Stir Q&A: the Boom Booms sound off on their upcoming live concerts at the Massey, family time, and hugs
The beloved local feel-good band plays four shows at the New West theatre this weekend
The Boom Booms credit the Massey for blazing a trail with socially distanced concerts.
THE BOOM BOOMS are one of those Vancouver acts that locals love to claim as their own—they’re ours. Drawing on soul, Latin, funk, and story telling, the five-piece is kicking off the Massey Theatre’s 2020 Concerts programming with four shows: October 16 and 17 at 7 and 9:30 pm.
Only 50 tickets (of the venue’s 1,260 seats) are available for each performance, and strict pandemic safety measures will be in place. (More info is here.)
The members of the feel-good group—Tom Van Deursen (guitar), Geordie Hart (bass), Theo Vincent (drums), and brothers Aaron Ross (lead vocals) and Sean Ross (keys)—weighed in on some pre-concert queries with Stir. (They also shared a track called “Que Te Parece” that you can hear on the Stir Player. Check it out on our home page: just click on the play button to listen!)
How did you all meet?
Aaron: I met Sean at the hospital, Geordie at preschool, Theo at elementary school, and Tom at a tree-planting camp.
What was happening in the Boom Booms’s world when the pandemic hit?
Theo: We had a great summer lined up, but all went into the wind with COVID!
How have you been coping with COVID-19?
Sean: I spent the first month quarantined at home with my wife and two-year-old. Felt safer staying home when everything was at its most uncertain. It has been a good time to reflect and focus on my family. I managed to work a bit doing odd jobs, and CERB helped fill in when I wasn't able to earn any money.
What made you want to play these shows at the Massey rather than perform a virtual concert?
Geordie: Live music has to be in person, otherwise it’s pre-recorded music. Massey is doing something very important by blazing a trail for socially distanced concerts, and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to perform as part of their series.
I see that Aaron is pursuing solo work. What does this mean for the Boom Booms?
Aaron: The solo project is starting to come to fruition, which is exciting and a different avenue to express myself and be creative. I've really enjoyed learning new skills, self-producing the record in Ableton Live. I'll be creating a solo show—mostly for versatility’s sake—but hope to have the boys learn the solo-project songs and perform them.
What's next for the group?
Tom: Continuing to turn survival into thrival. Yeah, I said it.
What do you miss most about pre-pandemic life?
Theo: CROWDS and HUGS.
What will you be doing 10 minutes before you hit the stage at the Massey?
Geordie: Realistically, trying to jot down a final edit of the set list.
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