back-up vocal recordings. We had 30 people in here screaming their lungs out. It was really cool,” said Ross, who spoke to me from an apartment where the entire band is staying for the recording process.
Recording an album is one of the few things that could tear these guys away from touring, and Ross is eager to get back on the road so they can play some of their new material, which they expect to perform on their upcoming tour, which begins March 28. “We’ll probably throw in two or three new songs into our set . . . we’ll only have, like, 30 minutes to play on this next tour. So yeah, only two or so new songs for now,” Ross told me.
Misery Signals will be the main support for As I Lay Dying on this next tour. Said tour will see them returning to Winnipeg “for about the sixth time, I think,” Ross confirmed. While talking about our city, Ross remarked, “Winnipeg is always surprising. Always an amazing crowd there.” We certainly are known for getting rather riled up at metal concerts, and Misery Signals hopes that we get plenty rowdy for their show at the Garrick Theatre this coming May 5. “We love to get right in it,” Ross told me when asked about stage-divers and audience members rushing to the stage.
After April, when this next tour of theirs concludes, the band plans on taking some uncharacteristic time off for the summer. This is not just for the sake of rest, though that is a small part of it, but Ross told me that it is largely because “We always end up arriving in town the day of or day after some major summer festival like Taste of Chaos, or Ozzfest or Sounds of the Underground. And kids usually choose seeing a dozen or so bands over three or maybe four.”
Before then, Misery Signals hopes to set Winnipeg ablaze May 5 at the Garrick Theatre. Also on the bill, along with headliner As I Lay Dying, is August burns Red and Evergreen Terrace.
