Hi All, I had the great opportunity to interview Jeff Loomis when Gigantour came to Portland. I've received permission to post this here along with some of the pictures that I had the chance to shoot.
Enjoy!
******************************************************
On a warm sunny day in August of 2005 a band of busses rolled into town that would change Portland, Maine and revive what had lay dormant, waiting to be awoken in the hearts of many. The thirst for live Heavy Metal! On this day I had the most pleasurable opportunity to conduct interviews and to spend some time with Jeff Loomis, one of the most talented musicians in the pack. My point of this interview was to try to get a peek behind the scenes. Many can ask the questions about the current music thats being played and how musicians feel about the 95th note of the 4th track of the current CD. My mission was to simply spend some relaxing time, to find a little bit about who he is, and to share it with you. Thus, the following:
Interview with Jeff Loomis of Nevermore 8/19/05
Lisa: What do you think has been the best part of the tour so far or what have you enjoyed the most?
Jeff: Just probably being around all of the killer musicians that are on the tour really is just the coolest thing. You know, like being surrounded by great guitar talent seeing as Im a guitar player myself like Theater and John Petrucci and being able to watch him play every night, learning things from him. Also Mike Romeo from Symphony X who is also an amazing guitar player, and Christian from Fear Factory. So just being surrounded by a really good musicianship is really cool plus the diversity of the whole package is really awesome as well because every single band is really different. Youre not seeing eight bands that sound exactly the same, thats the really cool thing about the whole package which I enjoy.
Lisa: Do you have a contract where you ask for any unusual type of foods?
Jeff: (laughs) Not really, no. I mean, we keep things real simple. Our catering is very basic. We dont ask for anything out of the ordinary. Its really simple for us.
Lisa: Ok, heres a tough one, or maybe not, whats your biggest touring nightmare?
Jeff: Hmmmmmmm, biggest touring nightmare. Let me think if anything strange has happened on this tour. I would say when I break a string on the first song or something like that. Because most of the time my guitar tech is changing strings you know, from show to show but our set is so short that sometimes he doesnt. Sometimes bad things can happen like that. On this tour I havent had anything bad luck happen to me.
Lisa: Im sure though that you have another guitar all ready in case something like that happens though.
Jeff: Oh yeah, yeah, get it quick, but I dont like breaking guitar strings. Thats my pet peeve and sometimes it happens to me, and its not fun! (laughs) Running off to the side of the stage and getting a new one is a nightmare.
Lisa: Whats the weirdest or most interesting thing that youve had thrown at you onstage?
Jeff: On this tour I havent had anything thrown at me but somebody threw a quarter at me in Florida. It hit me square in the forehead (laughing) and it almost knocked me out, he must have thrown that thing very hard because I didnt know what it was and then I looked down and saw it rolling around on the floor. I was like, what the hell, what is wrong with people? What else have I had thrown at me? Ive had a beer thrown at me, just stupid things like that. You just gotta keep on playing your show, you know?
Lisa: How do you feel about the reaction of the crowd when youre playing in Europe as opposed to the U.S.?
Jeff: Its different I mean, our popularity is a little bit bigger over in Europe, you know what Im saying? But I think that a tour like this is going to bring us to the next level. Were playing in front of a lot more people in arenas and amphitheatres on this tour. Nevermore is mostly used to playing in smaller venues that hold like 500 or 600.
Lisa: Yeah, I see you guys advertised as playing at the Palladium in Worcester.
Jeff: Thats a really great venue by the way, thats awesome, nice P.A., and it holds what, like 2000 people? Playing in front of so much more people like this is really going to push Nevermore to the next level I think. The timing couldnt be more perfect, our album just came out, our video just came out, were going to be on Uranium on Monday. Were performing every night so I mean there are good strong factors to sell records.
Lisa: This is also going to filmed for DVD in Montreal which Im sure that youre well aware of.
Jeff: Well, theyre actually filming every day. We were the first band that was filmed for it. The production team took us all out, I cant remember what city we were in, but we went out for the whole day and they filmed us and interviewed us. Theyve been doing that with every band on the tour. Basically its kind of like a documentary kind of thing of what goes on.
Lisa: A look behind the scenes.
Jeff: Yeah, and then theyre filming live songs and stuff as well so its going to be quite amazing. I think theyre going to film a lot of the Canadian shows because most of them are sold out. Its going to be absolutely nuts! Thats coming up very quickly and were really excited about it.
Lisa: What about a headlining tour in the near future?
Jeff: Of course, were going to come back for a headlining tour its just that after this tour is over with, which ends September 11th, we have two days off and then we go to a headliner tour in Europe. So thats a big production thing for us there, its going to be really huge. Sometime hopefully after that well come back and headline to the United States. Because, I mean, we have 6 or 7 albums out and were only playing only 25 to 30 minutes and its really hard to figure out what were going to play every evening. Some people want to hear the older stuff but were here to promote our new record so were trying to concentrate on playing at least 2 or 3 new songs off of that.
Lisa: Jeff, its been a pleasure talking with you. Wishing you the best with the new album and Im waiting to see you back here in the states headlining soon. I do have one last question, its an interview final question tradition.
Jeff: Ok
Lisa: Boxers or Briefs, which do you wear?
Jeff: Boxers or Briefs? Ohhhhhhh! Boxers or briefs! I wear briefs actually. (laughs)
Lisa: Yes, thats the classic final question of the interview. (laughs)
Jeff: I thought you said something else there for a second!
(Its up to all of you to decide what he thought that I had just said, and for the record, Ill never tell)
Nevermores new CD is This Godless Endeavor. After Gigantour they will be touring with this masterpiece.
Run, dont walk, to your nearest music store, pop the CD in, and enjoy. You wont be disappointed!
