Murder by Death: Interview with Adam Turla

On January 26, the Strhess Tour- with Heavy Heavy Low Low, Fear Before the March of Flames, Murder by Death and Thursday- came to State Theater.
HHLL did not make it to the show in St. Petersburg and FBTMOF’s set was a disappointment to say the least.
MBD hit the stage with power and confidence. Their country-rock sound and morbid lyrics put a perfect twist to the tour. They were followed by Thursday, who put on a performance that tied the young and old together with the words “in a crash.”
Toothpick in mouth, lead singer and guitarist Adam Turla of MBD walked on stage with Sarah Balliet on cello and keys, Matt Armstrong on bass and Alex Schrodt on percussion.
Turla said the tour had been “great fun” and was happy to be touring again with their friends from Thursday. MBD started as a local college band playing the bar circuits in Indiana about five or six years ago. The band’s first show was with Thursday. MBD
got a record label with Eyeball Records through Thursday, according to Turla.
“I like music with some drama,” Turla said. In their newest album, “In Bocca Al Lupo,” sin and redemption are the major themes, although they are not a Christian band. The Italian album name translates to “in the mouth of the wolf” and means “good luck, you’re going to need it,” Turla said.
According to Turla, the songs are about different lives and stories of characters that are to be doomed in the afterlife. He likes to write fictional songs, but several songs are real stories about his personal life. He would not say which ones because he “likes mystery.”
Musically, the band is influenced by those like David Bowe and Johnny Cash. Turla said that he wants to play rock and roll, but the band ends up mixing that with some country.
Movies play a major role to the band, as they are named after the 1976 film. “Movies are concrete,” Turla said. His favorite is “The Adventures of Baron Munchausen,” directed by Terry Gilliam. Turla’s favorite author is Earnest Hemmingway because of the way he captures the movements of life in a simple way.
MBD created a distinctive sound at the State, complete with a blue flame guitar. Thursday finished the show with the song “Autumn Leaves Revisited,” inspired by their friends of MBD.

Published in REAX Music Magazine Vol. 1 Issue #10