Interview: Dylan Davidson of Deadlights and Patty Goodman of Mirrors talk tour

Local heavy fans are still buzzing from the announcement of a national co-headline tour with Brisbane hardcore outfit Deadlights and Gippsland metalcore act Mirrors earlier this month. The Ego’s Valley tour will stop at six cities this November, supported by Sydney’s Inertia, for a triumphant return to the stage after first performing together on Thornhill’s The Dark Pool tour in 2019.

We had a chat with frontmen Dylan Davidson (Deadlights) and Patty Goodman (Mirrors) to talk about the tour and what it’s like to be back on the live grind.

P: “Insane, especially after the last couple years. We’ve had a dream run this year and we couldn’t be happier touring with amazing bands and a couple of festivals. It’s been unreal to get back to doing what we love, you know.”

D: “The start of this year was awesome. We did like 13 shows in two months or something, ‘cause we had two tours off the back of each other and now we’ve got these two coming up as well. It’s great to be fully back into it.”

Both bands dropped incredible albums last year – Deadlights’ sophomore The Uncanny Valley and Mirrors’ debut The Ego’s Weight – and tragically weren’t able to tour them. After supporting Sydney legends Polaris earlier this year, then Mirrors later supporting While She Sleeps and Deadlights about to head out with The Plot in You, they have been itching to do a headline run of their own.

D: “It was fun. Those boys are mad and they create a really wholesome environment wherever they go.”

P: “I felt the same, they were very welcoming. They’re really good to learn off as well. Jamie pulled me aside one night and just gave me a couple tips with something as small as the clip on the mic stand that was getting in the way. Not a lot of bands will help you out in that sense, they’re just such great guys.”

We asked them what they’ve each missed most about the live space and how the idea of a co-headline tour came about. Interestingly, it’s not so much the actual music – nor was it either of the bands who thought of it.

P: “Just hanging out with other bands. We don’t all live in the same area now, so getting together and just embracing it.”

D: “There’s like a level of camaraderie that you don’t get when there’s just a couple of you meeting up to go through a track. When you all come together, it’s like, ‘that’s right, that’s why we do this.’”

P: “I’m pretty sure it was Ash Hull’s (Greyscale Records/Destroy All Lines) idea. We were looking at doing a headline run after the tours we had booked already then Ash said we should do it with Deadlights and we were like, ‘holy shit, that’s a fucken ripper idea!’”

D: “It just means we can make the shows bigger at bigger venues with someone on the same playing field as us. We can make every show that bit more grand and that bit more special than if we had done it on our own.”

Both seasoned performers by now, there’s not many places left in the country’s capital cities that Deadlights and Mirrors haven’t played. From small backroom shows to sold-out tour support slots, the bands still have some spots on the bucket list that The Ego’s Valley tour will check off.

D: “Princess Theatre in Brisbane, ‘cause I’ve gone to shows there and it closed for 10 years or something. Beautiful venue and it was the first time I saw Amity, Deez Nuts, The Getaway Plan and all those bands because it was the only place that had all ages shows.”

P: “I’m really excited for The Corner, ‘cause I’ve watched so many shows there and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to play this show. We’ve also never played a show in Tasmania so I’m pretty keen for Hobart.”

D: “It was just nice as well to announce a tour poster and not have a little asterisk next to our name.”

P: “It’s also awesome that we got Perth, too. We’ve played Perth a couple times for the first time this year and every time we’ve been there has been fucking wild.”

Of course, we had to get the inside scoop on any surprises and if there could be a potential collab on the table in the future.

D: “I haven’t talked to Patty about it yet, but I’m for sure getting up for one of their songs.”

P: “I’m getting in there for “Born of a Lie”, hundred percent.”

D: “We’ve never even considered that before, but we’re always open to collabs and hanging out.”

P: “You might have just cracked open a really sick idea.”

You can get your tickets to The Ego’s Valley shows HERE. Follow the bands on their socials for regular updates and prepare for one of the best heavy tours of the year.

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