The "Serious Fans" penned some questions they have been wanting to ask PC3 - and here are the answers

Serious Fans Interview Paul Grant and Phill

 

1. Will you ever do a reunion tour in the U.S.A?
Paul: Not really sure there is enough of a market for us in the USA. It would be wonderful though.
Grant: I’d never want to say “never” about that. We are always thrilled when we hear about anyone in the US (or anywhere, for that matter!) that remembers pc3 and would be interested to see us play live – but it’s always kind-of a surprise.
Phil:

I think it would take the belief of some key industry people in the US to make it happen, it’s not just about us wanting to do it unfortunately, but never say never, God is capable of anything, how did we get there, tour & have #1 songs in the 1st place?

 
2.

How have you all changed since the trio days?
Paul: I am 5 years older and wiser. I’ve learnt to trust God a lot more and I’ve accepted more of His love for me. I got a bit better at the guitar too.
Grant: That’s tough for me to judge: It’s impossible for me to be truly objective. But I’m a father now – of Maxwell Leigh – so my life priorities and ‘style’ have changed significantly. I think I have changed in that I am more amazed and captivated by Jesus, I realize that I am a leader and I have accepted that God has more to say through me than can be expressed by just the bass notes – even though they are (obviously!) the coolest notes of all.
Phil: I think I’ve realized that music is just a small part of who I am, I put much more emphasis on it in the past, and now I realized that God wants to use me in ways I’d never imagined before
3. Are you worried you will forget some of the songs?

Paul: Yes a bit. But I will rehearse a LOT before April 11, 2009.
Grant: I’m not worried. I am sure I have forgotten some of the songs. I certainly can’t remember how they all go now, but I am confident that with some homework, practice and rehearsal, it’ll come back to us pretty quickly. They say it’s like riding a bike!
Phil: yeah, homework and practice should refresh the memory, I think PC has the toughest job – having to remember all the words – let’s face it, drums are easy. How often do you hear a drummer play the wrong thing?
4.

What have you all been working on during your time apart?
Paul: I have released some recordings, practiced the guitar, written a bunch of songs and done way too much touring. I’ve also worked hard on my character.
Grant: Personally, I have been working on being a better husband and father- and I am certain Paul and Phil have been doing that too. Professionally I have been working on being a better teacher and communicator, vocalist, song-writer and (yes!) guitarist. (It’s tough getting bass fingers to fit on those skinny little guitar stings!) But I have discovered what Paul has known all along: If you have a good capo, everything can be in the key of G! Now I understand why most pc3 songs use the chords they do. Check www.grantnorsworthy.com to see what I have been up to. I call it “word and song”.
Phil:

I’ve been recording & producing for many Australian Christian music artists (mainly solo artists as opposed to bands) in my little studio in Melbourne Australia. I’ve also been working as part of my church NewHope in the building our team in the areas of music, tech & media.

 
5. Will Cabaret Boy be making an appearance in the reunion show?

Paul: Maybe. You never know with a pc3 show!
Grant: Who’s this Cabaret Boy bloke? Never heard of him.
Phil: I don’t think he ever appeared in the US, so it’s been a very long while…
   
6. Is there any chance you guys will ever make another album together?
Paul: We’ve chatted about it. No definite plans though. There are quite a few songs left over that didn’t make it onto previous recordings. In addition, Grant and I have written a few songs since then that might be considered.
Grant: Never say never! I think we only ever scratched the surface of the musical and creative potential of this combination of three guys. I like the idea of more writing and recording, and hope it happens. It’s a tough thing to arrange though. Perhaps a song or two (or three!) to see how it goes before seriously considering a whole album.
Phil: well, with technology now the way it is, it’s more possible than ever before to have a recording made in 2 countries, sending files back and forth, but the best result in many ways is in the collaboration which you only really get from being in the same studio at the same time.. talking each part through, that would take a big effort as we live so far apart, not closed to the idea though.
   
