Maverick Sabre In conversation with TONY CLAYTON-LEA.
What's on your rider?Manuka honey, fruit, fruit juice.
What would be on your fantasy rider?A travel guitar and studio.
What's your pre-gig ritual/ routine?Listening to Bob Marley's No Women No Cry (Live).
What's the best gig you've been to?Oasis in Slane Castle when I was 17 or 18. The unity in the crowd has never been matched by any show I've ever seen.
What are your favourite and least favourite venues?Big tents at festivals are my favourites because people are solely there to find new music or experience music in a way they may never have before. Least favourites have to be ones where there is something obstructing the stage so you cannot interact with the crowd to the greatest potential.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?I burp quite a lot during shows just because of the amount of honey tea I drink all day, so there's an embarrassing moment normally at every show. But I don't really mind.
What's your crowd-pleasing number?I Need.
Chatting between songs – good or bad?Good, because I need to pass and receive energy to the crowd who have come out to see me live. Interacting with them in conversation is a great way to connect.
H ave you a special stage wardrobe?Nope, it's fairly plain – dark shirt, jeans and some suede shoes.
Any useful stage tips?Be yourself, get lost in the music, but always try and interact with the crowd as much as possible.
If you could be in any other band, which one?The Wailers.
What's your best tour story?The best ones definitely can't be told in interviews.
* Maverick Sabre (Michael Stafford) plays Enniscorthy, Co Wexford tonight and Killarney, Co Kerry tomorrow
