Tuesday, January 8, 2008

The Zou goes west: AUDIO INTERVIEW

By Sarah Poulton

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Eight days into their 14-day West Coast tour, The Zou says they are still spreading the Youngstown love.

The band left on Jan. 1 after playing First Night Youngstown. So far, they’ve played gigs in Denver; Albuquerque, N.M.; Flagstaff, Ariz., Santa Monica and Calitola, Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz. Bassist Murad Shorrab says they’ve been well-received at each venue and have been having a blast.

During the first two shows, The Zou shared a stage with Posture Coach. Shorrab says they’ve been lucky because through their tour, except for their stay in Alburquerque, they’ve stayed with a Youngstown native.

“It’s a family experience all over the country,” Shorrab says.

They’ve seen the Youngstown network all over the country, he said. While in Arizona this morning, the person they’re staying with had a “Defend Youngstown” sticker on the refrigerator.

Shorrab says the Zou’s unique sound is drawn from the power of the land from which they come. “Our music is indicative of where we’re from and where we’ve grown up. The fact that we’re from northeast Ohio blends us together into what we are. It’s coming across in our performances.”

The trip has been the experience of a lifetime and traveling to each venue is a trip in itself, he said.

“This is nuts. It was over 24 hours in the van to get to Denver... For us to be doing this, day after day, we’ve become more organized," he said. "It’s another step towards the ultimate step, which is to be representative of Youngstown.”

For more on The Zou’s western tour, check out the audio interview.