In this episode of Adventures of Pipeman on W4CY Radio, Pipeman sits down with Andrew and Matt from Dance Gavin Dance at the Louder Than Life (dubbed "Hotter Than Life") festival. They discuss the festival experience, changes within the band, haunted venues, balancing performance with extreme weather, and what's next for Dance Gavin Dance.Main Topics Covered
- Festival Life and “Hotter Than Life”
The band's experience at Louder Than Life, including the heat, crowd size, and Danny Wimmer’s impact on the U.S. festival scene. - Haunted Venues and Unusual Touring Stories
Prison festivals, haunted Airbnbs, and supernatural anecdotes from the road. - Band Dynamics and Growth
Evolution of relationships and communication within Dance Gavin Dance, fueled by the addition of Andrew as lead vocalist. - Performing in Extreme Conditions
The physical and mental experience of performing in intense heat and while ill. - What’s Next for Dance Gavin Dance
Upcoming album, international touring plans, and a renewed sense of camaraderie in the band.
Key Discussions & StoriesThe Festival Experience
- Pipeman notes the escalating size of American festivals, sharing a conversation with Wacken fest organizers about the impressive growth in the U.S. festival scene 01:23.
- Matt shares the crowd at Louder Than Life may reach 240,000 people 01:17.
- Andrew highlights Danny Wimmer’s role, calling him a “genius” for producing back-to-back mega festivals 01:57.
Haunted Venues
- Pipeman describes the haunted Ohio State Reformatory, site of the Incarceration festival, and shares a chilling story of an artist who left a torture room with unexplained scratches 03:16.
- Matt adds his own backstage horror story from Soundwave Festival in Australia, where dressing rooms were old prison cells with un-openable doors 02:46.
- Andrew and Matt joke that their Louisville Airbnb must be haunted due to its spooky vibe and their late-night shenanigans 03:44.
The Challenge of Performing in the Heat
- Pipeman and Andrew discuss the struggle—and adrenaline rush—of performing on stage in extreme heat 04:44.
- Matt recalls playing at Aftershock Festival with a 102-degree fever under a blazing sun, describing the experience as “time travel” from the intensity 05:05.
- Both Andrew and Matt echo how stepping on stage, they’re able to flip a switch and transcend discomfort through pure adrenaline 05:27.
Band Growth and Improved Relationships
- Matt and Andrew reflect on how open communication and resolving resentments have improved their dynamic and performances 06:12.
- Andrew speaks candidly about the importance of not just “going through the motions,” but genuinely enjoying their time and roles in the band 06:42.
- Matt shares feedback from fans and crew that the band “looks like you’re genuinely having a good time,” signaling positive change 07:43.
Looking Forward: New Album and Tours
- Andrew announces a new album is finished and coming next year—“my personal best work” 08:19.
- Plans for an Australian tour in November and further touring in the upcoming year 08:30.
Notable Quotes
- “Andrew: The guy’s a genius, he’s killing it.” 01:57
- “Matt: If someone doesn't like something, we say it and we figure it out… instead of just holding on to these resentments.” 06:33
- “Andrew: You don't want to be sitting there up on stage going, ‘what am I even doing here?’” 07:07
- “Matt: You guys look like you're genuinely having a good time and like enjoying each other. We’ve just never seen that with this band before like it is now.” 07:45
- “Andrew: I think it’s our best work, my personal best work of my whole career as a musician.” 08:25
Resources & Links Mentioned
Pipeman in the Pit is a music, festival, and interview segment of The Adventures of Pipeman Radio Show (#pipemanradio) and from The King of All Festivals while on The Pipeman Radio Tour.
Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!
Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at linktr.ee/pipemanradio
Stream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV.
Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.
