Interview with Jeff of Modern Life Is War
When most people think of Iowa, they think of Slipknot and...well, not much else. But for those who were lucky enough to experience Modern Life is War, whether it was through their albums or their passionate live shows, people discovered a whole different world of honest aggression supplied by a group of guys devoid of masks, overalls, and stage names. They're making one last hurrah around the country before calling it a day, and vocalist Jeffrey Eaton was willing to field my fanboy-esque questions with aplomb. Catch them on any of their last tour dates, and head out to Marshalltown, Iowa for the very last show if you're willing to make that kind of trek.
FoundryMusicGreg: Looking back to the beginning, was there any turning point such as a local show you played or maybe a brief tour where you realized that Modern Life is War was going to become your life? That you were going to hit the road with these guys and basically stay out there for such long stretches of time?
Jeff: Well we put out our own 7" and pressed 500 of them and we had test presses of that by the time we played our first show. That was in Tyler's parent's basement and we conned Holding On into coming down and playing. By that time we were already working on booking our summer tour. I think there was a pretty big chance in all of our heads that we would just do that one tour and be sitting on copies of that 7" for the rest of our lives. But once we did that first one and got a taste and things started to take shape...we really had big goals in mind starting right then. We were always planning and scheming so it was more of a struggle to have patience...waiting for the things you want to happen to happen.
FoundryMusicGreg: Your show at 538 Johnson in Brooklyn last year continues to be mentioned as one of the craziest and best hardcore shows to hit New York City in recent memory. I unfortunately wasn't able to make it out there and kick myself repeatedly every time I'm reminded of it. What was it about that night that made it so memorable, and does the line "I remember that Brooklyn rooftop and I remember walking the track" from "Useless Generation" refer to that day?
Jeff: I don't know what it was about that night. Walking into that place was like a scene out of Another State of Mind. It was in an old warehouse building turned into loft apartments and the hallways were packed with punks drinking beers, skaters, hardcore kids and just all kinds of people. I don't know the count but that place was jam packed. Had to be 300 or so. Everyone just seemed to be really keyed into living it up that night. Everyone was ready to sweat or bleed or break bones or get drunk or scream along. Sometimes things come together in that way that you always hope they will.
That line is from hanging out on the roof of Crewtonz with our friends that lived there. It was just an exciting and memorable time where a lot of friends were really close and we were up on that roof looking out over the city. Just one of those times where life meets life.
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FoundryMusicGreg: One of the things that separates MLIW from most hardcore bands is the quality of the lyrics. The storytelling bent to the words is more detailed and seems to be more natural and thought-out than the typical lyrics you hear from current bands. Most bands make vague statements about struggles and unity, and it doesn't sound like a lot of time and effort is put into them. I know you point to some of your literary and musical influences in "These Mad Dogs of Glory", but are there any others, whether in hardcore or another genre, that have influenced your lyrics?
Jeff: Old Scratch Revival Singers, Dillinger Four, Quadrophenia, Billy Bragg, Colin Macinnes, Richard Allen, This American Life (NPR), Henri Cartier Bresson, marshalltown, my family...and lots more...i don't know where to start or end.
FoundryMusicGreg: Will you be doing songs off of Midnight in America on this final tour that you haven't really played? I know that as far as the New York area goes, we haven't heard "Useless Generation", "Screaming at the Moon", and "Night Shift at the Potato Factory" live, and I think those are some of the most important songs off the new album.
Jeff: We might bust those out...I think everyone is gonna be up our ass about playing their favorite songs at all those shows! We'll do the best we can to play the jams that the kids want to jam to.
FoundryMusicGreg: Given the fact that you are not able to hit every city and state in the country, and that there aren't any overseas shows, lots of people will be traveling to Marshalltown for the final show. The way you describe it in songs makes it seem pretty run-down and lifeless, yet from things that I've read of yours, you seem to have a respect for the people, your neighbors, and so on. Is it a love/hate relationship that you have with your hometown?
Jeff: It's definitely a love/hate thing. Jean Seberg said "Marshalltown is the kind of place that you can never really leave" and she was right. I think it's like a lot of places...if you just drove through you might not think anything of it. I have lived here for 27 years...so i've found the magic and I've found the dread. I am actually going to post a thing on the internet about the places people might want to hit up while they are in town...so keep an eye out for that. It should be on our webpage as well as the Lifeline Records site. Speaking of which...you can buy tickets there if you are planning on traveling to our last show and i wouldn't show up without a ticket cause there might be a lot of people there.
