Enoch Train performs for USU
The band that won an award for Best Instrumental Group at the Best of State Awards performed familiar hymns and children’s songs Wednesday with about 90 instruments.
“Enoch Train,” a band of eight, showed its audience in the Kent Concert Hall how songs they grew up with could be turned into folk music. The group used instruments that ranged from the harmonica to the electric bass guitar, oboe, accordion and bongo drums.
Clive Romney, a member of “Enoch Train,” said the band has been together for five years and it all began as sort of a challenge.
In the summer of 1997, Jeff Simpson, president of Joyspring Records, wanted Romney to arrange a collection of hymns and children’s songs in a new and different way.
“I told him I couldn’t, but I know some people who can,” Romney said.
According to www.enochtrain.com, Romney wrote, “I knew almost immediately the musicians would be perfect for this band – people I had worked with in the studio for years, whose personalities and musicianship I knew intimately. So we got together and began experimenting.”
Now the eight travel together playing what Romney says is “just fun,” because instruments allow a person to express so much emotion.
During the concert, Romney told the audience the band plays children’s songs because “we never grew up.”
Together, the eight laughed on stage, told a few jokes and even asked for a little audience participation.
Spectators joined in “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” and clapped during a Jewish tune. They even sang “Happy Birthday” with the band to another audience member.
Then people laughed as the band demonstrated how they could make animal noises with their instruments. Viewers heard monkeys, crickets, a lion, a whale, birds, turkey and even a sad puppy.
“It’s cool they are able to play such an array of different instruments,” said Emily Hillam, a junior majoring in physical education.
She said she knew about “Enoch Train” because her dad loves the band and she has listened to their CDs for the past few years.
Jake Erickson, an undeclared sophomore, said he came because he saw the signs in the Taggart Student Center and recognized the name. He said he wanted to see them live because he had only heard their CDs.
“I thought it was awesome,” Erickson said after the concert.
Because he is a musician himself, however, Erickson said he noticed some mistakes.
“Sometimes the woodwinds sounded fuzzy, but it was still really cool,” he said.
In the end, the audience gave the band a standing ovation and sang along with “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”
“Enoch Train” has three CDs. For more information, visit the band’s Web site.
-mnewbold@cc.usu.edu