Big Big Train formed in Bournemouth, Dorset, England in 1990, but 2024 marks the first time they’ll ever play on American soil. Anchored by founder Gregory Spawton, the band persevered following the tragic passing of longtime vocalist David Longdon in 2021 to make a new album that, while different in spots, still balances the rock and pastoral nuances of the band’s signature sound as expertly as ever.
Replacing Longdon was always going to be a tall task, so it’s a good thing that Italian vocalist Alberto Bravin has stepped in with no agenda other than bringing his own style to the material. His voice adds so many unique shades to the new stuff that it essentially becomes another instrument en route to making each track resonate well after the needle has risen.
I spoke with Bravin recently about the ‘The Likes of Us” as well as how his time with Primiata, Forneria, Marconi (PFM) prepared him for this moment. If you’ve been waiting for them to come to the States for as long as I have, make like Douglas Quaid in “Total Recall” and get your ass to Mars Electric City on March 6 to experience the magic.
MNOD: For those who may not be familiar with your story, how did you come to join the band?
Bravin: Well, tragedy happened when David (Longdon) passed and the band had to make the difficult decision of whether or not to carry on. It was a tough choice, but Gregory Spawton ultimately wanted to. He was at a PFM (Primiata, Forneria, Marconi) gig in 2015 and ended up writing my name down. Not my name specifically, but he noted the keyboard player. I got the job and it’s been really easy working with these guys. We did a tour in 2022 with no expectations, so, when it came time to make the album, it was a natural process. There’s no ego and they’re all talented musicians. I think that comes out in the music. Also, the fans know me better now and recording the album felt even better. This album came out incredibly well. I never met David, but it’s an honor and privilege to do it. Genesis is obviously a big influence on the band overall, but, personally, I was influenced by The Beatles, Queen, and even crooners like Sinatra. I’m also a metalhead, so my vocal approach is a mix of everything. If you listen, my vocals have a very dry production with no effects or double tracking. It was important to me to keep it that way.
MNOD: What was the creative process like when it came time to put everything together?
Bravin: Our demos were pretty elaborate. Recording remotely means that things can take a long time to fix, but being in the same room together allows for things to be changed easily. We can just look around the room and know how things are working out. We get an instant human reaction as to whether something is a good or bad idea.
MNOD: What are some things that you learned from your time with PFM that you’ve applied to Big Big Train?
Bravin: When I was with PFM, I was in the second line on stage. In Big Big Train, I’m the front man and it’s a dream to be able to do what I want to do. I can be myself. My job is to engage with people and I love to see that live reaction. I learned everything from my time with PFM. I got the whole rock ‘n’ roll experience. We played everywhere and it was incredible. I learned how to have fun and enjoy myself, as well. We toured the world and it was a great experience.
MNOD: I’ve been listening to the new album quite a bit recently and much of what I’ve heard feels more personal than past Big Big Train albums. What was behind the decision to go even deeper on this album?
Bravin: It’s definitely more personal than previous albums. Big Big Train’s lyrics have often dealt with historical facts and famous people in the past, but songs like ‘Light Left in the Day’ and ‘Love is the Light’ are notably different. I think this was the only album that we could write in that moment. We tell stories and really open up. I think ‘Love is the Light’ is perfect example of this, because I was talking about my depression and how there are always people around to help heal during the dark periods.
MNOD: How will you approach singing the material that David recorded?
Bravin: It’s not my job to copy, so I’m just going to do my own thing. It’s been an interesting process, because I was able to go through the older songs and find things that resonate with my past. In order to sing them properly, I have to find that connection or experience that I can relate to. David was one of the greatest progressive singers of all time to me, but he and I are very different. Age, background, values etc. I’m Italian and the band is British, so my way of articulating certain things or adding color to certain phrases was always going to be different.
MNOD: The band’s upcoming Buffalo date is part of its first ever US tour. How do American audiences compare to others you’ve played for?
Bravin: The US is always incredible. We’ll be playing three songs from the new album, but it’ll be a work in progress and hopefully we’ll add more in the future.
MNOD: Lastly, your Instagram bio says that you’re a Beatles fan, so I was wondering what your thoughts are on the ‘Now and Then’ single that was released at the end of 2023.
Bravin: I loved it. It was weird at first, but The Beatles were always a band on the edge of experimentation. I get the reluctance around AI, but, if the Beatles were still here, they would use it, because they always got the most out of the technology of the day. Plus, it’s just a beautiful song.
Big Big Train plays Electric City on March 6.
See www.electriccity.com for details.
“The Likes of Us” is out today (3/1/2024), so do us all a favor and pay for a physical copy.
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