Miss May I, who will headline the Alternative Press Tour this year, is fresh off of playing the Vans Warped Tour over the summer. The Towerlight spoke to Miss May I’s lead singer Levi Benton, who will play Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Recher Theatre. The band will be supported on the AP Tour by The Ghost Inside, Like Moths to Flames, Glass Cloud and The Amity Affliction. Miss May I recently released their third full-length album “At Heart,” in June. “At Heart” debuted at three on the U.S. Billboard Hard Rock chart, and 32 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The Towerlight: How did you guys get involved in the AP Tour?

Levi Benton: We were kind of just invited, but it was really awesome because we’re a metal band, so it’s awesome to be on the AP Tour this year and it’s going to be a great time.

TL: What’s it like to be on tour with The Ghost Inside, who just put out a new album, and Like Moths to Flames, who have really come on to the metal scene.

LB: I’m really excited. This is the first time that the AP Tour has been nothing but heavy bands, and I am really grateful to be a part of that because it’s something new about the tour this year. Plus I’ve never met the guys in Glass Cloud [also part of the AP Tour] and they are awesome guys. I couldn’t be more proud to be with these other bands, because there aren’t very many all-metal shows nowadays.

TL: Why do you think there are a smaller number of metal shows?

LB: It’s not always the biggest seller. A lot of people try to sneak in the pop bands and the hardcore electronic bands into shows because that’s what sells, but we are trying to change that up and play all-metal shows now.

TL: Is this the first time you’re playing at the Recher?

LB: I’m pretty sure it’s the first time, but I love playing in Baltimore. The fans in Baltimore are always crazy and there are some really tough kids who show up to these shows and it’s awesome because they bring so much energy, and that really makes us as a band have more energy.

TL: All summer you guys played on the main stage at Vans Warped Tour, do you ever get tired of touring this much, especially after a tour as long as Warped?

LB: We’ve been off from Warped Tour for about a month now, so we are ready to get back out there and play. We never really get tired of it, and playing at Warped was sweet, but it’s time to get back out there.

TL: Your most recent album, “At Heart,” was the best-selling album you guys have had so far, is there anything you guys did to your sound that you think made this album more successful?

LB: I think now we have a really established fan base, and that always helps. Another thing is that we really pushed this album as an old-school metal album with an old-school producer. We have a lot of older fans, but a lot of new fans and we introduced them to the Miss May I world. It’s not a gimmicky record, and that sets us apart, and show people that we are just a metal band.

TL: Do you have a personal favorite song off the new album that you always play at shows?

LB: It’s definitely the third track on the album, Opening Wounds. It’s a great track, and we’ve been practicing it a lot so we are going to break it out on this tour now.

TL: What do you think is important into pulling in fans of metal to these shows, especially in a city like Baltimore where there are so many choices for music?

LB: Well for us, fans are so important to us because it’s what makes all the touring and work worth it to us. Baltimore has a wide variety of music scenes, but I feel like the metal scene is really strong, but in order for us to stick, we have to be a good live band. The fans are critical, so if you don’t give it your all one night, then they will criticize you. You can’t just be a good studio band, you have to bring it live.

– Compiled by Jonathan Munshaw