Thursday, March 8, 2007
Hitting the road is a full-time job for Distance to Empty. In the four years the Kansas City, Kan.-based indie-pop band has been together, it has played hundreds of shows and its members have eaten just as many truck stop meals along the way.
Last year Distance to Empty played 150 shows on six different tours across the Midwest and eastern United States to promote the release of its second album, Relaxitement. Distance to Empty is recording a new album to be released next year and preparing for another tour in the western United States. Bass guitarist Kyle Akers took a break from the band’s busy schedule to talk about ice cream sandwiches, sea monsters and more.
Q: how did you travel for your tours last year?
We lived out of a 1996 Chevy Astro van. It was a unique experience — we slept in it at truck stops.
Q: What was the food like at all those truck stops?
I bought an ice cream bar out of a vending machine at one. Who knows how long it had been there. It was all frostbitten. We usually try to bring some canned goods with us on the road.
Q: How far from home have you driven for a show?
We drove all the way to Boston once.
Q: Where is the weirdest place you’ve ever played?
We played at this museum in Vermont run by this eccentric guy who believed it should sort of be a museum of everything. There were old bones that were supposed to be from a sea monster and dried up cats. We played an acoustic set next to a skeleton that was floating in an aquarium. We also met a homeless guy who talked to us about cooking raccoon and how it’s a three-step process.
Q: What was one of your favorite Distance to empty shows?
Playing on a side stage at the Rilo Kiley and Coldplay concert at Sandstone.
Q: what are your musical inspirations?
Our singer is really influenced by Frank Sinatra. Our guitar player listens to really indie stuff and I’ve been into ‘70s funk recently. I think the fact that everyone listens to different music helps with balance.
Q: What do you hope to do with distance to empty in the future?
We want to keep playing music for a long time.
Catch Distance to Empty March 23 at the Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Massachusetts St.
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