2020 has already seen Loathe go from strength to strength, playing packed out headline shows across the UK in support of their recently released sophomore album I Let It In And It Took Everything. Over the last two years the experimental metal quintet have proven their worth on the live circuit, touring across the UK, Europe, USA, Japan and China alongside the likes of Beartooth, SikTh, Architects, While She Sleeps, Hollywood Undead and more. With appearances at Download Festival and Sunstroke Festival also confirmed for June, we caught up with guitarist Connor Sweeney to hear his top tips and stories from the road.
Favourite thing about touring:
The main things would be meeting new people and learning/growing as people on tour. Whenever we finish a tour, we always assess what was good and what we could have done better, and we learn to grow and progress in as many ways as we can.
Least favourite thing about touring:
Probably fast food as it always ends up getting us ill. Eating healthy on tour is the way forward. I usually eat a lot of flatbread and humous, fruit or sandwiches of some kind. Supermarkets are the top of my list.
Five essentials for the road:
– External power bank charger
– Wet/antibacterial wipes
– A man bag to keep all essentials in
– A power cable extension
– Pillows
Your favourite way to pass the time:
I usually spend most of my time on my iPad drawing as I work as a tattoo apprentice when not touring. Listening to house music and garage is also a big thing for me. Catching up on any mixing work I do for bands is also a lot of what I do when we aren’t playing etc.
“The Most”
Memorable moment:
Playing America and Japan for the first time. I felt like I’d transcended life itself experiencing that for the first time on stage was something.
Hilarious moment:
Mostly every moment of everyday with the guys. We are always acting like complete clowns the majority of the time. It’s so much fun. I don’t experience happiness like it with anyone else except them.
Embarrassing moment:
Pulling off our van door on our first tour. It felt like a tin can and we were scared and worried if we were going to be able to make the shows.
Outrageous moment:
Playing shows in Japan and having people know the words. Pretty much what I said above really. Crazy moments that occur in life.
Drunken moment:
After our final show in Japan although we aren’t big party goers and few of us drink. I bought a lot of alcohol and gave some out to the close friends we had made, as well as some friends who now live there and had a very nice time.
Rewarding moment:
Recently it’s been releasing and seeing reactions from people on our new music. The new album is a real Loathe record. The Cold Sun, while it did us well was not truly what we wanted to accomplish within our music, and this one for sure has edged us closer to it and we are very happy. But it will always be a continuous battle with our minds in our music to create what we feel hasn’t or can’t be created.
Loathe‘s new album I Let It In And It Took Everything is out now via SharpTone Records, available to purchase HERE.
See the band live in June at Download Festival (UK) and Sunstroke Festival (IE).
