PAPA – PRESHOW RITUALS

In this Preshow Rituals segment, the alternative band, PAPA, share what they do before every show. You can check out their rituals, after the break.

Occasionally, I can allow the frenetic energy of the night prepare me for a performance. Sometimes, an old friend shows up, and reconnecting takes the time leading up to the downbeat. But being on the road, and summonsing the spirit and stamina to really push myself and connect each night takes a lot of focus and a lot of daily preparation.

There is the physical aspect.

I have an hour drum warm up that I do every day, regardless of where I am. I grew up touring in a really aggressive punk band, and I quickly learned how important it was to have loose muscles before getting on stage. I like to be loosened up enough to where I don’t have to think about what I’m asking of my body. I hate the feeling of being aware of my physical presence when I’m performing. It is a physical act, but to me, the best performances come out when I’m going on instinct, and don’t have to wait for my limbs to play catch up.

Same goes for singing. I’ve never considered myself a natural singer, and being that I sing from behind a drum set, I have to get my voice feeling good before I get on stage, otherwise I end up yelling instead of singing, which is why I lost my voice within a week of every tour we did for our first album.

Then there is the mental aspect.

After a long drive or a fight you just had or recovering from a sleepless night, you don’t always feel totally inspired to go on stage and perform. I love watching interviews with Patti Smith, and Bruce Springsteen when I’m on the road. Both artists have always made me believe that rock and roll, and connecting through that medium can really be a spiritual, and sexual, and political act that has the power to transform people. I know I’ve been transformed by shows I’ve seen, even if I was only one of ten people in the audience.

I never want to feel like I’m trying to get the set over with. I practice Transcendental Meditation every day, and that helps me live inside the moment a little bit more. On tour, there is so much travel, preparation, and general speed-up-to-slow-down activity, that sometimes you forget that all that work is done so you can have those few moments on stage. So I really try to close my eyes and think about the pace of my breath before going on stage, and think about the silences and spaces in some of the performances that have impacted me most over the years.

Right before we hit the stage, we usually sing through a chorus in the set that features group vocals or harmonies to get in some kind of gang mentality.

Then we do jumping jacks and slap each other in the face to get the blood flowing

Then we get on stage.

Then we rip shit up.

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(Photo credit: Dan Regan)