Zoobombs

 

 

After a decade long absence, Zoobombs make their return to Australia. Combining elements of powerpop and funk rock, Zoobombs mainstay Don Matsuo will return with a new lineup to play old and new Zoobombs tracks. After a long hiatus, Matsuo has reformed the Bombs for the odd shows, as well as playing with his Solo band and the 9Oz. With a knack for improvisation on stage, Don says its rare you’ll see the same Zoobombs show twice.

Munster: So, is it right in sayings it’s been ten years since the last Zoobombs tour of Australia?

Don: yes.

Munster: What lead to the Zoobombs finally coming back to Australia?

Don: I got a friend in Melbourne, Toshi. He came with Rocket Science and Meanies to tour in Japan, he asked me to play with them as a support for the one show in Tokyo. And then he asked me to do this tour.

Munster: Seems like the last few years you’ve been more busy with other projects then the Zoobombs, is that fair to say?

Don: yes. the Zoobombs kind of stopped, we lost two members, the Zoobombs didn’t do any more from then. I did a solo EP with a new band I found two new members. Our  bass player and drummer are kind of young, compared to me. So I had new motivation to start again, it really works.

Munster: so with the Zoobombs, it’s just the odd gig now and then not a full time venture?

Don: right. I’m really happy to be back with these new members because I think now the Zoobombs has a more new sound, and Zoobombs play pretty improvised music and lots of improvisation on the stage, so we need to get really close communication wise, so its hard to find some members like that. With these new members, I think this Zoobombs lineup is the best is the best.

Munster: is most of the set improvised on stage?

Don: yes. It depends how far everybody goes, and it depends on the conditions of the mind and body, where the onstage connection with the members, my style its always changing, so I’m happy where the energy is going. I’m always set my clearing to the music where is it going, its always changing and disappearing then I play guitar and the music starts and you take it from there.

Munster: You’re playing two shows in Melbourne, so music wise can I expect to see two different gigs?

Don: I think so, always depends, the music is the same, the songs are not different, but approach and how to play this song, today or tonight is always different always something happens the audience is different and the stage is different and the day is different for each person. We’ll see.

Munster: A Zoombombs best of compilation came out recently, idd you have any involvement with that?

Don: yes. I got a message from the Canadian label who is my friend. She wanted to release the best of. I’m always looking ahead but it was interesting to look past at my career, how many songs I wrote. So it’s pretty good journey for me to do that and look at the Zoobombs over 13 years, I’m 50, and I’m kind of got pretty old now so the energy is different from the start, but I still have some kind of energy from the start so I don’t know what kind of music I can make now. Rock n roll music is young people energy real old rock n roll, before that people loved their rock n roll I’m getting old and what is the good thing about getting old is I’m looking forward. I don’t want to be like young people. The thing about getting older is what can I get from them the young people.

Munster: you mentioned your newer members are younger, and that must feel good they’d rather play with you then do their own thing?

Don: I’m playing with younger musicians, especially in Japan, always trying to play with younger musicians . So playing just a kind of easy style for us we know the music and how to get the feelings from there so when we started playing the music its always going really well, so I’m thinking I’m happy the musicians I have, old people young people it doesn’t matter just to connect with someone and play I play and they play some thing on the stage. There’s a lot of feeling for music on stage and that’s a great thing.

Munster: What’s Next?

Don: we have a new label with new members so in October will have a new LP out. We will play lots of stuff from there on this Australian tour.

 

Thu 29 May – The Crowbar, Brisbane 

Fri 30 May – The Crowbar, Sydney 

Sat 31 May – The Evelyn, Fitzroy 

Sun 1 June – Kindred Bandroom, Footscray