Riding the wave of new rock bands the Strokes, White Stripes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jet has taken off like a Lear.
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, the guys exploded out of their homeland with their 2003 debut, “Get Born.” The band could arguably be called the love child of Keith Richards and AC/DC’s Angus Young, playing hard-driven guitar riffs alongside harmonious ballads.
Their hard-partying antics and obvious love for the Beatles–not to mention that two of the four members are brothers–drew immediate comparisons to Oasis. But their music, while inspired by classic rock, is definitely their own.
On the phone from New York, after a long night and little sleep, lead singer Nic Cester seemed more interested in going back to bed than talking with RedEye, yet he obliged.
What kind of trouble have you gotten into in New York?
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We had a big night last night, and I don’t remember. It was a good night. [I drank] way too much. We had a show and went out afterwards. The crowd was good for a major city. The crowds are more reserved in major cities, everywhere in the world, no matter where you are. People are a little more pretentious.
Do you find that hinders the show?
Yeah, it makes it not as fun. We just yell more [to turn it around]. I’m pretty lucky I don’t have too many issues with losing my voice.
Do you guys have any rules about partying the night before a show?
Umm, no. Things always work out.
Do you think having “Are you Gonna Be My Girl” in an iPod commercial so early in your career was a sell-out move?
Anyone who thinks that can kiss my ass.
I read your next album may have a strong country influence.
I think maybe someone said that in an interview, but not really. We only have like two [country] songs. I always hated country–it was the one genre of music I hated with a passion. The only music I’d been exposed to was Billy Ray Cyrus so I thought that’s what it was. But when I started listening to the Stones’ interpretation of it, I started to like it.
Was the song “Cold Hard Bitch” written for anyone in particular?
No. It’s really lyrically one of the weakest songs ever written by anyone. It’s just a big dumb rock song. The chorus has nothing to do with the verse. It just evolved from a phrase. It wouldn’t make sense to sing about flowers and trees. If you want to be inspired lyrically, read a (bleeping) poem.
What’s the hardest thing for you guys about being on tour for so long?
Lack of privacy and space and, um (yawns) having to do an interview when you should be asleep.
Show stop
Jet will play a sold-out show with the Vines on Friday at the Vic.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Joe Knowles ([email protected])