In today’s A-Z challenge, we find out all about Big Band Of Boom!
A song that made you want to make music?
Brooklyn by Youngblood Brass Band, It’s a bit of a carpool, but as a record, it’s insane. A brass band that rocks harder than most rock bands ever could, and the Solos in it are sickening too!
Best rider you’ve had?
Probably northside festival in Denmark, where they look after their artists really well and we had three meals a day in the catering, and as much beer as we could drink behind the stage. That was a good time!
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
Probably stepping out onto stage at Rudolstadt Festival in Germany in front of 10,000 people. Last year we played our first show in Germany and it was incredible, got a HUGE crowd including a wall of death and a circle pit with a guy doing backflips!
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Longest of Goodbyes is song that Josh wrote in on of family members who are battling Alzheimer’s. At the end of the song there are two simultaneous sets of lyrics that share the same syllables, so until one fades you can’t hear the other. It’s difficult to describe but when you hear it it really hits you.
Easiest song you wrote?
Big Bad Voodoo, It was the first song we wrote as a band, And it just came together really easily. Big horn lines, big guitars what’s not to love.
Favourite song in your set?
Stupid Filthy Rich its our lead track from the album and its a really fun to play and the lyrics hit hard too and are a lot of fun to sing.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
There are so many, we love the band Henge, they do some far out stuff and would love to make music with them. Theres a band called Oh My God its the Church that we love too, there are 9 of them on stage and we could do something huge together.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Its neverending work, I always overestimate how much time there is, and theres never any time, travelling, advancing shows, social media, I wish I had time to just play guitar.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Jon used to work on R&D for the BBC, Antony was part of the GB Ice Hockey team and Josh has written a song that hit no1 in Japan.
Jokes you have in the band?
When anyone says something that bombs everyone shouts – CLANG!
Key to writing a song?
C#m – might not be what you mean, but hey! We guitarists love it, the horn players hate it, but we normally win haha!
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Germany for Rudolstadt festival
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Cat Empire – an absolutely mind blowing live band!
New band you’d recommend?
Oh My God its the Church if you get the chance to see them do, they are crazy but its well worth it
Opening for this band would be ideal?
System of a Down…. And they are coming to the UK this summer…. Please please please…
Place you’d most like to tour?
USA or Japan would be the dream!
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“The Big Band of Boom are at home on a festival stage, we live for the energy of the live show and wanted to make it sound like it feels to be at a gig. How do you capture the energy of a bouncing crowd and get that to translate to a recording. This is what we set out to do, and it meant days of experimentation, recording in different spaces on different days and with different energy to make it right.”
The drums are a big part of the Big Band of Booom’s sound, Matt Holmes started life as a metal drummer before studying Jazz at the Birmingham conservatoire and becoming one of the top players in the city. He brings all his jazz creativity to the heavy beats and rhythms, which is why the Big Band of Boom sounds heavy but still makes you want to dance.
Horns are a great example of experimentation until we got it perfect. We record as a section in an abandoned church which, and then double tracked each instrument with a close mic to bring the power. The horns sound Huge – and the players are absolute monsters too – from Alex and Antony’s screaming high notes, to Edi ripping solos on the sax the horn lines are what makes the Big Band of Boom truly special.
Josh our vocalist is incredible to work with, and this album features some of the most amazing and soul wrenching lyrics I’ve heard. Stupid Filthy Rich never fails to make me smile, where as The Longest of Goodbyes, when you hear how the two sets of lyrics match up as the song ends it melts my brain in the best possible way. – Tom Hyland – Big Band of Boom guitarist/producer.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
Its our first record…. Gotta be self titled.
See us live at?
Shambala Festival is where we started out, and we play there every year headlining the Thursday night
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Its not that simple, and it depends when you mean old… but its probably the hardest time ever to be a professional musician. You can’t just be a musician any more, you have to be many more things.
Unusual merchandise?
We have tea towels with all our faces on it that we drew ourselves… they are pretty funny, it looks like it was made by children and they are available on our bandcamp! 🙂
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
I’d love to stick a medley into Big Bad Voodoo with some more Boom songs, Skindred Give me that Boom is a pretty strong contender, we love that band.
What do your fans mean to you?
Everything – we are so grateful for everyone who listens to our music and comes to our show. Without an audience there is no music,
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Last year our guitarist Tom broke his hand at a festival riding a bike that had its front wheel held on by cable ties… It was pretty painful but he made 5 shows that weekend with a broken hand so at least we know come what may the BBOB will make it on stage!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Almost certainly mine….
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
We are more like the zoo.
Picture credit: Grant Harper Photography.