White Lies’ bassist Charles Cave answers our questions in this week’s Hot Seat. Find out what classic Sonic Youth album he’s listening to, why cartoon he enjoys, and why the first concert he went to sucked.
Q: Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
White Lies: We try to stay clear of “crazy” moments on tour as they are usually counterproductive to us getting a job done. “Crazy” usually means a hindrance to playing our music for the people who have come to the shows. We have experienced certain bizarre moments. Recently we played in a converted church and three songs in, the power cut because we had melted the main plug powering the show, into the wall. That made me feel uneasy because of the surroundings.
Q: What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
White Lies: I would really like to study film in a practical way. None of us are huge film fans but we watch a lot of movies. I would love to learn about the creative side of that art form.
Q: What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
White Lies: I personally like San Francisco. It has a very polite and relaxed feeling about it. I love the architecture and the hills and green spaces. I ate the best slice of pizza I have ever tasted in Haights and Asbury.
Q: What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
White Lies: “There are two types of jazz in the world. Both of them are s***” - Max Dingel
I dont agree with that, but it was worded so well, it will always stick with me.
Q: What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
White Lies: Sonic Youth - Goo
Q: The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
White Lies: Being high-brow connoisseurs of all art, White Lies indulge in South Park on a very regular occurrence.
Q: What’s the first concert you ever saw - how was it?
White Lies: The first concert I went to ever was a kind of fusion classical/ jazz group called The Penguin Cafe Orchestra, at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I was very young and my parents took me. I remember quite a lot of it even though I must have been about seven. The first concert I went to without my parents was rather embarrassingly, Machine Head. They didn’t even play “Desire to Fire”. It sucked.
Q: What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
White Lies: Photos of loved ones. Clean socks. Laptop.
Q: Who are your major musical influences?
White Lies: Personally, my greatest music heroes are Paul Simon and David Byrne. I am hugely influenced by the career of The Secret Machines because, in my opinion, their first album is one of the best in the last ten years, yet, it went virtually unrecognized. They are like David in the story of Goliath. Total winners but no-one knows their name.
Q: Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
White Lies: Listen to White Lies and stay in school.
