Probably the most entertaining thing I’ve read today (and definitely a pick-me-up from that cat-shoved-in-a-bong story somebody sent me):

So, last week, our buddy and colleague Andy Greene is on the phone with the Coyne, when they started talking about some of the movers and shakers in the music world. They talked about Brian Eno, and Radiohead, and then got on the subject of Arcade Fire, which set Coyne off. (Just to clarify, Coyne is not comparing Eno to the Arcade Fire — Eno was just a talking point.)

“I’m a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness,” says Coyne. “We’ve played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. Whenever I’ve been around them, I’ve found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They treated everybody in their vicinity like shit. I thought, ‘Who do they think they are?’ I don’t know why people put up with it. I wouldn’t put up with it. I don’t care if it’s Arcade Fire or Brian Eno. If either of them walked into a room and treated people like shit I’d be like, ‘Fuck you, get outta here.’

He continues, “People treat Arcade Fire like they’re the greatest thing ever and they get away with it. Those sort of opinions change my view of their music. They have good tunes, but they’re pricks, so fuck ‘em. Who does Arcade Fire think they are? I’ve been around groups. I’ve been around the Edge from U2 and he’s the fucking sweetest guy ever. I was around Justin Timberlake when he was young and he was just a normal, nice, kind person. Anyone can be polite and kind and people who have the privilege and money and attention should understand that. If they don’t, then fuck ‘em.” (source)

Hailing from Oklahoma, and the Flaming Lips being my admitted favorite band (no fooling: the original, very first, aged cheddar “old haircut” post I wrote on Losanjealous was about the Lips) I am just going to side with Wayne now, who is beyond nice 100% of the times I’ve interacted with him, and above no task (ask yourself: what other front man out there today works longer and harder than any roadie to set up his own show? Dude’s running around stage with gaffer tape, talking to the audience and testing the lighting, I’ve seen it time and again.) Win Butler and his wife might be nice part or most of the time (hell, I readily admit I have no clue as to their level of niceness). You can only really judge a person based on personal experience and the way they present themselves to you and the people around you while you are present, so I can’t say for sure. Still, if Coyne says they’re dicks, I’ll believe it and I have faith that he had no real motive behind saying it: the guy is simply the epitome of frankness. I’ll believe it just as I believed all those post-Beck-tour revelations (massively enjoyed those as well). Either side of the fence you fall on this one: My word, is it refreshing to see someone credible calling spades for a change. World needs more credible rock rivalries.

I’ll spare you the poll this go-round, but let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Is Wayne on or off the mark here? You already know my opinion. All we are talking about, end of day, is how nice people are regardless of music, wardrobe, or stage show.

Wow, I can't believe I am actually writing to defend my bands "real" personality. I wish I could not respond to something like this, but the reality is is that people will be asking me questions about it for the next 5 years. I also fear that people will base their opinion of our band on the media quotes of a guy who doesn't even know us.

The only time we have ever shared a stage with the Flaming Lips was our last show on the Funeral tour at a festival in Las Vegas (over 3 years ago)...we arrived the morning of the show from Brazil, slept all day and awoke into some kind of surreal Vegas jet-lag dream in which we were playing after the Flaming Lips...how strange...I was really excited to meet Wayne. Clouds Taste Metallic was a huge record for me, and growing up in the weirdness of Houston, I always imagined Oklahoma City to be in the same universe. I was really nervous to meet him and I felt a little weird that we were playing after them. We traded a little hello, but he was a hard guy to get a read on. Steven Drodz was super nice, and I felt good after talking to him...

So...I am not sure Wayne is the best judge (based on seeing us play at a couple of festivals) if we are righteous, kind and goodhearted people like The Edge and Justin Timberlake (who I am sure he knows intimately as well). I can't imagine a reason why we would have been pompous towards The Flaming Lips, a band we have always loved, on that particular night, all those years ago. Unless I was way more jet-lagged then I remember, I hope I was less of a "prick" then telling Rollingstone that a bunch of people I don't know at all are really assholes.

As a closing note, the main point that I am offended by in this whole thing is for Wayne to say we treat our audience like shit...

At times like these I am comforted by knowing that even though Wayne slammed Beck all those years ago, he seems like a really nice guy to me. I guess everyone has a different idea of what being pompous means.

Win