The Lone Bellow is playing in Opelika Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Cultural Arts Center of East Alabama.
Frontman Zach Williams answered a few questions about the band.
What were you all doing before The Lone Bellow got together?
I’ve been making music since 2005. I moved to New York to pursue that after doing it for a couple years down in Florida. Brian was also making music, he’s been a songwriter for, I don’t know, ten years I guess. And Kaneen lived in Beijing for like five years and she did music over there, then moved to Brooklyn.
What does performing and touring mean to you?
I mean that’s where the rubber meets the road. You are connecting with your listeners. So that’s like the fundamental thing that we have tried to build everything on top of.
How is performing in the South different than the North?
Everything has its pluses and its minuses. We really only played, Birmingham in al and that was rowdy, that was a rowdy bunch. I remember seeing this cop that was like, on duty and he still came to the show. It was awesome. gave me his card and was like if you ever get a speeding ticket in Alabama give me a call.
How did you like working with producer Charlie Peacock on your first record?
He’s awesome; Charlie is an incredible producer. He has made some seriously good records. It was a lot of fun because when he started working with us he was finishing up the Civil Wars record, so there was a lot of excitement going on.
What’s it like for someone who grew up in the South to move to New York City?
Hm. Well, there’s a few different versions of the south. I guess it depends on what version of the south you’re coming from. I think if you’re coming from the rural part, you’re gonna fit right in because New York is basically a collection of small neighborhoods; you just get to know everybody and walk around with the same people. But I think if you’re like from the suburban south I think it might be a little bit of a harder transition.
What have you learned from living in New York?
A well-known thing about New York is that it will break you down. It’s a really good mirror I think for a human being as most great cities are. It’s a challenging place but it really makes you curate what you do very specifically. You basically can’t twiddle your thumbs there. Cause you’re either get really really sad, and alone. Or you’re get really really broke and sad and alone. I say move up there with a couple friends and try to like lock arms and do it together. Because even though its 9 million people its really easy to feel alone if you don’t know anybody.
The Lone Bellow is working on a new record and there current tour will stop at Bonnaroo and Shaky Knees festivals this summer.
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