FoundryMusicGreg: Any advice to travelers on what activities they may be able to do, or places to visit while they're over there?
Jeff: I am actually going to post a thing on the internet about the places people might want to hit up while they are in m'town...so keep an eye out for that on our website. Also...the lifeline records site has tickets for our last show available for mailorder. If you are planning on traveling...buy a ticket or ya might not be able to get in cause we are playing a hall.
FoundryMusicGreg: What band do you feel the closest to, whether it's in work ethic or personal beliefs? Or maybe a band that you got along with a lot better than others on tour, and does any one memory come to mind regarding them?
Jeff: I think we feel closest to our friends bands in Iowa just because we've all been connected for a good 10 years or more in one way or another. We are all just music lovers who don't get too caught up in who's who and what's cool. They know we'd be playing in bands and supporting our friend's music even if this Modern Life Is War thing would have never took off and we woulda broke up after one 7" and one tour. Our roots run deep in this black dirt. Brooks Strause, Quick Fix, Sioux City Pete and the Beggars, Helmer, Beat Strings, Old Scratch Revival Singers, Desperation, Grave Digging Shovels, William Elliot Whitmore. Most of the people in the bands mentioned above have been in many other bands, booked shows, helped make records. We really have quite a tradition going here and it's always been more about the music and less about the social or business side of things.
FoundryMusicGreg: Lots of hardcore kids seem to have to this false preconception that just because a band may have more fans than other hardcore bands, then they must be "rock stars" or have a rockstar attitude. People were saying this before you even signed to Equal Vision and continued to say it once you did. Why do you think that idea is floating around out there, especially since you've continued to play small shows and stayed DIY? The only time I've seen you play with a barricade was when you opened a show for Bouncing Souls and Lifetime, and that was a one-time thing.
Jeff: This is an interesting topic. It's one of the things that remains important in this scene and I think thats a good thing. I like the fact that no one can walk in and act like they are king shit...you have to earn people's respect and in many places kids won't think twice about walking out on your show or handing your ass to you in the parking lot. Having said that...some kids just cannot be pleased and seem to always have something to complain about and find a place to complain about it. I definitely don't feel a need to defend myself or my band in this respect. We aren't trying to please everyone or be everyone's friend and that's not the most important thing to us...so if someone thinks we are rockstars at this point...I just really can't bring myself to care or list reasons why i don't think we are. While we are on the subject though...I think a lot of times people assume the way you are one time at one show is the kind of person that you are. People in bands have their good days and bad days just like anyone else...and sometimes it does get overwhelming to be at a show every night of your life. If you like a band then don't the people that sacrifice so much of their lives to play in that band deserve a little slack? And if you are holding them up to expectations that you wouldn't place on any other person...then aren't you the one putting that person on a pedestal they don't belong on? Would you go on the internet and post on a messageboard if one of your good friends was a dick one night? So then why would you do that if it was a guy in a band? For the most part, it is those kids who create that rockstar shit...just by giving someone unnecessary attention..even if that attention is negative. Kids that haven't toured a lot don't understand certain things...they sleep in their comfortable bed every night, see their loved ones every day, have a kitchen to make a homecooked meal in, they get time to themselves... that's the kind of stuff we miss when we are on the road and just can't have. Sometimes they think we are the lucky ones...and if we act a little bummed at some point...that's some rockstar shit and we are spoiled rotten. But sometimes a guy in a touring band is just a lonely tired motherfucker who's played a show every night for the last 6 weeks and has a bad sore throat...that man don't feel very lucky and he has envy for a very simple comfortable life. I do always try to remember how fortunate i am to have the opportunity to travel around with my friends and play music..and to remember the people who support us and make it possible. Even so, I am a human being and I can't apologize for that.
FoundryMusicGreg: Do you know what each of you will be doing once you finish this tour, or is it still too early for you to know for sure?
Jeff: A little too early to know. I think everyone has been thinking about it a lot. I know music and writing is in my future. Maybe you'll hear from me again down the line.
For the band's final tour dates, as well as other info, or just to send them some love, visit their Official Myspace Page
