Skip to content

Galway Independent

Zion Train E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 21 February 2007
Article Index
Zion Train
Page 2
Page 1 of 2
Benjamin Coombs talks to Zion Train founder member and dub wizard Neil Perch ahead of the band’s gig here on Saturday 3 March 3

Are you looking forward to coming to Ireland?
Yeah, I love Ireland; the people are so social and at ease and they make you feel at home. It makes for a good party because when Irish audiences like the music, they let go and go wild and dance. The other thing about Ireland is that guest musicians often show up to play with us. We have the policy that if you’re a good musician your welcome to come up and jam. We’re coming to have a party with you.

So you have fond memories of playing here?
The first time we ever played in Ireland was in Cork in Nancy Spain and there were only about four people there, but when we went back two months later it was packed. (laughs)
I remember we did a gig in Galway on Halloween in 1997 and people still talk about that night; it was just wild. 

Tell us a bit about your live performances?
We play live studio style dub and we improvise which keeps the energy alive and creates special compositions. Sometimes we actually write the material on stage. A good audience will accelerate that process because we feed off their energy and then a kind of energy crescendo happens, a peak of energy. Some bands play their music the same live as it is on the album, but I find that dull.

Are there some nights when the energy is just magical?
There are yeah and I believe that ultimately that energy is not emanating from us really. I think that musicians and painters and all artists are a conduit; they channel energy. When there’s a lot of it it’s very exciting; you don’t want to do anything else.

What’s the biggest gig you’ve ever played?
We played at a free festival in Poland, a fundraiser for hospital machinery, and there were almost a million people there! They had these huge video screens and cameras up on the towers so that the audiences could see a close up of your face. (laughs)

Was it scary?
I was terrified, more from a technical standpoint than anything, because the drums, bass and keyboards are all mixed live onstage through my laptop. If my laptop had crashed we’d have been in big trouble!

You put in a lot of miles when you’re touring don’t you?
I travel thousands of miles every year and often it’s very tiring. For example, we toured recently in Brazil and I took seven flights in six days and got about eight hours sleep! It’s the excitement and magic of the gigs that keeps you going.

What’s the best thing about the travelling?
You go back to places again and again, so you get the chance to develop lovely friendships. The world is full of lovely people. You’re also like a global ambassador in a way, linking different people together and carrying cultural information round the world. I’ve also visited some amazing places, like in Japan I was at the Hiroshima peace museum.

Prev - Next >>
 
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]


Custom Search
Visit our Games and puzzles section
Do you think it is fair that non-married couples cannot avail of fertility treatment?
 
Find your ideal job in Galway using our Galway Jobs listings.