The venue is packed. Hipsters, punk rockers, and even a few moms and dads clap hands with front man, Eddie Argos, of Art Brut. As soon as the first song comes on the energy in the room shifted from moderate to high volume. Eddie continues with tales of drunken nights stumbling home while he jumps rope with his microphone chord in the middle of the audience. My friend turns to me and sums it up in one sentence. Monty Python + Rock'n'Roll = Art Brut. I reply with Artic Monkeys + Franz Ferdinand + lots of booze = Art Brut. There is no doubt that this band brings a high energy to their show along with a fun spirit, but it is also a lot to take in. Eddie defiantly makes you watch his every move as he dances about the stage and jumps into the audience. The songs are in storyteller form with honestly relatable lyrics, catchy guitar and bobby drums. It's dance rock friendly, but only seems fitting if you have a Jack and Coke in hand.

The next morning (late afternoon) I meet up with Eddie for coffee. He seems in high spirits from last nights show. I comment on how I felt like I was a party rather than a rock show. "It's more fun that way. It attracts a nice kind of people. People that like The Replacements and comics, it's like a kinship that's already started." It turns out an author of his favorite comic was in the audience that night, which can be traced back to Art Bruts song "DC Comics and chocolate milkshakes". With a new album, Art Brut vs. Satan, that was released in April, Eddie has a lot to be excited about. The album was produced by Frank Black (Pixies) as Black was a fan of Art Brut from the get go. "I thought it would be hard to get him to work with us, but one phone call is all it took." When it comes to writing style Eddie explains it perfectly. "I wanted it to be like a conversation. So when we came to do it live it was like a party or you were in a pub." Besides Art Bruts new album, Eddie has some exciting side projects in the works (Glam Chops), where he will respond to others bands pop songs. Take a moment and think about it, it makes sense and sounds widely hilarious. "Do you know the song ‘Jimmy Back'? That song pisses me off." Eddie has been in bands his whole life, even when he wasn't in bands. "I would tell people I was in band, but I wasn't really."

Eddie sips his coffee while we talk about traffic in LA, the great spots to eat at, and a road trip his band took to Vegas where their car caught fire and he thought they were going to die. I ask him if he notices a difference in the music scene on the west coast compared to the east coast. "I really enjoy the people in LA are more laid back. You're bands are better. I love the music out here." I oddly enjoyed my time with Art Brut, even if it left me with a hangover.

Story by Nicole Burron
Original Publication Date: August 30, 2009