On Thursday 20th of November, Music Editor India Thomas caught up with Moose Blood ahead of the Bristol date of their tour with Mallory Knox. They talk touring, records, and the importance of family.

India: So, youÔÇÖve been on the UK tour with Mallory Knox. How has it been so far?

Mark: The venues that weÔÇÖre getting to play are nuts, we donÔÇÖt expect it. We still donÔÇÖt think that we should be here. The Mallory Knox boys are lovely, to be on tour with Frank Iero as well is mental for us, we were all well-into My Chemical Romance and stuff. The shows have been great-weÔÇÖre really really lucky to be here.

India: How have the crowds been, being the first band on or whatever?

Mark: WeÔÇÖve been alternating between first and second, sort of every other show, and when itÔÇÖs second, itÔÇÖs a lot better because doors are sort of fifteen minutes before the first band, so a couple of times, doors have been late so not a lot of people are in by the time we go on. But by halfway through your set towards the end it fills up. But when weÔÇÖre on second, itÔÇÖs been great, weÔÇÖve met like, a bunch of people and, itÔÇÖs been really good. Better than we expected, because itÔÇÖs not our crowd at all. People are here to see Frank and Mallory, but I think that weÔÇÖve been pretty lucky with the responses and stuff weÔÇÖve had.

India: YouÔÇÖve just come off tour with Balance and Composure, in Europe. How was that?

Eddy: It was the opposite side of the spectrum, so they were quite intimate shows but to small crowds, all the kids were quite fanatical about all the bands so it was nice being able to see the reception weÔÇÖve got in Europe as opposed to the UK, ÔÇÿcos weÔÇÖd never been over there before.

India: What have been the highlights, or lowlights, of touring in Europe, or of touring in general?

Mark: The low side of touring in Europe is getting to a country and realising that you havenÔÇÖt got the right currency. ThatÔÇÖs a tough one-we were like ÔÇÿshit-everything IÔÇÖve got is worthless’. That happened in Denmark and Sweden. I just thought it was Euros. It was a bit chilly, but it was fantastic. We went on tour with two bands that we absolutely love, so just getting to see them every night was cool, let alone to be involved at all. There arenÔÇÖt really any lows going round Europe other than…the driving is tough!

Eddy: You see some beautiful places though.

India: Your debut album ‘I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time’┬áhas been out for a bit of a while now. I was psyched to get it, I went down to HMV on the day and IÔÇÖve never done that before. I’m so sad…

Mark: We all do it. I love doing that.

India: For who, what bands?

Mark: Machinehead, Slipknot. I just get really excited about music and when it comes out, I canÔÇÖt wait to pick it up. IÔÇÖm a proper music geek I love it.

India: Same, to be fair. How do you think IKYIMÔÇÖs been received?

Mark: Beyond anything we ever expected. I was gonna be really happy if we sold like 100 [copies] or something, but itÔÇÖs on its third pressing now of the vinyl. The reviews have been really good, itÔÇÖs weird that we havenÔÇÖt come across a bad one, IÔÇÖm sure thereÔÇÖs one out there.

India: I havenÔÇÖt read any.

Mark: For us, thatÔÇÖs bonkers. Regardless of how good the record might be, thereÔÇÖs someone whoÔÇÖll say itÔÇÖs shit.

India: Some bitter person locked in a room somewhere…

Mark: Yeah.

Eddy: People have been so kind about it. People seem to like it.

India: Did you record it in America?

All: Yeah.

India: Did you go and stay out there for long?

Eddy: We were there for two weeks so we spent a few days at the No Sleep place with our label and then an apartment. It was great.

India: Do you want to go back and tour in America?

All: Yeah.

India: I feel like thatÔÇÖs your musicÔÇÖs spiritual home.

Mark: A lot of people say that. From our influences as well, and the music that we love, and listening to growing up and stuff it is very much American bands, but that doesnÔÇÖt mean that we donÔÇÖt like any British bands, the stuff that weÔÇÖre into just happens to be more sort of, American based.

India: You can tell, all the like, Dashboard, Death Cab For Cutie, Brand New, references in everything

Mark: Yeah, like Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World all of that stuff.

India: I have to ask a question, is the song ‘Cherry’ in response to ‘Soco Amaretto Lime’? I get a lot of Brand New vibes off of that song

Eddy: I listen to that song a lot, and I guess it influenced it a little bit.

India: In a good way! I feel like ÔÇÿfamilyÔÇÖ is a massive theme on the record. Is it?

Eddy: Yeah, family means everything to us. I have like a wife and a child now so yeah itÔÇÖs a massive influence in your life and we write about what we know so itÔÇÖs a huge part of it.

Mark: ItÔÇÖs totally that. We donÔÇÖt make up stuff, itÔÇÖs things that we know and experience, people that we love and all of that. ItÔÇÖs just about, a lot of it is about them. Parents, girlfriends, wives, relationships, itÔÇÖs just genuine stuff. We just write about what we know, and whatÔÇÖs going on. Things whether itÔÇÖs things that weÔÇÖve experienced, or things that have happened in the past.

India: ItÔÇÖs really refreshing I think, itÔÇÖs nice to have something a bit more…meaningful, maybe?

Mark: Totally, lyrically we just…

India: Pour your heart out…?

Mark: Yeah, and itÔÇÖs come out pretty well.