MTG interview by: Sean WWTO

MTG
www.myspace.com/MTG412

Demand Records
www.myspace.com/demandrecords

how long has the band been together?
We have been together a little over a year and a half

how did the band come to be known as Monument The Ghost MTG?
We were walking out of a show and our old guitar player just blurted it out, we said man that kinda cool, so it stuck and we have hated it ever since ha.

are any of the members in side projects other than MTG?
Jonny and Bobby are working on a side project called VOW OF HATRED, check it out its straight up beat down and Bobby also plays bass in TURNPIKE GATES local straight edge hardcore like champion and stuff

how long has the band been signed with demand records and how did you come to signing with them?
We have been signed to Demand for almost a year. We were in the process of trying to put out or EP at the time (Life's A Mess) and another so called "Label" said they would help but when it came time to print them and spend the money they backed out. So fortunately we had a show coming up with The Neon Hookers and from us talking back and forth we found Demand Records through them, talked to Josh and We were signed that night which was amazing.

is this the original lineup and if not what is the current lineup?
This is not the original line up…The strongest we have ever had but not the original. Ben-vox, E-bass and Bobby-guitar are the only original members. Pat-vox came to us last year right around xmas so it was a nice little gift as well as Shawn and Jonny we added to the mix about a month and a half before our summer tour

is there a large and thriving scene in the Pittsburgh area as well as throughout Pennsylvania?
Pittsburgh absolutely not…it actually makes us upset. We get really good shows but it's the same people and that isn't a problem but no one else gives a shit and that is sad. PA is great however, Erie has some really good stuff as well as Philly and East Stroudsburg. You got bands like Wisdom in Chains, Reign Supreme, Steel Nation, Represent, CDC so we have some good gin around.

in only one sentence describe your bands sound to someone who has never heard you before?
We are a hardcore band with beat down parts, that is fun and has a message.

for someone who has never seen MTG live before what can they expect to see especially if its a show in the Pittsburgh area?
Well in the Pittsburgh area not much, because again its not a very good place to play so play there as little as possible. But on the road you can expect high intensity show with a lot of emotion and some violence every now and then haha.

when the band is on tour in the van what is usually playing in the cd player?
We like to mix it up as much as possible. We are a hardcore band, but you cant listen to hardcore constantly, we have everything from folk and acoustic to metal and reggae and ska. We are a very eccentric band

what do you base your lyrics on when writing new material?
Well whatever is going on at the time in our lives or in the world…and I know that is what every band would say. But I think we express that better than some bands.

how were you first exposed to the scene and what made you say i want to be in a band?
We all kind of got into at the same time. We just ended up getting cds off of people and checkin them out and then heading to see those bands and just being exposed to so many great bands. Pat and Jonny are a little older than us so they were into it a little while longer before us.

you recently had a show with death before dishonor how was that show attendance wise and how did the crowd take to you when you played?
Well we pretty much played for the bands. It was at a venue that was 18+ and didn't start til 10pm. So the kids around there know that the touring bands wont play til 12 so it was kinda like a practice away from home, but it was nice hearing the touring bands tell us that it was good.

when on tour and driving from city to city what is some of the weirdest shit you have seen happen or pass by ?
On our summer tour we were in Florida and stopped to sleep at a rest stop and Patrick picked the swampiest nastiest swamp to sleep next to. We laid down in the grass and heard something on the other side of the fence and we didn't think anything of it. then about 5 minutes later bobby got up screaming like a girl. A armadillo was in his sleeping bag. What the is an armadillo doing in Florida, we thought they were only in Australia.

who are some of the bands main musical influences?
We listen to a whiole lot of stuff. From hardcore to hip hop. But mainly wed say: Terror, Furious Styles, Lionheart, Death Before Dishonor, CDC, Folsom, Fight Like Hell, On A Warpath, 2pac, Biggie, Ice Cube all that kind of stuff

how many cds eps 7 inches split cds and demos has the band currently released?
We have 2 EP's one of which is our first and is terrible and we have Life's A Mess, which is out right now and we also have a 7" coming out on Demand soon.

who are some of the up and coming bands from the Pittsburgh area as well throughout Pennsylvania that we should be on the lookout for?
These bands are all amazing and good friends of ours
Unit 731
Full Collapse
Path to Misery
Failure To Fall

when writing the song Saviors explain to readers the meaning behind that song as the lyrics are very powerful?
Its pretty much about any kind of friendship whether it be with a guy or girl with a girlfriend whatever. Then them turning their back on you and and you just saying fuck that I don't need that shit I have friends family and the ones that matter in my life.

the term hardcore has become so overused that any band putting a breakdown into a song is considered hardcore but explain to the readers what hardcore means to you?
Hardcore is a community to us, a community with people who care and have a cause. it's a never ending group of friends that you can trust and have their back no matter what. Its not about your crew or the breakdown as many people like to believe. Just because your music is "heavy" doesn't mean shit to us.

where do you see this band in 3 years from now?
Touring, Touring, Touring and writing a new full length

How can the readers from around the world contact you about ordering merchandise?
Just hit up our myspace merch page its real easy and we ship anywhere www.myspace.com/MTG412

What is your most memorable show and why?
Our first show ever. We weren't a very good band but we had about 275 people watching us and they loved it. It was the greatest accomplishment for us.

what is your favorite city and country to play shows in and also your least favorite and why?
Our favorite so far would have to be Panama City FL. And our least would probably be home

What advice can you give to some of the newer bands starting out that maybe having a tough time and thinking about giving up?
Fuck what people say, write music that YOU like and just go with it. Make sure you are having fun first and then worry about all the other stuff later. Shows will come and you need to practice as well. It takes more then a dropped tuned guitar and a breakdown to become a decent band.

Who are some of the bands that you enjoy touring with?
As Your Hero Dies (RIP), Failure To Fall

Where else other than myspace can the readers go to find out about upcoming shows and other band related information?
HXCmp3.com we have some stuff on there as well.

where do you think you would be right now had you not been exposed to the hxc metal scene?
God only knows…probably listening to korn or something sweet like that

what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to the band when playing a set?
Bobbys fat ass fell a few times but other that that nothing to bad.

if the band could have anyone do guest vocals on the next cd with you who would it be and why?
We have some guest vocals on our full length coming out in late spring 08' but Probably any of the bands we listed as influences. Scott Vogel would be sick or If we could get Lil Wayne or something haha that would be tight.

what is the worst injury that any of the band has had happen when playing show?
Nothing yet haha but im sure that day will come soon. ha

why do you think that people always associate violence with hardcore shows and it always gives hxc scenes and shows a bad reputation?
Because of the assholes that go to shows and just fight. Its one reason to fight for something that actually means something but to fight cause you got MOSHED way hard is terrible. We arent tough dudes but if you wanna fight at one of our shows come see us we will work it out.

Do you have any upcoming shows that you would like to tell the readers about?
We are doing a winter tour with WEIGHT OF THE CROWN so if were in your city please come out its gonna be a good ass time.

Is there anything else that you would like to add that i may have forgotten to ask that the readers should know about?
Stop fighting at hardcore shows your not tough. Support local good hardcore bands. And go check out DEMAND RECORDS (www.myspace.com/demandrecords). Every band on there is tight as hell.

Thanks a lot dude
MTG