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Gigging Northern Ireland talks to Northern Ireland's most recent success story, from County Down to Japan, The Answer. Met by the sight of lead guitarist Paul Mahon handing his guitar to a young boy and letting him plug in and play, we quizzed him on the tour with AC/DC, meeting their idols, their influences, the local music scene and more...

So Paul, thanks for taking time out to speak to me. How are you and how's it feel to be back in Belfast?

I'm good and it's very good to be back.

As a local band who have 'made it', what advice would you give to other bands currently on the circuit?

I suppose, the same old, keep true to what you believe in, play the music you love and don't give into the trends and all that. I think the thing that really helped us was probably making contact with a manager - [that] was kinda when all the pointless hard work stopped. Of course you have to get a good one as well.

So this gave you a bit of direction?

Yeah, well once we got him on board, we had lots of opportunities to do showcases for record companies and stuff, which wouldn't have happened otherwise. Everyone thinks when we went to London it's all set up. I think everyone thinks you go there and it's like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, its not quite like that, you can go and play there to two people for six months.

What was your favourite local venue to play when you were gigging around Northern Ireland?

Definitely the Empire. That was the one where when you got to that stage on the local scene, you'd kinda made it. It's the first kinda rung of the ladder and when that place is full and you're playing a good gig it's brilliant and it looks great as well.

Are there any local bands you like listening to? Or haven't you had the chance with being so busy lately?

Haven't really had a chance in a while. When we're playing around we play with Dirty Stevie a lot, massive fan of what they're doing. Swanee River too, good friends of ours. Unfortunately they're not playing tonight. We've Bandwagon on tonight, I've only heard a few rough demos of them, never seen them, so I'm quite excited to see them live. I know young Phil's [Edgar, Bandwagon's frontman and guitarist] a great guitar player, so looking forward to seeing him play again.

When you got signed, what were your first over-riding emotions? Fear, or an appetite to justify the decision to sign you?

I think it was a bit of 'finally'. You know, finally it happened, we thought it never would then there it was. But at the same time, I can't remember when we were actually signed, how it worked. I remember we'd a lot of interest, and four or five labels were looking and there were good offers on the table. But we didn't end up going with those guys. The thing with Albert started off as a deal for one EP and then that for a couple of months and we recorded in that time and started doing an album. So it was like, did we sign back then, or when did it actually happen? It was all this work in progress and before you know it the album's out. But yeah, there's a lot of satisfaction.

Are there any influences on any of the band that aren't the typical rock and roll acts?

I suppose we all grew up listening to slightly different things. I mean first stuff I was into was probably like Motley Crue and all that glam rock and early Bay-Area Thrash - Metallica, and all that. James, I suppose was different in that he was into lots of Post-Hardcore stuff - Helmet, Tool, all those kinda bands that I don't think you'd associate with The Answer. Then Mickey just liked the Eagles.

One thing I've heard about the Eagles that some live performances sounded like a CD, do The Answer go for the opposite of that? Do you want a CD to sound like a live performance?

That's a good analogy yeah. I guess when were in the studio we are conscious that we are essentially a three piece band with a singer. But you know, the studio's there to be used. Some tracks call for you to layer things up, harmonies on the vocals or the guitars, or use other instruments that aren't in the band. And I think if the song needs that it's great. And then when we come to play it live, I think that's part of the way you have to try and recreate it with what you've got. Like Led Zeppelin did it, when you hear them do 'Kashmir' its not quite like the record, or 'Stairway to Heaven', it's not quite like the record, but it's a good version of it. I think I remember when I was very young listening to an Ash demo, and there was lots of guitar tracks on that and talking to Tim Wheeler [Ash frontman] about it and he said, you know, when you play it live you do what you can with it. Live is something different, you're not just hearing stuff out of speakers, you're seeing it as well, and I think that makes up for whatever you lack in extra instruments and stuff.

Have you got one outstanding memory of touring with AC/DC? Not a lot of people get to do that.

There's been a few, good and bad. When we got stopped at the Canadian border, about third or fourth show in, we didn't make it over because our bus driver had a prior drugs conviction. We ended up missing the show. They'd held the show back and all for us, and it was the biggest show on the tour, about 45,000 in Toronto. That was the first bad memory. One of the good ones of course was meeting Brian [Johnson, AC/DC singer] at the first show. He came back stage and introduced himself and we were saying you know, we're a bit nervous here. He was like 'Nervous? You've nothing to be nervous about. You wanna go back into that room with those Young brothers, you'll be nervous sitting with them!' So after him saying that we kinda thought 'OK, we can do this'. Then after that getting to meet Malcolm and Angus for the first time, and seeing they're smaller than me was quite a surprise [laughing]. Getting to chat to them was kind of a dream come true. You know from being a kid and hearing 'A Whole Lotta Rosie' to going and playing with them was a special thing!

The overriding opinion of The Answer is that you're very much down to earth guys, who aren't caught up in your recent success. Do you feel that this is important to maintain, and that a lot of bands loose this and suffer for it?

Yeah definitely. I think a lot of the times that changes comes in bands' personalities the music maybe changes too, and for the most part it suffers. Like we're coming from the same place you're coming from so it keeps you pretty grounded. You know when I go home I've brothers and sisters, and they don't let me look at my achievements in that kinda light. They keep you on the ground.

Have you always used the traditional rock Gibson and Marshall set up, even in your earlier days in the band?

No, I grew up playing Strats and super Strats like Ibanezs and Jacksons. And then when this band started I had a tele as well. More single coil style of guitars. A friend of ours said 'you should be playing a Les Paul, that doesn't sound right'. Although typical me I was like in one ear, out the other. Then about two months later, I had one. With the Marshall it just worked, filled the sound in the three-piece well. It sits well, is comfortable to me, fretboard's the right size. And you don't have to do much, you just plug them in and they sound good.

What can we expect from the Answer at the Ulster Hall later this year?

Ulster Hall...still a long way off, I'm not sure. We're writing some stuff at the moment but it's still early days. I'm sure if we've any time off there'll be one or two songs kicking about and that'd be a nice time to try them out. I hope so. We need to if we wanna get another album out.

So what's next for The Answer?

I suppose there's still a bit to go on this album. We gotta make the jump now from doing smaller venues to doing like your Ulster Halls' all over the world. And that's a big step, making that step from where we are now is one of the toughest things to do and we're hoping its gonna work.

Gigging Northern Ireland says Get your tickets for The Answer's gig in Ulster Hall on the 13th December 2009, where they will be rounding off a successful US and UK tour just in time for Christmas! Tickets on sale at: Geturticket.com!

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