‘You mess with the bull you get the horns’. And that’s what is going to happen if you turn up to the Bullhorn gig this weekend. You are going to get some wired horns. Seven of them in fact. The Echo spoke with Steve Buchanan about his very horny outfit.
What’s the biggest challenge for you guys keeping seven players on the road?
The biggest challenge is having everyone available at the same time. Just getting everyone in the same room can be really challenging. The band actually works a lot with subs. We have about 20 people who play in Bullhorn. It’s created a small community just around the band.
What is it about the horn that sends people into a frenzy?
It’s such primal, organic sound. There’s something very powerful in sound of a wind instrument, a sound that’s physically produced with the power of the lungs and body!
What is the essence of Bullhorn’s grooves?
That’s a really hard question! We take influences from so many different genres. The essence of our sound is songs that are infectious, those you hear first time and instantly love and just have to move to.
You are a multi-genre music blender. What happens when you mix so many grooves together – does it ever upset the purists?
Yeah, we definitely get some purists questioning what we do. But we’ve never claimed to be a traditional brass band or of any particular kind. With so many in the band we have a massive spectrum of musical preferences. So we like to draw influences from all of them, take what we love and also leave what we don’t love. It is a lot of trial and error for us. We have a lot of music that we try that doesn’t make the cut. But it’s all about trying everything and just giving it a go!
What’s the weirdest thing that has happened to you guys at a gig?
Ha! We had show out west recently where a young girl said if we play Horses by Daryl Braithwaite she’d take her top off. Probably not that surprising a request for a country or rock band, but it was pretty left field for Bullhorn!
What are your favourite gigs or gig?
We love playing at festivals! Just the energy of everyone there! In particular Mullumbimby Festival, Port Fairy Festival, and Bello Winter Music Festival are great because they involve the whole town. It becomes a community event, involving all ages and demographics.
If you could pick any guest player, living or dead, who do you think would roll best with the Bullhorn sound?
We are actually really blessed to be supporting Hot 8 Brass Band from New Orleans for a few of their Australian shows in March. We’d love to jam with those. One of the original and best brass bands, these are the guys everyone covers. So excited to be playing those shows!
What should we expect for your gig in Mullum?
Dancing, just cutting sick on the the floor! Bullhorn is high energy, a lot of fun, and all about getting up and moving!
Bullhorn play the Mullumbimby Civic Hall on Saturday.
Tix & Info: www.redsquaremusic.com.au
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