1. So how long was this past tour and how many stops did you have?

We were on tour for a little over a month this summer. We played 21 dates in 19 different cities and towns from Vancouver to Montreal.

2. What's an average day like on tour?

An average day consists of waking up anywhere between 6 AM and 12 noon (depending on the drive that needs to be done) and then getting to whatever place we're playing that night. Usually we get there only an hour or so before load-in so there isn't much time to see the city. We more or less just get all the things into the venue and set up then wait around and watch the other bands play. After the show we either drive a portion of the next day's distance or crash at a friends house if there is one. It's by no means a glamourous life style. It's exhausting, expensive, trying, and can squeeze the passion for music right out of you.

3. When you get to a city, do you feel like you actually become part of that city's scene for the time your there, or is it just like another stop on the map?

That's a good question. For us it depends on the city. In a place like Saskatoon where we have a ton of friends and play consistently its like going home in a way. Edmonton is the same way. However a place like Vancouver or Toronto is a brand new scene to us so we treat each of those shows like a first date or something. Each city has its own tastes so it's really hard to be a part of every single one of them.

4. What do you think about Canada's metalcore scene as a whole? Do you think that it's just a trend with a lot of young people, or is it actually going somewhere?

That's a huge question!
I think if people don't 'wake up' the Canadian metalcore scene will be pretty much dead before long. Especially out west. The east still loves its breakdowns, As I lay Dying riffs and bass drops so it'll be ok for a while, haha. Out here the music has more heart, you know? We have lot more hardcore influence out here for some reason and I find the hardcore scene to have a lot more passion and message. So when I say that the scene needs to 'wake up' I mean it needs to discover the heart in music and the unbelievable power that heavy music holds in its ability to carry a meaningful message. Not many other genres can rival it in that respect.
SO yes, I think that Canadian metalcore is going somewhere. Heavy music is becoming increasingly mainstream and that open door paired with true heart and passion will be unstoppable.

5. What are some other Canadian metalcore bands that you've played with that people in Calgary might not know about.

Too many! Haha.. it's actually overwhelming. The highlights from this tour were:
Strangers from SK who are definitely worth checking out - great musicians and guest vocals from Carl of Mis Sigs on their EP.
As Bold as Lions, our good friends from Edmonton who played Warped this year.
My Daughter the Ranger from Vancouver Island, cool band and good guys.
Fame, who for some reason don't do well in Calgary.. but they rule and landed the opening spot for the THSD tour in Winnipeg. Probably because again, they rule.
Interestingly the only metalcore bands that were truly enjoyable are from the west, hahaa! But to be fair we don't know the east that well - I'm sure there's tons of cool bands out there.


6. As far as metalcore scenes, what would be your top three cities?

For us the top 3 scenes are Calgary, Saskatoon, and Edmonton. I mean.. those are just where we do the best. Montreal was super cool too. Calgary has some really dedicated promoters and an awesome core group that goes to almost every show. Edmonton has one of the most amazing venues at Avenue Theatre and Phil and Greg are just the best dudes. Shawn Cuthand in Saskatoon is so instrumental to the Western Canadian scene, that guy deserves so many thanks. The people in that city just seem to be into almost anything and that rules.


7. I know you guys made a lot of statuses about Montreal. What was that like?

We made so many statuses cause we were there for a whole week! haa.. but naah, that city is amazing. well, and demoralizing. See, the city and the people there are unreal and the music scene is alive and well but I heard sooo much Blindwitness-core that I just about lost it. Breaking the Fourth Wall is doing some really important work out there and they need everyones support. We also saw Texas in July and Mychildren Mybride while staying out there and that gave a look at what the US is up to right now. I hope to God in Heaven that we don't start making a standard of choreographed stage moves and cheap tricks like they did. That being said.. I would endure untold amounts of Blindwitness-core to be able to live in a place that had poutine as good as it was there.

8. Did any cool shit happen. Was there any fights? Did anyone get naked? Was there any wild groupies? Was there police?

haaa! FCF is a pretty boring group of guys.. we don't drink like a lot of bands and we dont party hard on tour cause there's too much to do all the time and it costs too much. BTFW though.. the cops got called on Matt the vocalist by a venue owner who legitimately thought he was on crazy drugs during a performance. Matt's straight edge. Felix loves being 'free' with his body, so we saw a lot of it. They keep us young. We also went to what is supposedly one of the most haunted places in all of Canada called Fort San in Fort Qu'Appelle, SK. That was crazy. We crept through these underground tunnels beneath the hospital and stuff.. it was creepy. The only wild groupies we saw were following For The Weekend around in Sylvan Lake, aha. Aaand though our Tour Manager Rob Cripps tried his hardest we didn't get in any fights.

9. What do you think is the coolest thing about being a metalcore band on tour?

The coolest thing about being in a metalcore band on tour is the new kinds of bacteria you can grow on the floor of the van! Science rules!

10. What music do you listen to on the road?

Anything I guess. When Keenan gets to pick it's hip-hop, when Nathan picks it's Secret and Whisper, when Jordon picks it's Dillinger, and when I pick its a Fuck the Tundra that they're all sick of.

11. Now that you're back what are your plans?

We're looking at some new musical directions. We were exposed to a lot of cool new bands by our friends in Montreal and a lot of crappy metalcore at various shows so we have some ideas of what we definitely do and do not want to do. we're also starting to look at a couple more tours before everybody gets snowed in. Calgary locals should get stoked for what we're going to make another huge show. CD release was awesome, but we're still looking bigger!