With our tape recorder running and pressed firmly against the headset of our cell phone last Thursday, we sat down to talk to the Kaiser Chiefs as they prepared for their show in Chicago that night. Ricky was tending to an ankle problem but assured us that their show at Bowery Ballroom the next night would be high energy despite his ailment. We were unable to answer his inquiry on a pharmacy in Chicago at which he could procure some ace bandages, but he was nice enough to answer our questions. And there we were firing away when the tape recorder, she done failed us. Below is what we managed to write down before cutting the interview a bit short...the answers are not in their entirity, as we found it a bit hard to write as fast as he spoke.
The Kaiser Chiefs are Ricky Wilson (lead vocals), Andrew 'Whitey' White (guitar), Simon Rix (bass), Nick 'Peanut' Baines (keyboards), and Nick Hodgson (drums and vocals). Their band is named after a soccer team from South Africa. One of the players now plays for Leeds United, the bands hometown team. Of course, this was all unknown to them when they actually named their band.
You all had some shows down in Austin for SXSW, what did you think of that experience? Had you been to Texas before?
We were pleasantly surprised by Austin, however the conference was so industry based that we couldn't even get into our friends bands shows. We needed the passes that managers had.
Did you get to see anyone you especially liked?
The Cribs
What it will take for Leeds to get back into the Premiereship?
A miracle. It's not a good time to be a Leeds boy right now.
