{"id":9750,"date":"2017-10-21T21:17:49","date_gmt":"2017-10-22T01:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.altwire.net\/?p=9750"},"modified":"2023-12-06T06:39:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T11:39:10","slug":"altwire-interview-steven-page","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/altwire.net\/es\/entrevista-de-altwire-a-steven-page\/","title":{"rendered":"[AltWire Interview] Steven Page"},"content":{"rendered":"

Best known as ‘the guy from the Barenaked Ladies’, the band that blew up back in the late 90s early 00s, Steven Page<\/strong> has toured the globe playing to millions of people. Since leaving BNL he hasn\u2019t played a show in the UK. As he gears up for for his first run of UK shows in 10 years we catch up with Steven to see what he has been up to.<\/p>\n

[AltWire\/Allan Maxwell]: Hi Steven, how\u2019re things?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> Couldn\u2019t be better.  After 30 years I still get to make music for a living with people I like being around, so I\u2019m feeling pretty lucky.<\/p>\n

AW: So it\u2019s been 10 years since you were last over in the UK. What made you stay away for so long?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> I was pretty uncomfortable with you guys being part of the European Union.  Actually, I\u2019ve been wanting and trying to get back to the UK since I left Barenaked Ladies, and have been back on holiday and to see my friend and co-writer Stephen Duffy several times, but haven\u2019t been able to make gigging work out until now.  It\u2019s mostly for mundane reasons (like lack of any record label support, followed by lack of any record label at all) that I haven\u2019t toured the UK as a solo act, and eventually I just got sick of telling fans I was coming back without actually doing so, and worked with my booking agent & manager to finally make it happen.<\/p>\n

[AW]: What are you looking forward to most about coming back?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> I love being in the UK and would take any opportunity to come over there, so to be able to play shows whilst doing so is exciting.  The audiences there have always been great for BNL and for me, and I think the fans feel possessive, like I\u2019m their little secret.  I\u2019m more than happy to oblige.<\/p>\n

[AW]: How does touring on your own compare to touring with BNL?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been performing as a solo act for over eight years now, so I\u2019ve gotten pretty used to it. My touring setup is much leaner than it used to be with BNL, even when I\u2019m doing  a full-band setup.  This tour will be as the Steven Page Trio, with Craig Northey (of Canadian band Odds) on guitar and Kevin Fox on cello, so it\u2019s pretty easy to get around these days.  This trio has been playing together quite a lot over the last few years and we\u2019ve grown very comfortable with each other and with the songs, so the shows are really easy and enjoyable for all of us – and I think they are for the audiences as well!<\/p>\n

[AW]: How does it feel touring the world again as yourself, rather than a member of BNL?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> In some ways, it feels like starting all over again, particularly when it comes to profile and making people aware of the gigs and who I am (without always having to tell them I\u2019m the \u201cIt\u2019s been\u201d guy from \u201cOne Week\u201d), but then when I sing the songs, and the audiences join in, it\u2019s as if I never left. I play a lot of shows in North America but it will be really nice to show people over there what I\u2019ve been up to since leaving BNL.<\/p>\n

[AW]: You\u2019ve already sold out the first night in Glasgow, and added a second night. Do you think Glasgow has a connection with you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> King Tut\u2019s was the first venue we ever played outside of North America where the audience sang along with our songs – it was a life-changing moment for us – so I\u2019m really looking forward to being back.  From gigs like T in the Park to the Barrowlands I have a lot of great memories of playing in Scotland, and I\u2019ve always said that Glasgow was one of my favourite places to play.  I\u2019d be pissed if it wasn\u2019t great this time!<\/p>\n

[AW]: What can people expect from this run of shows?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Page:<\/strong> The set lists will include songs from my three solo albums, including my latest, Heal Thyself, as well as a lot of songs I sang in Barenaked Ladies – a mix of singles like \u201cIt\u2019s All Been Done\u201d and \u201cBrian Wilson\u201d along with songs like \u201cBreak Your Heart\u201d and other than people have been requesting on social media.<\/p>\n

Thank you!<\/p>\n