Kings of the Airwaves: TV on the Radio

As we're getting ready to settle down for a cosy night in packed with Wimbledon and World Cup highlights, on the other side of the Atlantic, Americans are just getting into the swing of their day. And for one lucky New Yorker, their pre-breakfast run is being interrupted by the lovely people at Gigwise (but we're sure he’ll thank us for it later!). Talking to a breathless Gerard Smith, one fifth of the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize winners TV On The Radio, we delve deep into his love of the Beatles, his thoughts on cognitive learning and his new health kick. Oh, and, something else about a new album ‘Return To Cookie Mountain’ or something or other.

They’ve currently got a few weeks off, after having been on the road for a wee while, testing the water at free gigs playing outdoor theatres all over the districts of New York. “They’re pretty hard to get into because they’re free, but they have this festival feel because there’s a wide variety of music to go round.” And the reaction to the new material? “Pretty good. The kids were bopping along. But I feel its music to percolate.”

In the background, his keys jangle, as he returns home after his run, ensuring us he’s on a health-kick before they hit the road again for the festival season. Talking on the Carling Reading and Leeds festivals, “It’s exciting to see the different and diverse line up”. Having played the Carling Tent in 2004, they return again to showcase their new material. “It’s fun playing the festivals in Europe, its like a phenomenon that doesn’t exist in the U.S.A.”. Now pots and pans are clambering in the background. “The European festival audiences are more forgiving and more open to more ideas that in the U.S. They’re mad about it, its like a pastime. You know, festivals are like the baseball of Europe.” Gigwise can’t help but smile and nod in agreement. We invented festivals, goddamit. And we know how to rock.

Talk soon enough turns to their yet another oddly named new album, ‘Return To Cookie Mountain’. “It has a sense of playfulness about it. We wanted to distract away from the concept and idea of a sophomore record – we’re not concerned with that. We want to shake away those demons.” And the finished result? “I’m happily surprised. There’s a strange variety of things occurring on it and it shows where we all were at the time.” More crockery clashes around. “Sorry, I’m just trying to make breakfast”. We apologize as Smith passionately reels on, “I’m so impressed with the lyrical content, the strongest songs being ‘Let The Devil In’ and ‘Method’.”