MurderFM's Norman Gives Run Down of the Touring Life

MurderFM released their debut album "Happily Neverafter", since then they have set their hearts and souls into being on the road, playing shows, jumping on tours, to planning out further shows, tours, and releasing new videos and singles all in the works. That said, frontman vocalist/guitarist/programmer Norman Matthews took some time as the band was out on a mini run of dates, to discuss their time on the run as of late and what the future holds.

1. You guys decided to hop on the Drowning Pool train, doing this "mini" run of dates on their tour, why do this short run? How has it been going for everybody?

Norman:  Because we had just come off some Texas headline shows, we have probably done like 90 shows in 78 days, from October til Christmas of 2015, and we just kind of wanted to hit some markets, we kind of hadn't hit on tour. Before we would stop to regroup, during our little break in between, before we take off again in April. So we just wanted to go and visit every last little spot we hadn't been too yet. It's been absolutely amazing, when you do what you love to do, it's hard to say that anything has gone bad, because in the big picture we love what we do, whether it's three people, three hundred, or three thousand, we really don't care because we are out here living our dream and that's a really cool thing, it's nice to be able to do that.

2. When will we be expecting you guys to be going on your own headlining run as far as a tour? Or do you enjoy playing the supporting role and doing these mini treks?

Norman: April, that's what we are working on, that's why we wanted to finish doing some support stuff, then head out and get onto the headlining sides of things. Just really, really, really tearing it up. So get ready, be there!

3. Do you have any notable stories from on the road or at a show on this current run or any recent run-ins?

Norman: Any notable stories? I think every day there is something notable and just something exciting happening because we're playing a new market, visiting a new city, we're accomplishing a new goal, we're making new fans, friends, everyday there is something new and exciting. I mean even trials and challenges, we become better as a band, stage people ya know? It's we're ever evolving and I really enjoy it.

4. Have you noticed the economy affecting your tour attendance or merch sales?

Norman: Ya know, that's a hard one to say, because at the level we are at everything is difficult. Maybe IF we were selling a million records, or selling like twenty thousand maybe that would be a deal. But for us, everything is a plus ya know? Everything for us is a big deal. It's like all the way up for us right now. I think it can affect turn out and audiences, choices with seeing live music, in the ways they maybe of done it before, like two or three shows a week, they pick and choose which shows they want to go too, that the smaller bands have a harder time.

5. What was the first concert you attended as a fan?

Norman: My first concert was Kiss! I was 4 years old, which was awesome. I mean, my mom took me and her friend had worked at the venue, so we got in free, and I remember Gene Simmons, walking up to me, sticking his tongue out, because I was crying on the side of the stage. He had a guitar pick on him, and I was like, oh man I have to take that. Knowing what I know now, of where Gene Simmons is, that was probably a bad idea for a child. But it really changed my life as a child and really set it up for me, so yeah Kiss set it off for me.

6. What's the best prank you’ve played on bandmates or other bands?

Norman: The best prank! Ya know I don't want to give too many away because we still have a few more days with Drowning Pool. CJ is standing over there, so I don't want him to hear this, but we definitely prank everybody. There's definitely some sort of deli meat, costume and anything breakable involved. So that's always fun haha.

7. Who goes the longest without taking a shower?

Norman: Who goes the longest without taking a shower.... probably our guitarist Matt. Without a doubt I think he prides himself on that. I myself did a whole U.K. tour, just because I was scared because of the hotels, we were in a tour bus, but like the hotels there, had shared bathrooms, like hostiles or whatever we would say. I never wanted to get in on that. But Matt definitely that's one of his prouder moments.

8. How many times do you have to wear the same piece of clothing because you couldn't find a laundry matt?

Norman: Ummm I am doing that right now. I think it kind of becomes a thing. I figure if I only wear it one hour a day, it takes 8 times before I've worn it a full day.

9. Who has the worst tour hygiene?

Norman: The worst tour hygiene, probably our guitarist Matt. He just doesn't give a fuck. I wish I could be that way ya know? Confident with brushing my teeth, putting febreze on, deodorant, I am probably the second girlest of the band.

10. Who has the worst dress sense?

Norman: I don't know, we are all pretty snappy dressers. I mean, look at the fancy hole I have in my pants right here. Ummm  I think the fact that we coordinate on one another, really kind of makes it not so terrible. So we always kind of match. So that helps, I think when we are left to our own devices, we all look funky in our own ways.

11. Who is the last one to get on the tour bus/van?

Norman: Probably J our bassist, I am usually the first one on, wanting to disappear, dry off, with Netflix, for chilling.

12. What has been the best hotel/motel that you have slept in and what made it the best out of all the others?

Norman: The best hotel or motel, oh the best one would probably be this fancy one, the Boxford Suits, that was pretty badass you should check it out. Anything with a hot tub, usually does it for me. Usually on the off days, I am the guy that tries to find that fancy hotel or motel. I'll pay for it, I don't care.

13. Being out on the road, do problems still arise between bandmates from being stuck in the van for too long?

Norman: Oh man absolutely, just today we were all mad at each other before we played. Ya know you're a family, being really tight, you are always really tight together, that sometimes you're a little too close for comfort. That anything can set something off ya know? It's like somebody wants this type of food or that type, it's like man change it up. Or I always want to sleep, it's like ah he doesn't want to hang out, and everybody does. It's just a lot for everybody, but at the end of the day we get on that stage and it's just a lot of chemistry ya know? We really channel that into our stage show ya know?

14. What do you miss most from home when you’re on tour?

Norman: My 2 year old little boy. I don't miss anything else but him. I can live without anything else,if I could have him on the road, I could just tour forever and ever.

15. When it comes to being in the van, which one of you guys ends up being that type of rider, who is like "Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

Norman: That would probably be me, but I have just learned to just sleep through everything. I am probably the most anxious one in the band, like I have to get somewhere ya know? Like are we there? I just have to get somewhere, so yeah it would probably have to be me.

16. After this tour what is next for Murder FM?

Norman: We are taking off March, then in April have some headlining dates, festivals, all that good stuff. Have our second single, second video coming soon, just a whole new cycle coming up for us.

17. Is there anything else you want to say before I go?

Norman: I love my mom. It has been a great run for us so far, since our record came out last August. So see the cult like fan base we have, grow, it's really amazing to us. Knowing that we have an audience to turn too, we just would like to say thank you very much.