Editor’s Note: Madame Mayhem recently provided direct support to Shim at Lefty’s Live Music in Des Moines this past Friday. It was a cold winter night, yet there were small signs of spring in the air. The poor band had to park like two blocks away and the tour manager shoveled out a path for them so they could get through. Yes, there’s 9,000 inches of snow in Iowa. The band has such a vibrant, unique rock sound that I can’t help but vibe to every time that I listen to them. Their live show is a fun experience as well, tight musicianship, plus front-lady Madame Mayhem oozes with charisma. Fans can find Madame Mayhem at the following locations:
www.instagram.com/madamemayhem
www.twitter.com/MayhemOfficial
They start off by complimenting my Mets jersey!
Madness To Creation: Who is your favorite New York Mets player?
Madame Mayhem: I don’t know. I’m a diehard New York Rangers fan. I’m into hockey, I don’t do the baseball. My attention span can’t do it. It’s a lot of just standing there and hitting.
Madness To Creation: Speaking of hitting, what’s your favorite thing that people do at a concert?
Madame Mayhem: Rock out and pay attention to the band that’s playing that night. That’s always the most fun, I mean us being on the road and playing with multiple bands no matter what night, it’s always really cool when the crowd is there for the band that they initially came to see, and they’re there to check out new bands that they might not have known before, and that happens to us all of the time, so I would love for that to be passed forward.
Madness To Creation: Does it drive you nuts when people are up front or in the middle and they are on their phones or whatever?
Madame Mayhem: If they’re on it for a really long period of time, then yeah. It’s like, “what are you doing”, but if it’s like a quickie, then that’s okay.
Madness To Creation: Madame Mayhem released the song “Broken” recently, tell me about the song and tell me about a time when you felt “broken”, but you got through the situation?
Madame Mayhem: The song is really about stopping a situation before you get to that point, because of knowing what it can do to you, whether it’s with life events, the passing of someone, or a really messed up relationship or a work situation that’s just not going your way, just kind of being able to break away from that and be stronger than you think you are, I think we are all stronger than we know, and that’s what I write about a lot in the songs because it’s something that I need to remind myself as well, so that’s kind of how it works.
Madness To Creation: We are evolving this site to gear it towards a combination of music and mental health/wellness, what do you do to help with your mental health and wellness in your life?
Madame Mayhem: Honestly, music is my outlet for that 100%, whether it’s writing or performing, when we go on stage and perform some of these songs that I wrote when I was in a certain place or dealing with a certain situation, I relive those again and it’s therapeutic to get that anger and angst out again, so music really helps me.
Madness To Creation: Was there any bands or recording artists that you would look to in order to help get you through?
Madame Mayhem: A whole bunch! I started out as a grunge baby, so whenever I listen to that kind of music, whether it’s Soundgarden or Alice In Chains, it brings me back to a comfort place in my mind, so it’s pretty cool.
Madness To Creation: If Chris Cornell or Layne Staley were sitting here in this interview, what would you say to them?
Madame Mayhem: I would pass out! I wouldn’t be able to talk because that’s a pretty big dream right there.
Madness To Creation: Let’s say there was someone reading or listening to this and they’re going through anxiety or depression, what would you say to them?
Madame Mayhem: I would say to them, that it always gets better no matter how bad it gets, and no matter how often it gets, it will always get better and there will always be those moments in life that you appreciate and love and are so happy for, because I have a whole lot of anxiety a lot of the time, so to just kind of remember that, it helps a lot, it’s not as bad as it may seem, and even if it is, it will not last.
Madness To Creation: I would be passed out as a hot mess myself! You’re on tour with Shim, why should people come out early to see Madame Mayhem?
Madame Mayhem: In all honesty, I’m really happy with how the shows have been coming off, the fans have been really giving us amazing feedback. We’re high energy, hard hitting show that pumps everyone up, it’s a lot of fun to listen to, we have a lot of fun rocking out with everyone, so there’s no reason not to come early.
Madness To Creation: What are some pre-show rituals that you have?
Madame Mayhem: You’re watching it! We’re here, so besides this, sometimes we’ll throw on some tunes and kind of rock out to pump ourselves up, and to get ourselves psyched up for the show that we’re about to play, I have my warmups to soothe the vocal cords, that’s basically it.
Madness To Creation: What’s the plans for Madame Mayhem for the summer?
Madame Mayhem: We just announced that we are playing Rock USA this summer, we’re really pumped about it, and we’re going to be announcing more show dates in between as we go about this tour, and writing new music. “Broken” is released now, if anyone hasn’t heard it yet, check it out, and we’re going to continue to write and release new stuff for everyone.
Madness To Creation: Where can people request “Broken”?
Madame Mayhem: Radio stations, local rock radio stations, everyone should do it, get it on Spotify, download it on i-Tunes, all of the things! It’s available everywhere on the Internet where music is supposed to be. If you have a local rock station that you love, tell them and say, “hey, I want to hear this”.
Madness To Creation: I know that you have to do some vocal warm-ups and you’re going on stage in a little bit, so I’m giving you the floor to add anything you want to add.
Madame Mayhem: Everyone should check out www.madamemayhem.com
Keep in touch with us on social media as well because we like to talk to everyone and talk about music and whatever else it may be, check us out, we love to rock and we love everyone that likes to rock.
Madness To Creation: Hope you kill it tonight!
Madame Mayhem: This was a lot of fun! Thank you!
And there you friggin’ have it! Madame Mayhem will continue to provide direct support for Shim before playing a couple of one-off shows with Sevendust. Check out tour dates below!
Thu. 3/14- Diesel Concerts in Chesterfield, Michigan
Fri. 3/15- Muddy Creek Saloon in Heath, Ohio
Sat. 3/16- The Empire Concert Club in Akron, Ohio
Sun. 3/17- Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Wed. 3/20- DC9 Nightclub in Washington D.C.
Thu. 3/21- Fish Head Cantina in Baltimore, Maryland
Fri. 3/22- RiffHouse Pub in Chesapeake, Virginia
Sat. 3/23- Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia
Sun. 3/24- The Blind Tiger in Greensboro, North Carolina
Tue. 3/26- Amos Southend in Charlotte, North Carolina
Wed. 3/27- The End in Nashville, Tennessee
Thu. 3/28- Revolution Music Room in Little Rock, Arkansas
Fri. 5/17- The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan (w/Sevendust)
Sat. 5/18- The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan (w/Sevendust)
For tickets and further information on any of the shows listed above, click here.
