Zoom’s Chris Cosgrove talks new songs and old memories

It’s been 17 years since the beloved (but often overlooked) local punk-rockers Zoom put out its album, Helium Octipede. Since then, the Lawrence and Kansas City music scenes have morphed and changed, but always owe a debt to the band that helped build our little Midwest music mecca. Fans of Zoom’s signature noisy guitars, odd time changes and racing bass lines need not lament any longer. Like The Pitch called for over a year ago, Zoom will be playing two reunion shows at the end of this month. We caught up with drummer Chris Cosgrove about the nature of reuniting an old band in the current local scene.

Why reunite now?

I’m not really sure why we decided to reunite now. Mark had a show in Chicago that seemed a good fit for Zoom, and we all decided to do it. That’s really all there was to it.

Have you always stayed in touch, and rocked out on occasion?

Zoom had not played or “jammed” together in over 13 years. In fact, the four of us had not been in the same room together for that long as well.