Over the years, the French band Superbus (the name is Latin for ‘sublime’ and ‘proud’) has built up a large and loyal fan base. The five-piece band, fronted by singer Jennifer ‘Jenn’ Ayache, was honoured with an MTV Europe Music Award as ‘Best French Group’ in 2005 for their creative mix of pop and rock elements, among other accolades. However, Superbus feel most at home live on tour. This year, the band took an extensive Gravity tripod setup with them on the road, including an LED-lit Glow Stand for special lighting effects! We had a chat with guitarist Patrice Focone about the band’s choice of equipment. And, since Superbus is always on the go, the motto was: short questions – quick answers. Happy reading!
You’re on the road a lot as a band. How many shows do you play per year?
Patrice Focone: It depends on whether we’re working on a new album or not. When we’re working on a new album, we play between 60 and 120 shows over a period of two years. When we’re NOT working on a specific album, we play about 20 to 30 festivals over the summer.
How would you describe yourselves as a band? What makes you stand out?
Patrice Focone: Musically, we’re a typical pop/rock band with two guitarists, bass, drums, and a singer. Every now and then, there are also keyboard parts. On stage, we’re much rockier and seek interaction with the audience. For us, the audience is something like the sixth member of Superbus!