********************************************************
Pics:
Lisa
Enjoy!
******************************************************
On a warm sunny day in August of 2005 a band of busses rolled into town that would change Portland, Maine and revive what had lay dormant, waiting to be awoken in the hearts of many. The thirst for live Heavy Metal! On this day I had the most pleasurable opportunity to conduct interviews and to spend some time with Jeff Loomis, one of the most talented musicians in the pack. My point of this interview was to try to get a peek behind the scenes. Many can ask the questions about the current music thats being played and how musicians feel about the 95th note of the 4th track of the current CD. My mission was to simply spend some relaxing time, to find a little bit about who he is, and to share it with you. Thus, the following:
Interview with Jeff Loomis of Nevermore 8/19/05
Lisa: What do you think has been the best part of the tour so far or what have you enjoyed the most?
Jeff: Just probably being around all of the killer musicians that are on the tour really is just the coolest thing. You know, like being surrounded by great guitar talent seeing as Im a guitar player myself like Theater and John Petrucci and being able to watch him play every night, learning things from him. Also Mike Romeo from Symphony X who is also an amazing guitar player, and Christian from Fear Factory. So just being surrounded by a really good musicianship is really cool plus the diversity of the whole package is really awesome as well because every single band is really different. Youre not seeing eight bands that sound exactly the same, thats the really cool thing about the whole package which I enjoy.
Lisa: Do you have a contract where you ask for any unusual type of foods?
Jeff: (laughs) Not really, no. I mean, we keep things real simple. Our catering is very basic. We dont ask for anything out of the ordinary. Its really simple for us.
Lisa: Ok, heres a tough one, or maybe not, whats your biggest touring nightmare?
Jeff: Hmmmmmmm, biggest touring nightmare. Let me think if anything strange has happened on this tour. I would say when I break a string on the first song or something like that. Because most of the time my guitar tech is changing strings you know, from show to show but our set is so short that sometimes he doesnt. Sometimes bad things can happen like that. On this tour I havent had anything bad luck happen to me.
Lisa: Im sure though that you have another guitar all ready in case something like that happens though.
Jeff: Oh yeah, yeah, get it quick, but I dont like breaking guitar strings. Thats my pet peeve and sometimes it happens to me, and its not fun! (laughs) Running off to the side of the stage and getting a new one is a nightmare.
Lisa: Whats the weirdest or most interesting thing that youve had thrown at you onstage?
Jeff: On this tour I havent had anything thrown at me but somebody threw a quarter at me in Florida. It hit me square in the forehead (laughing) and it almost knocked me out, he must have thrown that thing very hard because I didnt know what it was and then I looked down and saw it rolling around on the floor. I was like, what the hell, what is wrong with people? What else have I had thrown at me? Ive had a beer thrown at me, just stupid things like that. You just gotta keep on playing your show, you know?
Lisa: How do you feel about the reaction of the crowd when youre playing in Europe as opposed to the U.S.?
Jeff: Its different I mean, our popularity is a little bit bigger over in Europe, you know what Im saying? But I think that a tour like this is going to bring us to the next level. Were playing in front of a lot more people in arenas and amphitheatres on this tour. Nevermore is mostly used to playing in smaller venues that hold like 500 or 600.
Lisa: Yeah, I see you guys advertised as playing at the Palladium in Worcester.
Jeff: Thats a really great venue by the way, thats awesome, nice P.A., and it holds what, like 2000 people? Playing in front of so much more people like this is really going to push Nevermore to the next level I think. The timing couldnt be more perfect, our album just came out, our video just came out, were going to be on Uranium on Monday. Were performing every night so I mean there are good strong factors to sell records.
Lisa: This is also going to filmed for DVD in Montreal which Im sure that youre well aware of.
Jeff: Well, theyre actually filming every day. We were the first band that was filmed for it. The production team took us all out, I cant remember what city we were in, but we went out for the whole day and they filmed us and interviewed us. Theyve been doing that with every band on the tour. Basically its kind of like a documentary kind of thing of what goes on.
Lisa: A look behind the scenes.
Jeff: Yeah, and then theyre filming live songs and stuff as well so its going to be quite amazing. I think theyre going to film a lot of the Canadian shows because most of them are sold out. Its going to be absolutely nuts! Thats coming up very quickly and were really excited about it.
Lisa: What about a headlining tour in the near future?
Jeff: Of course, were going to come back for a headlining tour its just that after this tour is over with, which ends September 11th, we have two days off and then we go to a headliner tour in Europe. So thats a big production thing for us there, its going to be really huge. Sometime hopefully after that well come back and headline to the United States. Because, I mean, we have 6 or 7 albums out and were only playing only 25 to 30 minutes and its really hard to figure out what were going to play every evening. Some people want to hear the older stuff but were here to promote our new record so were trying to concentrate on playing at least 2 or 3 new songs off of that.
Lisa: Jeff, its been a pleasure talking with you. Wishing you the best with the new album and Im waiting to see you back here in the states headlining soon. I do have one last question, its an interview final question tradition.
Jeff: Ok
Lisa: Boxers or Briefs, which do you wear?
Jeff: Boxers or Briefs? Ohhhhhhh! Boxers or briefs! I wear briefs actually. (laughs)
Lisa: Yes, thats the classic final question of the interview. (laughs)
Jeff: I thought you said something else there for a second!
(Its up to all of you to decide what he thought that I had just said, and for the record, Ill never tell)
Nevermores new CD is This Godless Endeavor. After Gigantour they will be touring with this masterpiece.
Run, dont walk, to your nearest music store, pop the CD in, and enjoy. You wont be disappointed!
********************************************************
Pics:
Lisa
Let's not go all $haron