7. How have the other bands you guys have played in compared with pc3?
Paul: I think our band was/is unique, so it’s hard to compare. I have learnt a lot from playing in the newsboys though.
Grant: The band pc3 certainly stands out as the most significant band I’ve been in; and I have been in LOADS of bands. The main difference, I would say, would be a relational one. We were very intentional about trying to cultivate authentic, meaningful relationships between one another, with the people around us and in front if us and with Jesus the Christ. We didn’t always do that well but, at our best, I believe there was an invisible, actual, almost tangible flow of Jesus between the band members, and, in my opinion, it was Him – His presence - that drew people to us and our music.
Phil: I think the fun & audience interaction, the spontaneity is something I’ve not seen in other bands I’ve been in/seen. Paul is a master of crowd control, regardless of the environment. Grant’s quick wit compliments that, and the Trio has always been built around that anything could happen… the live gig truly could go anywhere and I love that! I think audience likes the feeling of anything could happen also.
   
8. What has been your biggest challenge as a musician since the "pc3 hiatus"? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Paul: I just didn’t want to regress or stand still. I have wanted to improve. I think I’m a better musician but I will wait to see if my band mates agree with that personal assessment. ?
Grant: I think I have gone through a profound re-invention of my professional self since the pc3 days. Back then I always just wanted to be the bassist in the band who had some creative input and a ‘voice’. The challenge has been to break out of those limitations. Bass is still my main instrument, but now I’m also a lead-singer and a guitarist. I can grab an instrument and sing you a bunch of songs if you like. It was tough to do that before. From being a fourth grade teacher years and years ago to now preaching and running musicians’ seminars and workshops, I have also had to re-discover that I am a teacher after all.
Phil: I’ve been challenged to learn more of guitar and bass & how they relate to drums (and vice versa) as I work on the music I thats been through my studio. But also I have been challenged to communicate to our church music team what makes music work (and connecting with God through music), To overcome these challenges I’ve had to trust God, that He has given me what I know for a reason.
   
9. With so many fan favorites, how do you choose what goes in the set list? Will you be performing any of the individual member solo pieces as part of the reunion?
Paul: I think we know what songs people want to hear. It’s a festival and not a pc3 concert so I think that will influence our decision.
Grant: We may not get to do this again! I hope we play songs that we want to play, as well as those that people want to hear. How long’s the set? Can we play all night? It’ll probably have to end up being a choice of what we have to, regretfully, leave out. There are too many strong songs. Paul will have the final say, but I imagine we’ll do all pc3 songs.
Phil: Obviously the most popular songs need to be played to connect – solos?? Hmm, I think the strength is in the team.
   
10. Will the performance be recorded or broadcast (audio and/or video)? (Please! Please! Please!)
Paul: There are plans afoot. Nothing definite yet though.
Grant: Ooooo! That’s a good idea. It’d be a shame not to do a video shoot. Hope we can do that.
Phil: That’d be so cool, hopefully we can cut it good enough, I’m sure we could.
   
11. How would you define the word “success”?
Paul: On a personal level its got to do with God and family. On a career level there are many tiers that define success for me. These include, performance quality, song quality, musicianship, sales and notoriety. The secret I think is to notice these things but not let them define you.
Grant: The word “success” is a sticky one. I am aware of how it is generally used and what it means in conversation – recognition, popularity, power, money, etc. - but I am trying to intentionally distance my own life from that definition of “success”. I’m trying to leave it to God to judge my success as I attempt to be more like the “birds of the air and the lilies of the field” – not worrying about stuff. It would seem to me that success might include what we consider to be the ‘trappings of success’, or it might not. Only God can judge. A successful life is a life surrendered, replaced by the character of Jesus – whatever that looks like
Phil: for me it is in pleasing God by obedience, & in loving Him & my family & others.
   
12. Do you foresee any additional shows in the future as pc3 (whether it be Australia or elsewhere)?
Paul: We’ve talked about it. We’re still deciding.
Grant: Some more shows would be great, but, among other things, I think we need to assess the response from the people to this Easter Fest gig. The people will decide first and then we’ll be able to take a serious look at the possibilities.
Phil: I’d really like to as I think there’s something fresh happening with us as a team/group & I think that means God wants to use us again to say some new things to us all as individuals and to the God following community alike – so God willing – yes!
   
