fbpx

We Are Scientists played the Roundhouse on the 7th of December. We had the pleasure of a phone interview last week.

We join Keith, fighting for his phone’s life [Keith’s phone number was being held hostage on a darknet auction, Minnesota120 has it at 0.0004 BTC].

wearescientists
Keith and Chris, the trouble muffins. Photo source: wiki

Keith: Oh boy I haven’t the foggiest, oh boy, I haven’t the foggiest. Let me guess – Stephen King?

It was not Stephen King, it was George Orwell, Keith! By the way, this is me trialing some questions, I’m starting a pub quiz. I’ve done it for a few people, I’d like to see how folks do. [For those playing along at home, according to who, does Charles Dickens have “great gargoyles, but terrible architecture?”

Keith: Alright [confused]

Which machine spawned the word cliché? This is multiple-choice, so was it a) camera, b) printing press c) microphone or d) reel to reel?

Keith: Ha… I’m gonna go with, printing press. [Is Keith Googling answers to save his privacy?]

Alright, you’re getting to safety here.

I wouldn’t say that.

Ok Keith, you say you love Britain, but do you love our institutions? What must an MP do if they wish to speak in a parliamentary debate?

This is an extremely Anglo-phillic quiz I’m taking right now.

I’m sorry, I’ve never been to America, this is all I know.

Ok, so what must they do? If they want to be recognised in a debate?

Yeah, you’re probably doing it right now.

Stand, I suppose?

Ding. Well done.

Ahaha.

Ok – pop culture now, who is the Lord of the Rings?

Errrr, is it, I’m presuming a character from Lord of the Rings?

Unless you have a better answer, yes.

I’m just making sure there isn’t some British footballer, who isn’t called Lord of the Rings.

Danny Welbeck, actually.

I never read LOTR, so I’m struggling here… I don’t know, it can’t be ‘an hobbit’ can it?

No, not ‘an hobbit’, it’s Sauron.

Oh. Interesting [Keith is not interested].

I’ve got some regular questions, if you’re interested?

Sure, let’s pump the brakes.

Who do you listen to these days?

I’m a big fan of the Big Moon’s latest releases, MGMT’s last album gets a lot of play at my house. Robyn is working pretty well.

Do you have any idea of what you’d be doing if you weren’t a musician? If you lost your hands, perhaps?

If I lost my hands, no idea really. But before we got signed I had a job in the film industry, production, so out of pure inertia, I’d probably still be doing that.

Would you have been interested in comedy, or acting?

I think acting, is only really fun in our productions. I wouldn’t get excited about being given a script, having to show up and do that. Filming is pretty laborious. So the only reason we [Keith and Chris, the trouble brothers] like doing it is because we like hanging out with one another. If they also cast Chris, I’d probably be ok with it.

As conjoined twins, or a pantomime horse?

We’re open to any paired role.

You have a funny blog, why did you stop?

Look, I’m assuming your publication is primarily a digital presence, but we found people stop going online for long-form pieces. People prefer, you know, 140 characters maximum.

Believe me, if we thought people were going to read 500 words of content, we’d still be doing it. We actually started a digital newsletter, and the guy who runs our general social media that we were utterly wasting our time. Because people refuse, to pour through so much writing.

Should you always do what your social media man tells you to do?

Well, that’s true, but we probably shouldn’t waste too much time pleasing ourselves at the expense of people who are ultimately trying to find our tour dates.

Keith
Keith. Source: Youtube

So, do you like the Roundhouse? I’ve not been there for a few years but I think it has been updated and is extremely modern… I can give you the details, they’ve got a visitor’s history board wall.

Nice, a bit of tourism.

The security guards open the smoking area doors.

Not so nice.

They sell beers at the bar. I’m not sure about cocktails.

I think we’ll be on a BYOB basis.

[Lost to the ravages of time and random access memory, Keith let us have the scoop that he loves cocktails, most of his time is spent waiting for cocktails to cock their tails and give him fizzy burps. Verbatim quote.]

If you run out, there’s a corner shop just across the road.

I’d like to think our audience will have cocktails available.

Your audience should bring you cocktails?

Yes, lots and lots.

Keith, thanks, I’ve held you up for a while now, sure you’ve got places to be. I’m just lying on the floor by my router. I could always start that auction again though. 

Oh come on!

What you feeling doing next? Going to the cinema?

Yeah, probably killing time before we get to the pub too early. Maybe cinema, we do want to see the Irishman.

[LINE GOES DEAD, KEITH HAS ESCAPED…FOR NOW]

Jon
Check out all Gig Listings across Camden Subscribe to get our somewhat regular newsletter! Get tickets for our upcoming CMDN presents shows
Holler Box