Kaiser Chiefs Don't Think Orson Are Worthy

Just call the Kaiser Chiefs road warriors. A successful album, a handful of catchy singles and a year of whirlwind touring will do that to a Brit-rock band.

Two years after the release of their Employment debut, and right on the cusp of the March 27 release of their follow-up, Yours Truly, Angry Mob, the Chiefs are veterans of the global music festival circuit.

Showers and toilets are generally the worst part of such outdoor extravaganzas, says bassist Simon Rix, who still has plenty of good things to say about them.

"The best thing about those big festivals is the ability to win over people that maybe have heard about your band, but don't like you that much. You have the chance to win over new fans, plus there's the chance to meet up with all the bands that you're friends with, tell them that all the stuff you've read in the papers isn't true, and all that."

Ah yes, the rumours in the papers. While the British music press is notorious for being particularly fickle in its choice of buzz bands of the day (or the hour or minute), it also seems to delight in setting up feuds between acts. Rix easily confirms this:

"The three questions you always get asked are: 'So, was there any pressure in making the second album?' And then they ask something about if there's trouble in the band, and then they ask, 'Who do you hate?' 'What bands don't you like?' And it's like, 'Well, you know... all bands?'"

Rix laughs quickly to ensure that last comment wasn't taken completely seriously.

"But at the same time, you always have to be aware of the fact that you're going to be seeing all these bands all the time.

"It'd be like slagging off somebody you work with — you still have to work with them. I think that when you're in a band, you've gotta think that your band is the best band, so in some respect you think all bands are shit and you slag them all off equally. But I don't want to have to, because that's just creating issues for no reason."

Even with all this typical nice-guy talk (Kaiser Chiefs have constantly been cast as the "goofy" band in the press, an image they've been working hard to counteract with Angry Mob's black-clad outfits and more mature songwriting material), Canadian magazines can be pretty good at coaxing out the slagging as well, so Rix doesn't hesitate when asked who he thinks was least deserving of a Brit Award this year.

"Orson," he answers immediately. "I think they got that award just for turning up.

"I mean, there must be a better international newcomer. There's gotta be. I'm sure they must have some fans because they are quite big here, but I can't think of any myself."

Still, Rix is magnanimous enough to offer up his pick for a nominee that should have won, but didn't.

"I was slightly upset that Snow Patrol didn't win. I don't think they're the best in the world, but in England, they had the biggest selling record of last year. When they played on the show, I thought they did very well, and that they deserved something."

A shared bill with the Kaiser Chiefs on their next go across America, perhaps?

The Kaiser Chiefs invade Canada with The Walkmen on the following dates:

Apr. 17 Montreal, QC @ Spectrum
Apr. 18 Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
Apr. 24 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom