The Minnesotan rock band are set to return to Australia in April alongside Yellowcard and Plain White T’s
“Are you sitting on your bed?” Motion City Soundtrack’s lead guitarist Joshua Cain bluntly asks me a mere twenty seconds into our interview. I proceed to clear up the confusion and reveal that I was, instead, sitting on my couch.
“I’d bang my head if that were my couch” Cain retorts, proceeding to imitate himself banging his head. Thunderous laughter ensues from all parties involved in the Zoom call. Which, in this case is Cain, bassist Matthew Taylor and me.
It was this early into the interview when I realised that this was actually going to be more of a comedy show than an interview. A double act – with Taylor being the straight man and Cain the wild comic. Perhaps this is just what people from Minnesota are like I thought.
Within a mere few seconds of asking my first question though, I realised I was interviewing world class musicians. A rock band whose twists and turns could rival that of a Scorsese movie. From exposition to rising tension, breakthrough to eventual hiatus, Motion City Soundtrack are now back for their sequel.
Cain, Taylor, vocalist and guitarist Justin Pierre, keyboardist Jesse Johnson and drummer Tony Thaxton went on hiatus in 2016. Thereafter, the band members moved to different states and pursued other endeavours. In 2019, though they band announced they were reuniting.
Now, for the first time since their farewell tour, the band is returning to Australia.
“I’m excited for the sunshine and warmth,” Cain says when discussing the upcoming tour. “I have to wear the highest SPF sunscreen though. I’m already red right now and I haven’t seen the sun in six months,” he jokes.
“Australia’s always been great for us,” he continues. “We’ve done a bunch of Soundwave festivals there. They were some of the biggest shows we’ve ever played.”
Of course, coming to Australia was never really on the cards for Motion City Soundtrack. In fact, they’re the first to admit they never thought they’d leave Minneapolis. But now, set to tour with Yellowcard and Plain White T’s, their fortunes have significantly changed.
“We’ve known them for a while,” Cain says when asked how they joined the tour. “They [Yellowcard] invited us on the tour.” In fact, Motion City Soundtrack has had a wild experience at a previous gig with Yellowcard.
“We played with them at this weird place. They weren’t big, and neither were we. It was packed, and it was a newer construction. The audience was jumping for us so hard that the floor began to flex really badly. Like, Drew Carey was downstairs eating at the Hard Rock Café and asked, ‘Sorry, why is the roof flexing?’ And it was us.”
Unlike previous tours, this upcoming one comes with the assurance that they’ll have a good time—a rarity, to say the least. “We’ve definitely had tours where, all of a sudden, you can’t even use the bathroom backstage,” Cain says. “We had one that rubbed us the wrong way, but we won’t name names. The bigger the band, the nicer and more accommodating they are. Blink-182 were the kindest people,” he adds.
This level of respect is an ethos the band has tried to carry with them throughout their ascent: to put it bluntly, not to be a dickhead.
When asked how they’ve managed to avoid that fate, both Cain and Taylor pause, stretching out their lips as if searching for an answer.
“I think it’s because we were older when we got this going. I was signed when I was 27. We’re also from Minnesota and Virginia. We just treat people how we want to be treated. That’s about it, really. Everybody just needs to make a living and do the shows,” Cain reflects.
As for what the rest of the year holds for the band beyond the Australian shows, the mostly silent Taylor twiddles his fingers together and makes a noise like a plotting Bond villain.
“New music?” I ask.
“Yes,” Cain responds whilst nodding. “But I can’t give you any more details than this: we’re making a new record, and it’s very close to being done.” Both of them then look at each other and share an all-knowing smile. I think that says it all.
Motion City Soundtrack are touring Australia with Yellowcard and the Plain White T’s from April 2. They will be performing in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. Tickets can be accessed here.
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