Shazam Meets… The Answer
Northern Irish boys The Answer are about to embark on a UK headlining tour after having spent the last year supporting AC/DC in the States. We caught up with singer Cormac Neeson, guitarist Paul Mahon and bass player Mickey Waters to ask a few questions about touring, bravado and just generally having a laugh.
Hi guys, so you looking forward to the UK tour?
Very much so, it’s our first headlining tour in the UK for sometime because of our AC/DC commitments. So it’s a good chance to get the most recent album on the road. It should be fun.
You’re known for your highly energetic stage presence. Do you consider yourselves more of a live band than a studio band?
No particularly, we hold live performance in very high regard, it’s an important part of who we are but we love getting in the studio too. We spend a couple months writing an album, a couple of months recording it and the 2 years touring. The two complement each other.
You mentioned the USA AC/DC tour, how did it feel to share a stage with such a legendary band?
It was great for us, a dream come true. They’re a band close to our hearts.
What was the best memory of the tour?
I couldn’t possibly repeat it!
Whilst you guys are on the road, what are the tour essentials?
A bar of soap, a toothbrush, an iPod and milk thistle! (Ed: well known for its liver protecting qualities)
Who would you say are the bands biggest influences?
A few of the great rock and roll bands of the 60’s and 70’s like The Who and Led Zeppelin but also bands like The Black Crowes, Therapy, Tool and Helmet. We like the blues too, so we mix it all up to get our sound.
If you could’ve written one song from history, which would you claim as your own?
(No Pause) Status Quo – ‘Rocking All Over the World’!
Really?
No! (laughs) hmm tough one…maybe Shook Me All Night Long by the boys, AC/DC
How is the Northern Irish music scene at the minute?
It’s a flourishing scene, the last gig of this tour we are playing the Ulster Hall in Belfast, which holds about 2,500 people. It’s where we always wanted to play as youngsters and recently 3 local bands including ourselves have filled it. So it’s proof that the local scene supports itself which is something you haven’t seen since punk had its heyday. There is a great band supporting us in Belfast called Swanee River. I could talk about this all night long…
So what would be your dream festival line up?
Tricky… Us headlining! (laughs) Probably a handful of Irish bands, give AC/DC a chance, they’ve been good to us. Metallica, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Fighting With Wire, they’re a good band. We should put the word out now!
Rumour has it Bon Jovi might be playing Download so you might want to get your festival organised quick?!
They can play just before us!
Are you fans?
Those boys sure know how to write a good song.
Apologies if you’ve been asked before, but how did you decide on calling yourselves The Answer?
Short answer is our drummer. Back in the early days when we had a different name every week, we could never find one we all liked and one day our drummer was speaking to a local promoter and he wanted a name to go on the poster and he said “what’s the answer gonna be?” and that was it. Also there are so many indie-schmindie bands kicking around on the scene who are more concerned with their hairdo and we thought the name would get a rise out of those boys. It’s a name to live up to as well; you can’t be a half arsed, mediocre band with a name like ‘The Answer’ so it was a good incentive too.
Digital downloads and the online generation, how do you think it affects music today?
It’s one of those things, it’s unavoidable. Digital downloads are definitely damaging the industry. The labels aren’t developing younger bands, but then with the internet there is a good opportunity for more artists to get themselves discovered, it’s just about looking for new ways to keep afloat.
The Answer begin their UK tour on the 25th November at Manchester Academy. For more info head to their MySpace
