If you’re eight years behind in music, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster frontman, Dallas Taylor, was the former singer of Underoath. Yes, that band that just about every teenager in the 2000s knew about. While it was Underoath’s later albums that caught everyone’s attention, it was Dallas’ work with the band that hit me the most. Personally, Cries of the Past was one of the most important albums in my life. Not only was it the album that eventually got me into black metal, but the lyrics also hit me during those awkward middle school years. I enjoyed Spencer’s albums with Underoath as well, but nostalgia surrounded the Dallas-era. A few years later, I remember being surprised to see Dallas return to the music scene with a band called Maylene & the Sons of Disaster. Earlier that week, they had put their first track on Purevolume (remember those days?) and I was excited to hear more of Dallas’ take on southern rock and metal.

Their set at Audiofeed proved that they still have plenty of energy left in them. I also may have blown my vocal chords after singing the entire chorus of “Tough as John Jacobs” into the mic. After the show, I got to sit down and talk with Dallas.

Sean Huncherick (I Am Tuned Up): Alright, for starters can you introduce yourself?

Dallas Taylor: My name is Dallas Taylor and I sing for Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.

Sean: Right on. You’re playing at Audiofeed today. Most of the artists of the artists here are predictable Cornerstone staples like the Choir, Glen Kaiser, the Scurvies, etc.  What got Maylene here?

Dallas: I guess someone just approached us and asked us to play. I don’t know how it got booked, but it’s cool to be here.

Sean: Do you know the last time you guys played Cornerstone?

Dallas: It’s been a long time. We got asked to play the mainstage one year a while ago and we couldn’t make it because we couldn’t afford it. It was rough. Our booking agent had haggled with them to try to get them to go up on money so we could try to make it, but it was still too much. We had to cancel not too long before we had to play. I think they got upset so we never got asked to play again.

Sean: Fair enough.

Dallas: (laughs) But I loved playing it. It was just a weird thing between us and our management.

Sean: Sweet man, so which came first in your life: the metal or the southern rock?

Dallas: Ohh, umm…Probably southern rock. They were about the same time. My brother got me into music so probably both…well, maybe southern rock first. I don’t know. My brother would let me hear Lynyrd Skynyrd, but also like the Grateful Dead and Ozric Tentacles to Deicide and Ministry when I was a little kid. And he got me into Narrocist and stuff like that. I guess it was about the same time.

Sean: That’s cool. So not even going through Iron Maiden, just jumping straight to Deicide. That’s impressive.

Dallas: Yeah, I guess he was just trying to scare me when I was a kid. (laughs)

Sean: Who were some of the southern rock artists that you grew up on or that you listen to now?

Dallas: I love Lynard Skynard, Marshall Tucker Band, and Mountain. I also like a lot of country like Willie Nelson, George Jones…

Sean: Good country – actual country.

Dallas: Yeah, yeah. For sure.

Sean: Between early Underoath and Maylene, you’ve played death metal, blackened death metal, third-wave emo and now southern rock mixed with metal. What’s your favorite genre to actually perform?

Dallas: Oh, what I do now. This is just how I grew up. It’s fun. It’s laid back and fun to play.

Sean: It looks like you’re having fun with it.

Sean: Have you noticed any differences in the crowd between Cries of the Past-era and now?

Dallas: I don’t even know…[During] Cries of the Past no one even cared about us then. We had a small following. I guess it’s all about the sound. You see a lot of the same faces over the years, but now I think it’s a little more fun. You see parents coming out and some older people that come to the shows, and that never really happened during the Cries of the Past kind of stuff. Maylene kinda draws a little more rounded crowd.

Sean: It’s probably easier to tour with too.

Dallas: Yeah, and we’re able to play with a lot of different bands. That’s the cool thing about doing Maylene. We’ve played with every kind of band you could imagine. It’s pretty cool.

Sean: Who are some of the more surprising artists you guys have toured with? Artists you wouldn’t expect.

Dallas: We played a showcase one time with Marty Stewart, a country singer. And we’ve tour with like Saosin and Thursday to Alice in Chains. It’s always a little different. And Hyro Da Hero. We play with all kinds of nuts bands. There’s an indie rock band we took on tour with us. So we tour with all kinds of bands.

Sean: Because you’ve toured with a lot of different bands, how have the southern rock crowds responded to your music?

Dallas: Yeah, we get a good draw to the shows that you can tell are definitely southern rock fans. We get a lot of that; I think it’s a big draw of ours.

Sean: It feels like every other year Maylene has put out a new album. Are there any plans for a new album in 2013?

Dallas: Hopefully. Hopefully we’ll start recording by the end of the year. *hawks a loogie*

Sean: Cool. Now if you could go back and talk to yourself from when you were 18 before you really got into music, what would you tell yourself?

Dallas: So many things, I have no idea.

Sean: *Laughs* What is just one thing?

Dallas: I mean if I knew what I do now, I’d be in a totally different position…

Sean: Let me rephrase that, what’s some advice you’d give to a newer band?

Dallas: Consistency – stick with it. I’ve always known that. I guess also don’t believe a lot of the hype that you get told a lot of the time. Someone will tell you they’re going to make you the next so-and-so or you’re gonna do this and do that. Unless it’s there, don’t believe it. It’s depressing when a lot of stuff falls through. But that happens to every musician – you get told all these great things that are gonna happen and a lot of them don’t. You know? And that’s every friend I’ve ever known that has done music.

Sean: Alright, just two more questions. First of all, quite a few Maylene songs are about going through struggles, trials and everything else. How do you get through struggles with faith or with people?

Dallas: Aw man, I’ve always learned the hard way, which is no good. [I try to] Give it all to God, but also a lot of the time I’m stubborn. I’ve just built a lot of hurt and pain. But just try to keep your head up and know that it’s not going to be this way forever. Man, I’ve been at a crossroads even right now in my life for about three years, you know? What’s next? What’s the next position in my life? Where should I go? It’s with everything in my life. It’s about trying to stay still and listen and not get so emotional. Take out a lot of emotions in life and you’ll be a lot happier.

Sean: And one last thing, going back to Cornerstone real quick. Do you have any favorite memories from Cornerstone?

Dallas: I used to love playing there any time. Favorite memories…I mean, watching P.O.D. play a long time ago and Stryper was always awesome.

Sean: (laughs) 2001.

Dallas: It’s just cool always getting to meet people and see people. It was a cool experience, I’ve always loved it. Seeing people you see every year. Yeah, just seeing bands. Saviour Machine was awesome. They were really cool to meet…and Extol and bands like that. It was back when everything was innocent and it was awesome to watch music and see bands there that you wouldn’t get to see often

Sean: Any last comments?

Dallas: Just thanks for the interview and God bless everybody. Make the most out of life and don’t take it too seriously.

Sean: Sweet, man.

Dallas: Awesome! Thanks so much man!