After a stint in Europe where they played various venues including clubs and festivals, the two faces of We Are Scientists, Chris Cain and Keith Murray were in Ann Arbor only briefly during their American tour for a Tuesday night show at The Blind Pig.  Despite having little time to enjoy our fair city, they were kind enough to sit down with us for an interview (okay, Chris was – Keith had to deal with “the merch”).

L-R: Chris Cain, Keith Murray

Known for their sense of humor outside of their music, we think that most of this interview was ironic.  Yes, there were Ray-bans and tight white jeans (two pairs) but one can never be too sure.

SHEI: This tour is to promote your latest album (released June 14th) – Barbara. Who is Barbara?

CC: “Barbara” is Barbara Bush. We think it’s important to be political and while we are democrats and we certainly don’t agree with the legacies of either of the Bush presidents, we recognize that Barbara is a political force unto herself and this record pays homage to her. Her contribution is frequently overlooked.

SHEI: You’ve enjoyed a lot of success in the UK and Europe, but what are your plans for conquering the United States?

CC: We pray a lot at night.  And we wait. That’s actually really important to us – the praying.

SHEI: And you’ve maintained a social media presence as well, is that part of the master plan?

CC: Well as I said, we pray a lot. There’s this theory that you should pray just in case there is a God because if there isn’t, it wouldn’t hurt but if there is, you certainly don’t want to go to end up in hell. That would be bad. So that’s what we’re doing with the social media. It couldn’t hurt.

SHEI: You even released an online video asking people to retweet you.

CC: Yes, that helped a little bit. We are basically down on our knees begging for it.

[At this point, we switched gears]

SHEI: Are you channeling Buddy Holly with your glasses? Is this part of your musical style?

CC: You know, we have a very special relationship with Ray-ban…this style is called “The Club Master” and I just like them.  They’re the type of glasses you could see in a photo of your grandfather and I like that aesthetic.

SHEI: Well, your music career is coming along and you and Keith are already video stars with your MTV series, Steve Wants His Money, as well as various forays into online videos. What’s next? Perhaps a fragrance?

CC: It is true that we are already established video stars, that is for sure.  We’re still working on cracking the nut that is the music industry.  But I think our next venture will be into fashion.

SHEI: Ah, is that why Keith is setting up the merch? Phase one of the plan complete?

CC: No, that’s just merch for our fans who like that kind of shit [ironically does not change facial expressions]. I’m hoping to branch out into high fashion and capture a new market altogether.  Something our current fans wouldn’t necessarily “get”. We’re talking couture  here.

SHEI: And do you have time to see the sights of Ann Arbor?

CC: No.

[After taking a break to get a few photos, Chris and Keith got back to the subject of Ann Arbor. Guys, all you need to know is right HERE]

SHEI: So which of you gets more girls at your shows?

CC: We both get zero.

KM: We’re a team. One picks them out, the other takes them home.  It’s based on whoever has the whiter pants. [Both of them are wearing tight white pans].

[Getting serious now]

SHEI: Okay guys, have you managed to avoid the drugs with music problem?

CC: Nope. Five years ago we went and stood in the middle of the street and we’ve been waiting for the ambulance ever since.

SHEI-Photo: So it’s all hookers and blow?

CC: Oh yeah, our priorities are hookers, blow, and family.

KM: And ghost-hunting. [you're going to have to look that up on Urban Dictionary yourself]

[Wrapping up]

SHEI: Which song from your new album most represents the direction you’d like to take We Are Scientists musically?

CC: Ambition.

Though Keith Murray wasn’t available for the interview, there are still some things we’re dying to know! If he gets the chance, maybe he’d be interested in telling us:

1. If you had patented velcro first (obviously you invented it first but have been scammed by a time machine), what would you have called it?

2. How are you able to fold that many shirts with such precision?

3. Would you answer the question “What question have you never been asked but have always wanted to have asked of you?”

Words: B.C.Bodnar, SHEI Literary Editor

Photos: Chelsea Brown, SHEI Photography Editor

Read our review of the concert HERE