Art Brut – NME of the State

• 28th Mar 2004

Art Brut want to be on Top of the Pops. Their debut single comes out tomorrow March 29th on Rough Trade… and there's just a chance… so make sure you get a copy

We like Art Brut, and right now us here in Glasswerk Towers (south) are looking smug, and we can damn well afford to. You see, NME are getting all excited about a bunch of South Londoners called Art Brut. “Formed a band”, the most exciting song of 2004 they proclaim…

Ah, slight problem. We, you see (looking even more smug), received it 6 months ago. We loved it there and then and got them on a Glasswerk gig (April 27th kids). And who can't love this shot of infectious guitariness, with lyrics so absurdly ridiculous they exude wittiness. Think Cocker pre commercial breakdownna dyou still wont get close to “I want to be the boy, the man, that writes the song that makes Israel and Palestine get along”. Love it.

So go on, get NME just this once, check out the double page spread on P18 and 19, laugh at the fact that I deal with a chap called Chris Chinchilla, while their bass player is a young lady going by the name Freddie Feedback, then stumble on to P50 and hey guess what, single of the week. Twice in one edition, people will soon be calling them the new Strokes…

But we you see can go one further than NME. You won't read that they have just been on tour with fellow Glasswerkers The Fades, and right here we have a diary of their travels. This is where I leave you, and Mr. Chinchilla takes over. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Art Brut.

“Hello folks, a brief synopsis of the tour and the past few days –

Tuesday March 16th – Played an acoustic set in Brighton which went down well and then came back to do the Rock against Racism after-show party at the Borderline, which despite some arsey security went well and everyone had fun…

Wednesday – Off to Southampton, gig went down well, made enough money on the door for booze and grub and Eddie and Ian finally got the chance to prove Art Brut's worth to their families…

Thursday – Excellent gig at Moles in Bath, Purr are excellent and generous promoters and we look forward to returning in May… We then stayed at a friends of the Fades house and proceeded to 'trash' it…

Friday – Surreal gig at the Rising Sun Arts centre in Reading, played with a band that are basically like us in 20 years… Great venue though, cheap bar and full of character.

Saturday – Day off, went boozing 🙂

Sunday – Hmm, TJ's in Newport ended up being a Metal Festival, so we got away as soon as possible. Ran off to an open Mike night at the Toucan Club in Cardiff where we proceeded to perform a booze-fuelled gate crash which 'offended' most of the audience so again we all escaped as swiftly as possible.

Monday – The Cavern in Exeter was a little quiet but we made up for it by invading the stage during each others sets, with Eddie, Mike and several members of the entourage deciding to get naked on the dance floor.

Tuesday – Phew, Back to London to play with Pete Libertine's side project – All tired but happy. The show was chaotic to say the least, we had no sound check and no Bruisers were particularly happy with the performance but the day was nicely capped with our multiple appearances in the NME and getting a sneak view of our video…

So thanks to everyone who came to gigs on the tour, Big thanks to
promoters, the Arts Council, The Fades, Paul Summers and everyone who lent us floor space, booze, food…

And an extra special mention to the Kerrang! classics tape that kept us going the whole tour, ANGEL OF DEATH!!!