What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?

It took Eamonn (our bassist who designs all of our stuff) and me longer to finish the album art than it did to record and mix the album. He did all of the work and I just would say things like, “Can you make this speak to all generations more, please?”

If we want to know you, which song do we have to listen to? And why?

Regardless of whether or not we’re talking about one of our songs, just listen to “Someday” by The Strokes and I think you’ll be just fine. But the live one from Conan O’Brien. Trust me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-5Cyba6_gk

The music industry has changed a lot (or so they say). What did it bring you? And what not?

The music industry brought me both the song and video for KC & The Sunshine Band’s “Give It Up,” so who am I to complain about anything really? A whole team of people decided it was a great idea to have Harry Casey accusingly point at the camera for three-and-a-half minutes while occasionally spanking the air like it had been a bad boy. I think the biz has all the bases covered. We’re just happy to be here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFQMKcsIF8

Who is the best musician in the world nobody has heard of yet? And why will this change very soon?

My brother Danny and no one has probably heard of him because he would prefer that you hadn’t heard of him. So you might not hear of him.

She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mixed tape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?

If the implication here is that I have to create a 5-song mixtape in order to make it to date #2 with a woman, I think I would write a rambling nine-minute song about healthy expectations at the beginning of a relationship and not crossing lines which may read as “potentially blackmail-esque” and/or “combative dating strategies” too early on. There would be a long solo break where I would allow the “list demander” to retort in real time and outline her reasons for finding the request totally valid and positively contributing to our future coupling potential. Short of that, I find The Spinners always play pretty damn well. Even “Rubberband Man” which doesn’t seem right.

What’s up for the next couple of months? 

1. We just got home from the first round of tour dates. So sleeping for 87-days.
2. Grocery shopping
3. Bathtub
4. Work on new songs on this tiny acoustic guitar that I’m really excited about
5. Emotionally prepare to leave for another long haul
6. Spread democracy and goodwill to men and women of all ages

Read the other PASSPORTS