A road-worn heavy metal band trying to navigate an oft-dark and muddled genre while expressing its religious convictions finds itself frequently subjected to criticism from concert-goers for its onstage sermonizing. Such is the dichotomy of Arlington, Texas’ very own Mouth of the South, who embark on a nearly two-week tour alongside Adaliah and 2×4 that will hit most of the southern United States.
Kicking things off September 16 in Tyler, Texas, this tour is only one chapter in Mouth of the South’s prolific history. Since 2007, the quintet has cycled through more than 15 different members, released two EPs (Manifestation and Of Dust) and one full-length (Transparency) on iTunes, and toured incessantly. Lead vocalist Josiah Lyle is especially excited for this outing, as the group gets to hit favorite stops in Houston and Little Rock, as well as revisit lightly-treaded territory in Florida.
As is more frequently the case in today’s musical landscape, Mouth of the South has accomplished all of these feats without the backing of a major label. This DIY approach has proven fruitful thus far, though the band is “down with anything that we feel will advance us as a business, whatever that looks like,” says Lyle. “So far we’ve done pretty well for ourselves but we’ll see what the future has in store.”
In an effort to rise above the current glut of sound-alikes clogging their respective scene, many artists are quick to deem their music “revolutionary,” “innovative,” or “groundbreaking.” Rather than succumb to these clichés, Mouth of the South maintains a different goal: writing music they love and spreading a message they hold dear. By doing so, guitarist Mike Butler believes they will achieve their primary focus of “keeping this band a true reflection of who we are and where our creative drive naturally brings us.”
Much of this creative drive lends itself to a shared spiritual compass. Butler makes the group’s intentions perfectly clear: “It’s our desire for us as individuals – and consequently for us as a band – to spread the kingdom of God here on Earth.” Butler adds the band has no reservations about sharing their beliefs with listeners, as their ultimate purpose is “making Jesus known for who He truly is.”
Declaring these convictions through music does not go without criticism, however. The group’s unabashed expression of their beliefs has been a source of hateful sentiment, and Lyle’s onstage preaching has earned disparaging remarks at shows, regardless of the actual quality of their music.
The band doesn’t take these reactions personally, acknowledging that “the gospel is offensive to people… because it is true and carries weight.” Butler says they frequently encounter listeners that find uplifting or meaningful elements in their lyrics, and being on the road allows them to continually meet and interact with new fans.
The next few months should provide plenty of opportunities for Mouth of the South to share their passions and earn new admirers. They currently have a full plate between writing for their next album, unannounced tours before the year’s end, and huge festival dates such as Rocktoberfest in Savannah, Georgia on October 12 and South By So What?! in Grand Prairie, Texas on October 25. Butler’s forecast for the rest of 2013 is simple and to-the-point: “These next few months should be exciting.”
Mouth of the South’s tour dates are:
9/16 – Tyler, TX @ Crossroads
9/17 – Jackson, MS @ Rampage Extreme Park
9/18 – Austin, TX @ The Parish Underground
9/19 – Houston, TX @ Walter’s
9/20 – Denton, TX @ Hailey’s
9/21 – Leachville, AR @ The Melody Theater
9/22 – Tupelo, MS @ Goodtime Charlies
9/23 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown
9/24 – Birmingham, AL @ The Forge
9/25 – Douglasville, GA @ The 7 Venue
9/26 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Atlantic Sounds Records
9/27 – Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem
9/28 – Macon, GA @ 152 Festival
9/28 – Boynton Beach, FL @ Limitless Studios
