Road Food: Mel // A Genuine Freakshow
Reading seven-piece, A Genuine Freakshow, have been busy since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Oftentimes. This year, they released the single Hopscotch Machine Gun Madness, which caused a mini storm online. The band are about to head off on tour next month but before they do, AGF cellist Mel, stopped by to give us a little inside into their foodie habits on the road.
Foodie likes and dislikes?
Personally, I’ll eat anything, but then I’m a glutton! I particularly love sushi, Thai and Indian flavours, anything spicy. I make a mean Thai noodle soup, and chilli con carne. I grow my own veg too - partly out of necessity, being a poor musician and all, but mostly because I love it and it’s something I can feel smug about.
Your “go to” road food?
We rarely get food provided at gigs (it’s always a pleasant surprise when we do!) so cheap is the word. We all like to eat well though, especially if we’re on tour for a while, so try to go for healthy options if we can. I, for one, will soon run out of steam if I don’t get some vitamins inside me! Wetherspoons have done very well out of us over the years - we’ll always go there if there’s one nearby. Nando’s is also a band favourite. Some of us will often bring our own food to gigs, depending on how organised and/or skint we are!
Oh, and how could I forget Berocca and Innocent smoothies - both instant pick-me-ups. (Just had the idea of dissolving a Berocca tablet in an Innocent smoothie. Perhaps that would be overkill).
Cardinal “road food” sins?
Eating a huge curry just before going onstage. Not pretty. Any fast food / takeaway places really, McDonalds included. We do try to avoid them but sometimes it’s all there is or all we have time for. The occasional extra-large pizza can’t hurt…
Road food” guilty pleasures?
Fry-ups for breakfast at supermarket cafes - heaven.
Food you miss the most when on tour?
Fruit and veg - anything healthy really. If we’re away on tour for a while I’ll bring a stash to keep me going.
Any “road food” stories to share?
Dunce (our trumpeter) once ate a whole 8” cherry pie before a show and seemingly suffered no ill effects. I think he has hollow legs. We recently spent a week together in Cornwall writing the next album. On the final day we had these ingredients left to cook with: 15 eggs, 30 rashers of bacon, a dozen potatoes, 3 peppers, 1kg pasta. Carbonara, omelettes and jacket potatoes it was! No lack of carbs that day…
Be sure to check out A Genuine Freakshow over at their official website or you can follow the band on Twitter.
