Mays amazed by Kid Rock's ability to entertain on stage

Mays amazed by Kid Rock's ability to entertain on stage
Mike Devlin, Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, October 23, 2008
IN CONCERT
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When Matt Mays was given the opportunity to tour hockey arenas with Kid Rock this summer, he was caught off-guard. Big time.

Mays had heard the rumours and seen Rock's videos. He wasn't so sure the pairing was a good fit, but after talking it over with his longtime bandmates in El Torpedo, the strong-willed frontman decided to buck convention and accept the tour supporting the Kid.

"I enjoy throwing people off," Mays said from a stop in Grande Prairie, Alta. "The fact that people were kind of stunned [about the union] means I'm doing something right."

Mays is glad he accepted the offer. The seven dates with Kid Rock put the rootsy Canadian rocker and his band in front of thousands of fans at each stop. Mays came to appreciate the man behind the myth -- "I've got nothing but good things to say about that guy," he added -- as Rock and everyone around him treated the Canuck upstarts like gold.

The bands shared some of the same equipment on stage, which was a tremendously gracious gesture, Mays said, and they also shared personal time offstage. Most of that came during parties on Rock's tour bus, which involved "smoking Monte Cristos and drinking Coors Light all night" and listening to music.

Not a bad way to spend a few weeks on the road.

Mays, 29, said they won't attempt to recreate their past behaviour on the current tour. Partying has taken a backseat this time around, at least in comparison to past El Torpedo outings featuring guitarist Jay Smith, bassist Andy Patil and drummer Tim Jim Baker.

"I'm getting down to business," Mays said. "I'm enjoying working on songs instead."

Mays has never come up short of material. His latest, Terminal Romance, is the fourth recording in five years to carry his name, either as a solo act or with El Torpedo. There's more coming from the native of Dartmouth, N.S., who has three projects on the go, even though Terminal Romance has been in stores for less than a month.

It's strange, perhaps, that he got along so fabulously with Rock, an over-the-top star whose flash is a turn-off to many. But Rock is a born entertainer, and Mays respected that. He watched and learned each night, and eventually came to respect Rock's talent tremendously.

It doesn't have to be cool, just as long as it's good, Mays said.

"Kid Rock put on a clinic."

The Vancouver Province