EXCLUSIVE: Interview with For Today’s Mattie Montgomery

SRS: What was your favorite memory of this past warped tour?

Mattie: The whole thing was such a blur, really.  One of the coolest things for my personally was getting to meet some bands that I looked up to when I was a kid.  I grew up playing drums, and (maybe because I was a black kid with dreads) I really looked up to the drummer from Yellowcard.  They were on Warped Tour too, and it kind of blew my mind to find out that HE is a fan of MY band!  haha

SRS: We saw your trailer for your new DVD/EP can you tell us a little bit about that?

Mattie: Yeah. Well, it really came from our recognition of the significance of what we, as a band, have achieved.  We have been told our entire career that it would be impossible for a band that preaches like we do to ever “make it.”  We were turned down by record labels, mocked by other bands, ignored by managers and booking agents, all because of our faith—but, 7 years later, our band is doing what they all said was impossible!  So, we wanted an opportunity to tell the story of how this all happened.

SRS: How did you guys come up with the idea to have fans of your shoot each city for your website?

Mattie: Honestly, I’m not even sure! Haha.  It wasn’t my idea, but it was a great one!  We love our fans, and want to give them as many opportunities as possible to get involved in For Today and what we’re doing.  So, that was a great idea, and we got a ton of really cool pictures because of it!

SRS: How is David dong on his mission do you all still keep in touch?

Mattie: Oh yeah, we still hear from David at least once a week!  He’s doing incredible.  He is 100% fluent in Spanish now, and has been doing street evangelism in Ecuador and Columbia, and seeing many people begin relationships with Jesus. He’s awesome.

SRS: Since Valentines Day is coming up what’s the sweetest thing you’ve done for a girl/wife?

Mattie: Hmm… I once sent my wife flowers at work for her birthday—she was a bank teller, so all the other girls were so jealous of her.  She called me all embarrassed because everyone was making a big deal about it, and then, at the end of her workday, she walked outside, and I was standing in the parking lot, waiting for her!  I had flown in that day to surprise her.

SRS: You guys have some creative fans what are some of the most memorable gifts you’ve gotten from them?

Mattie: Well, some of the more creative gifts have been more creepy than anything else.  Haha.  But, I think some of my favorites have been the letters that people have written to me/us.  It’s so incredible to know that, we made a significant enough impact on someone’s life that they would take the time to sit down and hand-write us a letter, thanking us for what we do.  We have the best fans in the world!