INTERVIEW: Art Brut
- Posted on March 7, 2008 5:03 PM
- 0 comments
Interview by Zarina Raja
Tell you what, Art Brut…make me…want to rock out. They do. They, really, really do.
Art Brut are a cold slap in the face - but an enjoyable slap. They are an explosive band that tells it like it is but not in a ‘telling it like it is maaaan’ pretentious Bono kind of way. Instead they glean a realistic perspective through a bit of dry banter taped over various guitar noises and drum smacking.
With a recent split from their record company and an intimate gig lined up next week, we had plenty to talk about with main man, Eddie Argos.
First of all, let’s talk about EMI. What happened after they released Pump Up The Volume as download only without you guys knowing? Is there really such a lack of communication between record companies and the bands?
Yeah, it would seem so wouldn’t it! We were surprised; we knew we had a single coming out, they said it was coming out and then they said that it wasn’t coming out; then they didn’t get back to us for two and a half months. We have managed to get off their now though so we are happy.
Before you got into the industry, did you ever imagine that dealing with a record company could be so difficult?
No, I didn’t think that it would be that difficult. I used to think that it was just bands moaning and now I’m like, oh, I see! We thought EMI would be better but they were worse. Never mind. It was an amicable split so I am not being mean about them.
I loved your video for Pump Up The Volume. Have you ever been asked to stop playing? Or are there any particular performances that stand out to you that got a bit out of hand?
There is a few! There was this one that we did in America. We played to all these 17-year-old kids (there was some weird law where they can drink beer on their own premises) who were all really drunk. At one point, the whole room fell over. They also stole Mikey from behind the drum kit and put him in the air and took him to the back of the room. We used to play in squats and stuff too. Once, we were all jumping around in this squat and all this water was dripping over the electrical equipment. I was thinking, ‘we’re all going to die. Is anybody going to stop this?’ Nobody did stop it!
What happened at the end?
We just played and got drunk. Nobody cared that we had been very near death with all those sockets and water fizzing. It was fun.
Which city has the wildest crowds at your gigs?
Lots of places do. It is different all the time. I like playing in Los Angeles. We get a really great reception over there and whenever we play Italy they go crazy!
I haven’t seen you guys in concert since 2006 in Brighton. What am I in for at your Luminaire gig next week?
An album has come out since then! Haha!
Haha! I know but what about your live performances? Will it be a raucous as it was in 2006
Of course. Our songs have all been updated too. I have met up with Emily Kane since then. We are looking forward to playing somewhere pretty small again. We have lots of different Art Brut franchises and one of them had their own night there but they didn’t invite us to it! We are going back there to play because we are the best Art Brut.
Have you ever left your shoes on to make yourself taller?
Ha! No, I’m quite tall; I’m about 6ft 4. I’m always taking my shoes off and slouching to make myself look shorter.
Which Pop song would you break up a kiss for?
I do it all the time! I’m rubbish! Anything really!
Anything to get you away from kissing?
No, no! I love kissing. I’m just a bit rubbish at knowing when something is inappropriate.
Has anyone ever picked you up on your inappropriate manners?
I guess you can read a lot from a look.
Where did you get that white suit from that you wore in the Pump Up The Volume video?
I‘ve had that suit for years. I got it second hand in Dublin. I’ve ripped it now though.
Let’s talk about the recording of your new album, ‘It’s a bit complicated.’ Was there ever a point that it got so complicated that you wanted to give up?
No! It was fun. It should really be called ‘It’s a bit complicated -comparatively.’ It wasn’t that complicated, it was just a bit more complicated than the first one. We wanted to make a Pop album – that was the plan. There are lots of the songs about relationships which are also complicated. I’m a bit complicated too so it all fits together.
If Art Brut was an object, what object would it be and why?
If we were an object…oh…anything? I know, a soda stream, only because I am looking at one now. We make people feel fizzy.
Finish the following sentences:
Art Brut love…
Everybody. No, that’s true.
Art Brut hate…
Oh, I hate loads of things but I’m trying to be positive! Art Brut hate that new Wombats song.
You’re music is riddled with witty one liners and draws on funny situations. Does the content of your lyrics make it hard for people to take you seriously as a band?
I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just being truthful. We aren’t serious but we take what we do seriously.
What is your favourite Art Brut lyric?
I write them, I can’t have a favourite one! I do quite like the one about leaving your shoes on to make yourself look taller. I like Nag, nag, nag, nag a lot. That’s me really.
What is the biggest lie that you have recently told?
That Art Brut love everybody.
If you could vote someone out of Art Brut who would it be and why?
We all have fragile egos, I couldn’t say.
What’s your favourite festival?
I like a lot of the smaller festivals. I would like to go to Truck. We are playing lots of the festivals that I like so that’s good.
Bands always say that they love playing Glastonbury. Is that how you feel?
It’s alrite; full of hippies; not really into it.
If you were to throw a metaphorical bottle at any one this summer at a festival, who would it be?
When I wasn’t in a band I would say yeah, I’d throw a bottle at the Wombats or something, but I’m in band now and it’s not very nice having bottles thrown at you.
Of course it’s not but it’s only a metaphorical bottle.
Oh yeah! I will get in too much trouble if I’m mean about bands. I have only talked about The Wombats because I hear that New York song about nineteen times a day.
What is the best gig that you have been to as a fan?
I like Jonathan Richmond quite a lot. Actually, I love him. I saw him in San Francisco last year. He only ever plays about three dates a year. There was only me and about one hundred other people there. He was in the crowd talking to everyone!
Art Brut will be playing at the Luminaire on Thursday 13th March as part of the JD Set.
Click on www.thejdset.co.uk for info on forthcoming shows, as well as exclusive video footage, photo galleries and tracks from previous JD Sets.
Also watch out for The JD Set on Channel 4 every Friday from 12.30am.
Know when to unplug. Please drink Jack Daniel's responsibly.
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