Words rom a The slow and mano many steady Train to

Moby is definitely the vocal type. Just opposed to indoors for 1,000, but I guess success open up the booklet to any of his CDs, and both have an equal chance of going right you're bound to find his rants and raves or wrong. And I love diversity - it's what on being Christian, being a vegan or just makes a festival good." simply being alive at the end of the 20th Moby enjoys diversity in his own music century. Afraid that I always talk too much as well. Whereas his latest album combines during interviews, I started out by asking dance beats and ambient soundscapes with Moby if there was anything he wanted to old blues field recordings, his previous talk about, any views he had on current album, Animal Rights, was thrashing punk. events that he wanted to get off his chest. "I hate purists of any kind, whether they "I think there's an interesting coup going be jazz purists or rock purists or whatev- on in Pakistan right now. I'm really hope- er. I think the most interesting develop- ful that it will lead to better things because ment in music in this century has been the they're our only ally in the Arab world. hybridization of different forms of music," Given the rocky history there, having a sta- Moby said. ble government in Pakistan would be very Maybe Moby is so eclectic because he beneficial." never has had a set group of influences. Moby's latest greatest album, Play, is "I'm 34 and have listened to everything heavy on samples. "Basically if I was lis- over the years," he said. "I was influenced tening to a record and wanted to use a piece by disco just as much as I was by Brian Eno, of it, I would," he said. "I went out and by Erik Satie just as much as by The Clash." asked whoever owned the music if I could And as for all his views and beliefs, Moby The men of Train wait for their close-up. Ugly waiting room, isn't it? use it, and if they said yes, I did." Now with doesn't think he should be pigeonholed For Train, success has been long in coming: from playing before touring comes the challenge of translating because of them. "You shouldn't believe five people a night to 25, then 125. Now the band, who have achieved a sample-heavy album to a live show. But everything you read about me. I love Christ, radio and video success with the song "Meet Virginia," sometimes Moby says that's not too hard. "I just got but I don't consider myself a Christian. I play for crowds of over 30,000. with my touring band that I've been play- don't understand people who do drugs, "It's a gradual evolution, but it keeps getting sweeter," guitarist ing with for three years now and put things but I don't look down on them because of Rob Hotchkiss said. together." it. I think people should be free to do what Since the beginning, the band has undergone many changes. Train Moby recently brought this live show to they want. And anyway, all of these views started out as Patrick Monahan and Rob Hotchkiss who sang and 1 none other than Woodstock '99. "I was just aren't in my head when I'm making music." played guitar together in cafes and coffeehouses around San Fran- one of those obnoxious musicians who came cisco. Hotchkiss said Train' s sound was initially folk music. Six months and left. But what I did see while I was there John Zeiss, later, Jimmy Stafford, ·Charlie Colin, and Scott Underwood joined the looked like a prison camp. It was dirty and band to form the final line up. there was a lot of disrespect for people and reviews editor "Everyone's influence makes Train," said Rob. property. Luckily by the Those influences are very eclectic and range from bands such as time I played most of the Whiskeytown and Radiohead to Led Zeppelin, Gomez and Ben Harp- macho pricks had er. Rob said that he always knew he wanted to be a musician. He start- already passed out in ed playing the guitar when he was eight, and he "wanted to be the their tents." Beatles." Now Moby will be The lyrics to Train' s songs are written by Monahan, the lead singer. bringing his live show "Pat tends to write voyeuristic lyrics; he sees things in other peo- to another outdoor fes- ple that are universal," Hotchkiss said. tival, Halloween's . "Meet Virginia," the band's second single and the one that has real- Voodoo Music Festival ly broken them nationwide, speaks to people, Hotchkiss said, because at Tad Gormley Stadium. "Virginia is a combination of women" who have universal qualities "I'm excited to play in which people can relate to. New Orleans again On Train's self-titled debut, one person would usually write a song because the only other and bring it in, but lately the band has been composing songs in more time I did it was horri- of a collaborative effort which has lately been taking place during ble. I played a punk show sound checks before shows. Rob says that Train' s next album is going when everyone was to be a big departure from their debut. People can expect to hear some expecting me to do a techno influences and drum loops. Train will probably spend the next dance show and it did- year touring, but by this time next year they hope to be recording n't go over well. I was their next album. Train fans can look forward to a new single to be particularly ashamed .released between albums. The band will also be contributing a song because Trent Reznor, a to a soundtrack. For now Train's goal is "as corny as it may sound, casual acquaintance, had to continue to be creatively satisfied," Hotchkiss said. come out to see the show." As for Voodoo Train will play the VoodooFest Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. Fest, Moby said, "I love festivals. I do a lot of Elizabeth Templeton, them over in Europe. It's FILE PHOTO hard to play outdoors in contributing writer Moby:S great new album Play swims in a sea of samples from field front of 20,000 people as recordings'. Check him out at Voodoo Fest. arcade october 22, 1999 11