We eat. We play. We sleep. We play Halo 3 - Parkway Drive vocalist Winston McCall reveals tales of their extensive international tours and prepares us for their epic tour in December across all major cities with Suicide Silence, A Day to Remember, The Acacia Strain and Confession. Savannah Finlay asks that you prepare yourself for some serious hardcore.
Liveguide: Parkway Drive has been away from the serenity of Byron Bay for most of 2008 with extensive touring in the US and a sold out tour in Europe. How has the experience been for you?
Winston McCall: It been amazing. We’ve spent so much time on the road it’s ridiculous but at the same time I think the past year has been one of the smoothest and most rewarding for us as a band. The shows have been awesome and the road has been kind haha.
LG: How would you describe each of your habits on tour? Who has the weirdest habit?
WM: Easy. we eat. we play. we sleep. we play Halo 3. That’s pretty much it. The worst habit is Ben leaving filthy boogers all over the van and not telling anyone. That’s pretty messed up.
LG: How does the hardcore scene overseas compare to that in Australia?
WM: Its all really similar. Its just that there are more place to go and to play overseas becasue the population is larger than that of Australia. Kids look the same, mosh the same, like the same songs. They just speak in weird accents sometimes.
LG: Are you surprised by the success of Parkway Drive as a hardcore band which has lead to a mainstream embrace of your sound?
WM: Of course I am. Especially considering the sound we have is pretty heavy and we have in no way made any attempt to lighten up in order to gain a new audience. I think its pretty strange but I’m definitely not going to complain about it.
LG: What would we find you listening to on your Ipod at the moment?
WM: Nick Cave, The Gaslight Anthem, Cold World, The Hope Conspiracy, Gotye, Lupe Fiasco.
LG: What is a common misconception about Parkway Drive or yourself which you wish to expel?
WM: That we are serious people in a serious band. We're just old kids that have been given the chance to play some crazy shows.
LG: What advice would you give to up and coming Australian hardcore bands?
WM: Do something different. Do something interesting. Do it for yourself.
LG: You are coming home for an epic tour with Suicide Silence, A Day to Remember, The Acacia Strain and Melbourne’s Confession what should fans expect?
WM: Some songs we haven’t played before, some songs they've heard a hundred times before but still like, and some very very heavy bands. Plus I’m going to jump off the stage more that last time.
LG: What are on the cards in the future for Parkway Drive?
WM: More tours, plus we're working on a DVD documentary thing that will be out next year some time. It’s still in the planning stages but it’s looking pretty good. Oh, and we've started writing for a new record. I think we have a fair bit on our plates at the moment.
by Savannah Finlay
+
For full dates and venue details for Parkway Drive's December Tour, click here.