So, we’ve been excited about the Hold Steady/Art Brut/1990s show next Tuesday at 930 since…well, ever since we heard of it.
So, somewhat overzealously, I emailed all three bands and got all three interviews (aren’t you all proud of me?).
I delegated away and Cale is interviewing Hold Steady, we assigned 1990s (BEST BAND of 2007 YOU PROBABLY NEVER SAW LIVE ) to William and I got Art Brut. Now, I heart Art Brut, not just because their pop-punk-spunk is infectious and undeniable (start with their first single “Formed a band” and move on) BUT ALSO because they always seem so clever, so quote and quip worthy.
So, because I am perpetually tired and perpetually interviewing people, we decided to make this interview A JOINT EFFORT.
Me and William (then in Vienna, but then, the world IS A VILLAGE)
Good cop/bad cop.
Team Work.
(and we got answers from both Jared initially and Eddie come lately-so, good job, everyone)
Results!

Standard issues:

BYT: So, here you are 4 years and 2 albums in. Have you met your expectations of how it was going to be?
AB: This is the most fun job in world. Just the fact we’re allowed to get away with what we do each day makes it all worth it. Obviously there are a few things which came as a bit of surprise but I suppose that is just the nature of the beast we have involved ourselves with. To be able to have this much fun you’ve got to able to put up with a certain amount of stupidity.

BYT: Like all the “interviews” you have to do. In 4 more years, what would the ideal Art Brut scenario be?
AB: To still be here. Making music. Stadiums. Maybe a Oscar or two. That kind of thing.

BYT: I like that: megalomania. How famous is too famous? And WHO IS TOO FAMOUS?
AB: Johnny Borrell. Needlesly.

BYT: Now, now-your days of being shirtless on the cover of Vogue will come, I’m sure. Ok, so lets pretend our readers (bless their souls) have never heard Art Brut…(shame on them)…what would the readers digest of the band be for them? Which song would the HAVE TO HEAR to “get it”?
AB: All of them. In chronological order. Including b-sides.

BYT: Humble. The following that you have is…shall we say, rabid. Tell us about the franchises? How does an indie rock art band end up with minions?
AB: I would love to have minions. Indie bands need more terror in their fan base. I wouldn’t describe the franchises as minions. There’s very little darkness involved. All you have to do is pick a number that hasn’t already been taken and viola, you are that Art Brut. For example, there’s Art Brut 100, Art Brut 3.14, Art Brut 69, etc. It started off as kind of a joke but now has a mind of it’s own.

BYT: I am still going to call them minions. Are there any in DC? That you know of?
AB: Not that I’m aware of. Eddie may have a better idea. We’re more like a proud parent who has watched their offspring fly the nest.

BYT: Who are YOU rabid followers of? What is the music you were breast fed on, so to speak?
AB: Eddie is a massive Jonathan Richman fan. Obsessive. I grew up listening to stuff with my dad. The Velvet Underground, ironically. Bruce Springsteen. Then a lot of pop music now.

BYT:Which leads nicely into the next one: Who would you not follow even if they paid you?
AB:Depends where they were going, I suppose. I doubt Pete Doherty’s well traveled roads are particularly sanitary.

BYT: True that. Now, We always ask this: best band no one’s heard of yet? But they should. Spread the word, the time is now.
AB: Love is all. Think About Life. The Indelicates. The Robocop Kraus. Untitled Musical Project. We Are the Physics.

BYT: Are you and Bloc Party all cool now? What was that even all about? And do you miss being in a feud with someone?
(if you need a feud, please check out William’s questions below, there’s plenty of fuel for feud with us there, I guess)
AB: It’s all good with Bloc Party now. Got blown way out of proportion. We kept having to park our bus next to each other at festivals as it’s alphabetical. So we kind of had to be ok with each other. Nothing to do with me though. I’m just an innocent bystander. I don’t really like feuds. If you slag someone off , you’ll always bump into them the day after and feel guilty. We might start picking people we have little chance of meeting. Mr. T, for instance.

BYT: I don’t know, Mr. T IS EVERYWHERE. So, you’ve been to DC before, right? (I actually know the answer to this because every time I mention Art brut to someone who saw you guys at The Cat last time they go ON AND ON about how hilarious you are). How was it? (do yo even remember or does it all just merge together)
AB: I love the Black Cat. They have a brilliant bar. We seem to go down pretty well in DC, the shows have always been pretty crazy. Good people.

BYT: Any plans while you’re here, places to see, people to meet, hands to shake? (we’re also available for recommendations)
AB: Recommend away. I went shopping last time with our sound guy who comes from DC so that was cool. Any good local bar information is always welcome.

BYT: It may happen that an afterparty is being planned (details to come). And all the bands we talk to seem pretty jazzed about the Air and Space Museum. We’re also interviewing your other 2 co-touring bands: 1990s and Hold Steady, is there some dirt you’d like to share with us about them that we can utilize in those conversations? Do you all even hang out? Or is it-each to its own tour van?
AB: it’s the 1990s first day today but we all know each other from before. i can’t really start spreading rumours about them until I see them later on today. It wouldn’t be fair. The Hold Steady are great. Can’t say anything potentially embarrassing as they can still kick us off the tour. I’m sure they have no problem recounting our drunken ramblings though.

BYT: And before, we move into the next portion of the interview (courtesy of William): why should all the hard-working 9 to 5 DC folk make their way to a club on a tuesday to see a bunch of British dudes in suits sing?
AB: Normally i would say that you might as well as you probably don’t have anything better to do. With this combination of bands though, it would be a crime against nature not to attend.

BYT: OH, we definitely agree with you (the show kids is sold out at this point). There IS A REASON why we’re stalking all three bands.

and now the TOUGHIES with William

BYT: Was Pulp’s style - especially before his n hers - of shaggy dog stories, almost spoken - a conscious influence, or did you never hear that before you started. or, was your influence his n hers and after, which just makes you a talentless poseur - i’m giving you a big choice here. Don’t fuck it up.
AB:Growing up I was quite a big Pulp fan and had all their albums,there are a couple of good songs on “freaks” but pulp didn’t really start to be amazing until seperations. Anyone who claims to be a fan of very early pulp (from when they were baisically children) is probally someone who discovered them with “common people” and is over compensating for some abstract notion of indie credibility.
I love pulp but would not cite them as an influence.

BYT: So, your band’s origin is all about subverting the band-audience relationship - now that you’re on your second album, don’t you feel that you’ve betrayed the very substance of what put you on the map in the first place? now that you’ve learned how to play your instruments and make pleasing songs, isn’t that the very essence of everything you rebelled against with your first big single (formed a band), or was that bullshit to get you signed?
AB:We are a pop band,that write’s pop song’s,formed a band wasn’t a rebellious statement it was a song of intent,I hope all of our songs have been pleasing to the ear,you’ve read something into us that isnt there.

BYT: Audience response is overwhelmingly positive - don’t you feel like they’re sad, sad suckers for liking you?
AB:No,I admire their exemplary taste i music.

BYT:What’s next? stultifying office work? homelessness?
AB: top of the pops

BYT: Have you had a chance to shag any supermodels due to your fame?
AB: I wouldn’t say they were “super” models.

BYT: Don’t you listen to bands like luxembourg or the boyfriends or the violets and wince at their earnest attempts at becoming great bands and want to tell them that it’s actually all a con job and they can get further by faking it, like you?
AB: You are a very cynical man.If you want to ask anyone about faking it, ask your girlfriend.

and on that note:
for more ART BRUT talking back
check them out next Tuesday at 930 club
with Hold Steady and 1990s.

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