Slow Coming Day left an impression on the rock scene in 2004 with the release of their national debut, the emotionally charged Farewell To The Familiar. The album certainly grabbed our attention and we are proud to present a few questions frontman Orion Walsh recently answered for us...
This interview took place on: June, 2004
 

Jesus freak Hideout: What is the story behind your name "Slow Coming Day"?

Orion Walsh: Basically the name refers to life in the fact that a lot of times it seems like the goals and dreams we have take so long to accomplish or reach, if in fact they're ever reached at all.

JfH: How did you guys get started?

Orion: I started the band actually as a side-project to another band I was in at the time. I was playing bass in another band and I wanted to get back to playing the instrument I love - the guitar - and also writing and singing my own songs. Brad Smith (guitar) and I have always had similar ideas as far as songwriting goes and I think that's what really brought it all together.

JfH: Your debut Farewell To The Familiar has a lot of themes about missing someone, whether they've passed on or are just from a broken relationship. Is there a single person that most of the songs are speaking about?

Orion: "A Part of Me Died" and "A Midsummer's Nightmare" are both about the loss of my father. He died when I was 14, 8 years ago, of a heart attack. One thing I wanted to do was to write about the pain that I experienced during that time when he passed away and that is what those songs are about. "Family Ties" is about divorce and some of the feelings that I went through with my parents being divorced. I actually don't ever rememeber them ever being together, as they were divorced by the time I was 3 years old.

JfH: Who is "Behind Blues Eyes" about?

Orion: "Behind Blue Eyes" is actually about a girl who I had a crush on during one semester at college. She didn't want anything to do with me though, so it was kind of heart breaking.

JFH: When can fans expect a follow-up to your debut? And what can they expect musically and lyrically this time around?

Orion: We plan on trying to go into the studio if possible by the end of this year to record a new album. We have been doing a lot of touring this year with the likes of Mae, Copeland, the Working Title, Anberlin, Mewithoutyou, Watashi Wa, Emery, Spitalfield, Action Action, Brandtson, Big Collapse, and others so we have been quite busy lately. Fans can expect somewhat of a change from Farewell... -- especially since we have a new bass player, Randy Schulte, and a new drummer, Ben Libay, that we will be recording the new album with. The new stuff will defintely be a step up from the older songs. As far as lyrical themes go, you'll just have to find out when you get the new CD.

JFH: What artists have influenced SCD's sound?

Orion: We all listen to a variety of music. Some bands that have helped influence us are Jimmy Eat World, The Gloria Record, Mineral, Brandtson, Death Cab for Cutie, Muse and many others.

JFH: I see you guys are children of the 80's as many of us are as well. What're your thoughts on the resurgence of 80's trends and paraphernalia lately?

Orion: I think it's rad. But you probably won't find me down at club 82 with all the scene kids dancing to 80's songs.

JFH: What has been some of your favorite places to play shows?

Orion: Defintely the Norva in Norfolk, Virginia. That club is amazing and probably the nicest club we have ever played at. It was our first show on the Mae/Copeland tour and there was about 1,500 kids there so it was defintely fun times for us. Also the Masquerade in Atlanta, Gerogia is nice, the El Rey Theatre in LA when we played with Juliana Theory and Coheed and Cambria, and also the Glass House in Pomona, CA.

JFH: Any embarrassing live moments?

Orion: Once when we were in Ft. Worth, Texas on the Mae/Copeland tour between songs I said "It's great to be here in Ft. Lauderdale. We're in Ft. Lauderdale right?" Ha Ha. Let's just say the crowd was silent at that point. Everyone on the tour gave me a hard time about it for quite awhile.

JFH: What would be your dream tour for SCD?

Orion: We have always dreamed about touring with Jimmy Eat World as they are one of our favorite bands. Also it would be really cool to go over and tour in Europe sometime.

JFH: When all is said and done, what kind of mark do you hope Slow Coming Day can leave on music as a whole?

Orion: My hope is that when kids hear our music that they can relate to the songs and that it has an impact on their life. We get emails every once in awhile from kids that talk about how much some of ours songs have helped them through, especially kids who have had loved ones pass away. To me, just to know that our songs have had an impact on someone's life is more than enough. That's why we write music in the first place.

JFH: Thanks for taking the time out for this interview. Do you have any last comments?

Orion: If you haven't already picked up our album, go to your local record store and buy it!! If they don't have it there ask them to order it. Or you can pick Farewell to the Familiar up online from us at www.slowcomingday.com or from Tooth and Nail at www.toothandnail.com. Also, if you haven't seen us play live yet, be sure to come out when we come through your town.

Slow Coming Day's album, Farewell To The Familiar, is available now!