Phoenix’s Midvale Park to Scream Their Way Through Boise for the First Time Tonight at Realms Arcade
Well, thanks, eardrums. It’s been real. Unfortunately we’re going to have to part ways at this point, as there’s a certain band from Phoenix playing Realms Arcade in Boise tonight, and they’re gonna rip you out of the ear holes of all in attendance. Why, you ask? Well, let’s let vocalist Alex explain …
Congrats on the release of your Pursuing One’s True Identity EP. How long was it in the making?
The EP was in the making since around February after we got off our first run of out-of-state shows. We took “Frail” and put it on the EP with the other four songs we made.
Did the EP turn out as you envisioned, or did it evolve in unexpected ways?
Not really. We wanted to make an album, but we slacked too long on making more songs, so it turned into an EP of the collection of songs we had made in those six months (plus “Frail”).
It seems to me that the EP really speaks to the pain that people – young people in particular, I imagine – are facing in this day and age, given that the world is so fucking hostile and cruel. “Frail” seems especially powerful because, at least in my interpretation, you’re empathizing with people who feel hopeless yet swaying them away from suicidal ideation. Is that at least somewhat accurate?
The EP name came from my issue with knowing who I am as a person, but the songs are were really just my emotions at the time – besides Frail. “Frail” is actually speaking about those who hold higher status than others and how they abuse it, the end is just saying how much I hate it.
You must have tons of people at your shows and beyond telling you how your music has helped them get through tough times. Can you share one or two anecdotes or specific instances when that happened, and what the fan(s) said to you?
An experience I’ve remembered was actually being at someone else’s show and having someone come up to me and say how much the music has helped them get through tough times. It brings me joy knowing that we can actually help people through things, the same way music has helped me through our lives.
How do you feel you’ve grown as a band – both as a recording entity and a live organism – since the release of Im sweeter than the scars on my arm make me appear a year ago?
Since the scars EP, we’ve grown exponentially. During the recording, we didn’t know what we were doing at all, and the songs from those EP was us building our foundation as a band. Now I feel like we’ve all been working really hard to tighten our sound, and our chemistry has gotten better as well.
What are the pros and cons of being a band in Phoenix these days?
I feel like being a band in PHX is a pro in itself. There is a lot going on, but a lot going on is also a con. It’s hard to know where to start, but once you get the ball rolling, it’s all really just up to you to grind.
How has your tour gone so far? Any highlights and/or lowlights?
The tour has gone really great so far. All of us are happym and we’ve been having a blast. If anything, the lows are the long car rides.
Will this be your first time in Boise or have you been here before?
It will be our first time in Boise. I’ve been to Idaho before (Idaho Falls), but the rest of the band hasn’t. I’ve been told Realms is the way to go! [Editor’s note: It most certainly is.]
What’s the best show you’ve ever performed?
The best show we’ve performed has to be the recent show at Haven [in Pomona, California] for aplacewevealwaysbeen and Lost Not Found‘s return show on September 5.
What’s the lamest show you’ve ever performed?
The lamest show we’ve performed was at the Haven for the first time, simply because most of our equipment was breaking during the set and our chemistry just felt off.
Do you have any plans to do anything specific in Boise while you’re here, or will you be too strapped for time?
Something potato-related.
For more on Midvale Park, check out their Bandcamp page.
Midvale Park headline tonight’s all-ages show at Realms Arcade. Cursed Be the Blessed, Lascera and Where’s Madison are also on the bill. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the bands taking to the stage an hour later. Tickets are a mere $10 in advance and $13. If you wanna enjoy Realms’ fleet of video games and pinball machines, an optional cost of $5 gets you unlimited play.
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