13. Will Phil wear a wig to match the long locks of the pc3 days? Will Paul dye his hair platinum blonde and spike it? Will Grant wear orange and paint his nails black?
Paul: My blonde days are in the past I feel.
Grant: If Phil wears a wig, I’ll be disappointed. I like his ‘new’ look. (He’s had short hair for about five years now). I think I do have those orange overalls somewhere. Nail polish? I guess we’ll all have to wait and see. But if you think I’m thinking about what I’m going to wear next April … you’re right.
Phil: I’ve totally considered wearing a wig, but only as a joke of course! Buzzing all my hair off was a radical thing for me – shouldn’t have been, but now I feel more ‘me’ than the guy who’s identity was in pc3 – does that make sense? So probably no wig!
   
14. How do you guys feel about performing together for the first time in years?
Paul: I am looking forward to it very much.
Grant: I am really hopeful and prayerful that we can do an excellent job of it – on every level. I don’t want this to be (just) about reminiscing, playing hits and memories and having a good time for the band and the audience. There’ll be all that for sure, but I’m hoping for something of eternal significance – at least in my life and hopefully others too. I want more of Jesus and less of me.
Phil: I’m very curious to see how the way we’ve all changed as individuals affects our music & on stage ‘thing’, I think we’ve all grown so much in our individual journeys, to see the fruit of that will be exciting.
   
  pc3 questions part 2
(PC’s answers only - didn't manage to catch up with the others for these ones)
 

Has it been hard to get back into the songs or does it feel just like in the old days?

PC: I’ve been singing quite a few of them from before the Trio was formed and the ones I wrote in the Trio years I often sing. There are a few that are testing me though. I’ve been practicing the chords and lyrics over the last few months.

What do you miss about Australia most (or for Phil) what do you miss about America?

PC: I miss my family, friends, sport, certain foods and the humor.

What is your greatest joy and what is your greatest challenge in life right now?

My greatest joy and challenge are my family.

Would you ever consider doing another PC3 album and producing it in Australia?

PC: We’ve chatted about it. Nothing definite yet.

What is the thing you miss most about playing together?

PC: Performing with Grant and Phil was fantastic. We had a great chemistry and a lot of fun together.

What is the thing you miss LEAST about touring together?

PC: Compromise.

What is your favorite song to perform live?

PC: Too hard to pick. I love doing DIP, RUN, NO PROBLEM, DEAR GOD and BANQUET TABLE.

How many children are there now, between the three of you?

PC: 6

What are some fun/funny memories from the PC3 days?

PC: We had so many hilarious moments on and off the stage that to try and write them would be impossible. Winning awards was fun. So was really nailing a performance. When the three of us were traveling, a lot of fun moments would simply come out of us just hanging out.

Do you know how beloved the Paul Colman Trio was, and how special the chemistry and the music and the concerts were?

PC: I don’t think I have a true idea of how much we were loved. I think you have to earn it every time, so I will playing at Easterfest and any other show we ever do believing that we have to earn the respect of the audience.

What do you guys like to do when you're not working?

PC: I like being with my family, talking to people and playing golf.

If there was a movie about PC3, who would play each of you?

PC: I would like Jack Black to play me. He would be funny and would make me look pretty thin ?. I think that Brad Pitt should play Grant. He would like that. Phil would be played by Orlando Bloom.

What would you like to accomplish that you haven't done yet?

PC: I’d like to figure out how to make a living and not travel as much. I’d like to get my golf handicap to about 7. Most importantly though I just want to be close to God and be a fantastic, husband, father and friend.

Do your kids have Australian or American Accents?

PC: My kids have a hybrid but leaning towards southern bells.

How much time did you guys have to practice before Easterfest 09?

PC: We will spend 5 days rehearsing together.

How bout the best or funniest memory from a practice or show...?

PC: I once asked the audience to ‘give a guy a hand’ for something he had done. The problem was he actually only had one hand.!!!

In retrospect, do you think you brought out your album One too soon – and you should have kept going a while longer on the huge success of NMOTW before doing a second album. (Which I absolutely love and feel sad it never reached the heights it should have)!

PC: The ONE album was difficult. We were on vacation when we started it, on tour when we finished it and disconnected with each other for a lot of it. This was a tough time. ‘One’ was quite prophetic. Not long after it released we called it quits and we were all back to being just one guy and not a band.