At The Mike Stand With... David Walsh

By Mike Fitzpatrick

Whether it's gently tapping out the haunting melodies to transcendent Stand ballads such as 'Hoper' or 'When Fate Becomes You', or providing the thundering riffs on commanding rock anthems like 'Little Sweet Lucifer' and 'Beautiful Grey', guitarist/keyboardist David Walsh, is the personification of unruffledness, or is that unruffledicity?

Well, whatever it is, the music-mad axe-man is practically cool enough to have his own word made up for him.

David, the guitarist/keyboardist with Dublin-born rock act, Stand, is currently in New York City with the rest of the group, preparing themselves for another musical assault on Manhattan, this time at the Bowery Ballroom on March 20th.

With support from the much-hyped Irish act, The Coronas (fresh from their successes at last month's Meteor Awards), it promises to be an exciting show, with Stand promoting their latest album ('100,000 Ways to Harvest Hope' available at amazon.com, the band's gigs and most major music outlets) at the 6 Delancey Street venue.

So, you know, cancel that dental appointment with that weird dentist who insists on seeing you at night, collect your finest sparkly 'going-out' trousers from the dry cleaners and catch Stand at the Bowery Ballroom, or indeed, at another venue yet to be announced, near you.

What would you like your own tribute act to be called?
The four man Standlandfanband.

When's the last time you laughed out loud?
Just now, trying to say the name of our tribute band out loud.

What act would you like to have seen perform live?
Pink Floyd, an amazing band that sadly now can never be seen play live.

What team(s) do you support?
None, they don't support me.

What period in history would you most like to have visited?
If I could pick the place also, I would say 50s/60s America.

What song would you most like to have written?
'San Diego Serenade' by Tom Waits.

Who or what, would make you leave a room?
Anybody who talks non- stop with too much enthusiasm.

What decade rules (and why)?
The 1980s, a decade of guilty pleasures.

What cover version do you most enjoy performing?
'Wake up' by Arcade Fire.

What movie role would you like to have played?
John Goodman's role (Walter Sobchak) in the 'Big Lebowski', classic!

Have you ever been told you looked like somebody?
I have, Bill Murray circa 'Ghostbusters'.

What's the first album you remember buying?
'Bad' by Michael Jackson. I wore that tape down, down, down.

Who's your favorite Beatle?
George I think, he was quiet, great guitar player and didn't marry the devil.

What's your favorite Christmas song?
Ah 'Fairytale of New York'. You can't knock it.

Who's the most rock and roll person who ever lived?
Charlie Watts, the ultimate rebel. He's gonna grow his veggies and iron his suits his way and there's nothing you can do or say about it.

What artist/song/genre do you secretly enjoy listening to?
I like silly fun pop songs. Alphabeat are great!

Who would you most like to meet/have met?
The guy who stole my new laptop from my car last year.

What book can you read again and again?
I can't, or don't do books twice ever. I do favor biographies though.

What's the greatest album ever recorded?
'The Memphis Record'.

What artists would you most like to have played with in the band of your dreams?
David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars or The Ramones.

What do few people know about you?
I'm actually kind of fun.

What sitcom character can you most identify with?
Joe from 'The Royle Family', not sure if you guys get that show (in the US).

What movie can you watch over and over again?
'Dumb and Dumber', I laugh more the more I see it.

Who's your favorite cartoon character?
Homer Simpson.

What's the greatest place you've visited?
West Cork, beautiful!

What's mankind's most wonderful invention?
The ball.

What's mankind's most irritating invention?
Vocoder.

Who's the funniest person who ever lived?
Billy Connolly in his day was the best.

Who's your favorite namesake?
David (The Incredible Hulk) Banner, he knew how to lose it!