We Are Scientists discuss tour, pop culture

We Are Scientists are bent on tackling the world's ant epidemic. "Screw the oil prices, you can't even get into your car with all these ants everywhere," We Are Scientists said. When not busy battling ruthless insects, the trio spends their spare time playing catchy pop-rock.

Comprised of Keith Murray on lead guitar and vocals, bespectacled Chris Cains on bass guitar and backing vocals and Michael Tapper on drums and backing vocals, We Are Scientists opened for Britain's beloved Arctic Monkeys at a sold-out show at the Tabernacle on Saturday, June 10.

Like a lot of American semi-indie bands (e.g. the Strokes, the Killers), We Are Scientists made it big in the U.K. before attempting the States: "Despite their Brooklyn heritage (and rather alarming facial hair), We Are Scientists could easily be mistaken for one of the exuberant British post-punk bands currently peppering the charts with infinitely catchy suburban tales of booze and birds," says the BBC.

We Are Scientists have topped Britain's weekly alternative music magazine, the NME, with their single "Nobody Move Nobody Gets Hurt." They are set to play the UK's V Festival with the likes of Radiohead, Morrissey and Beck. So what kind of dirt can We Are Scientists offer about the stars of the UK music scene?

"I met Pete Doherty [ex-Libertines and Babyshambles frontman] at an awards show and pushed him down the stairs. He didn't notice," Murray said of the Brit-rock idol who is currently more famous for his heroin addiction, no-shows, ex-girlfriend Kate Moss, scuffles with reporters, trips to the courthouse and shocking public antics than for his music.

"I also met Johnny Borrell and pushed him down the stairs. He got pissed," Murray said. Borrell fronts for NME's gem band, Razorlight, who like We Are Scientists, also played at the Tabernacle last year.

Unlike We Are Scientists, Razorlight played to an impatient and taunting crowd.

Murray confirmed that it was the Arctic Monkeys who threw British digestive biscuits at a confused Borrell recently at the NME awards.

While heroin-addled rock stars weighing little more than 90 pounds might be a little too foreign, like blood pudding, to catch on as a trend in the US, We Are Scientists have not forgotten their North American roots.

Their blend of SoCal punk and British post-punk offers the crucial danceability of Canada's Hot Hot Heat with less abrasive vocals.

Hitting even closer to home, Murray reminisces about Tech parties, "giant slingshots and vodka-filled watermelons" during his two years at Georgia State University before he transferred over to Pomona University in California.

Chris Cains attended Auburn for two years, perhaps to pursue his childhood ambition to "design and build the ultimate cube" before joining Keith in Claremont.

The band mates have identified Ludacris and Lil'Jon as their favorite rappers from Atlanta ("definitely crunk"). As far as their favorite songs to set the mood, We Are Scientists recommend the following: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye, the theme from Shaft, "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green, the Thundercats theme song, and anything from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

Furthermore, WAS are experts at fun videos, collaborating with Akiva Shaffer, an SNL writer behind the "Lazy Sunday" skits. Always willing to give a fun response, WAS listed army recruitment videos and sex ed videos among their choices for most un-fun videos.

WAS delivered a strong first album and their good-times-all-the-time attitude helps make the band even more likeable.

'Nique had the opportunity to interview We Are Scientists (WAS) before their show at the Tabernacle on June 10.

'Nique: First off, what do you want me to write?

Keith Murray: We're the best footballers to ever kick a football. We make the Iron Monkeys look like chumps.

'Nique: You run a popular advice column on your website. What rock-star expertise can you offer to dateless Tech guys to land their dream date?

KM: Build yourself a wonderful woman.

Chris Cains: Yeah, but don't use parts of corpses. Check out Weird Science for processes that bear fruit. Or go gay.

KM: Maybe it's better just to fight it out.

CC: Girls are lesbians anyways. They're a mirage. (Jazz hands)

'Nique: Have you had any Crunk Juice?

CC: I've had too much Crunk Juice and there's a sexual assault lawsuit pending.

'Nique: How have you changed since college?

CC: We've only become monsters, totally corrupted monsters. We give lip service to ideals when it allows us to mislead young gir-more naïve people into traps.

'Nique: Treats of the profession? U.K. girls or American girls?

KM, CC: Too little experience to know.

'Nique: What are you looking forward to on this tour?

CC: When we can honestly say to ourselves, "I am no longer a virgin." Isn't that right Keith?

KM: (Silence)

'Nique: What can you offer to entice people to come to your shows?

CC: We'll give you $1,000 if you come. And have a cache of electric women that Tech guys can understand.

'Nique: What do you want fans to get from your music?

CC: Some sense of direction in their life.

KM: Yes, any sense of direction.

'Nique: What about non-fans?

CC: Pain, physical pain, literally a thorn in their side.

'Nique: The deaf?

CC: A sense of longing.

'Nique: What should people illegally download from you? The early stuff?

CC: Oh god, no.

KM: "The Great Escape," and there's other songs on our MySpace.

'Nique: When was the last time you were sad?

KM: Listening to "Everybody Hurts" by REM.

CC: Listening to Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous." It makes me sad that she's wheedling and cajoling so many other guys in the sack.

'Nique: Will the Scientists ever get serious?

CC: Only about having fun.

We Are Scientists' debut album is With Love and Squalor. Their latest single "It's a Hit" has just been re-released in the US.