A few days after their show at La Maroquinerie, an interview is scheduled at their label's office, V2 France.
We therefore meet up with The Pigeon Detectives' singer, front man Matt Bowman and guitarist Oliver Main.
They courteously welcome us and are prepared for our questions which they answer meticulously.
Right at the beginning of our meeting Oliver casually picks up an acoustic guitar, left nearby, and I take this opportunity to ask them if they're up for an
impromptu rendition of an exclusive track. To my surprise they agree and here we go for 'Don't Know How To Say Goodbye'.
'Don't Know How To Say Goodbye' The Pigeon Detectives
V2 France's Label office, Paris, 04.05.07
Leo: Welcome back to Paris.
You've been to France before, mainly supporting The Kaiser Chiefs, and last time for the Inrocks Indie Club...
How do you feel about The French public?
Matt: Very French! The first time we came with the Kaiser Chiefs, it was quite a reserved crowd as I don't think anyone had heard of us!
But through that gig I think that a couple of people went away and looked us up on the internet. So the second time we came back it was excellent. Every one was kind of getting into the gig, on the last song everybody got on stage with us. It was quite a party atmosphere really. Really cool gig so hopefully we can keep coming back, playing more shows and get a half decent following.
Leo: You're on an extensive tour of Europe.
Where do you feel most comfortable?
Which crowd is most responsive to your live performances?
Matt: Amsterdam for me. The good thing about Holland is that it's only about a thirty minutes flight or something like that so we've gone there quite a lot.
We've done some really big shows there. The last one we did was over two thousand people so we've managed to pick up a really really good following
over in Holland. I think that it's mainly because they speak such good English. We can communicate the lyrics a lot easier. In Italy or Spain where they
don't speak English so well it's a little bit tough.
Holland is the best for gigs but Paris is our favourite place to visit. We love to spend entire days in Paris, it's very cool.
Oliver: German crowds are very good as well. We did a lot of gigs there in January and last week and they were all brilliant.
Matt: Yes, it surprised me. I didn't expect the Germans to be very welcoming but they were lovely.
Leo: Where was that?
Oliver: Cologne and then Berlin.
Leo: What makes you get up in the morning (or later...).
What do you look forward to?
Matt: My girlfriend makes me get up in the morning! She always wants to have sex before she goes to work...
Probably being in a band, that's the best thing in the world.
Oliver: I remember when we use to work in normal jobs, we'd set our alarms to go off as late as possible but today we woke up at 10 o'clock and we're in Paris!
We've got the best job in the world.
Leo: Your debut album is now ready but why should people buy it?
What is the main theme and what inspires you to write?
Matt: I think people should buy it because it's literally, from my point of view, a collection of twelve punk/pop songs that are catchy, energetic, fantastic! Basically, everybody can relate to the album, it's all kinds of typical things that happen to every person when they're growing up: romance, getting with girls, splitting up with girls, partying with your friends, fighting in the streets, everything you do between the ages of seventeen to twenty three. That's in any city in the world, not just England. So I think every one can relate to the lyrics and they get stuck in your head, which I don't know if that's a good thing!
We find a lot of people keep telling us: "I heard your song on the radio the other day and now I just can't stop singing it." That's quite a compliment for us.
Leo: You've spent a lot of time with The Kaiser Chiefs and The Dirty Pretty Things.
Do you think these guys have rubbed some luck on you or some work ethics?
Have you learnt a lot from them?
Oliver: The Kaiser Chiefs are the hardest working band I've ever seen. When they're on tour they're in bed by 11 o'clock.
We'd go to bed at four in the morning because we'd never been to all these places but they're intending to make their shows as good as possible for their
fans.
Matt: I think that the Dirty Pretty Things taught us how to drink beer until we couldn't walk... or see... or stand up... or speak....
The Kaiser Chiefs definitely taught us about the work ethics and the Dirty Pretty Things definitely taught us about partying...
Leo: Did you enjoy both?
Matt: Yeah! The Kaisers are kind of more friends of ours and they're also from Leeds. They've been in the studio and produced songs by us.
The Dirty Pretty Things we don't know as well as The Kaiser Chiefs but we could still have a good drink with them.
Leo: Talking about your virtual musical family...who would be your mum and dad, brothers and sisters?
Oliver: John Lennon would definitely be the dad!
Matt: Yes and Debby Harry would be the mum.
She's pretty fit so you could perv on your own mum!
Matt: Liam Gallagher would have to be a brother.
Oliver: Joni Mitchell could be a sister.
Matt: Yeah. We need some cool cousins... Pete 'n Carl from The Libertines could be our cousins, because we don't have to live with them but they can still come around and take us to strip clubs!
Leo: Any band you would recommend?
Oliver: Last Gang, they're from Wakefield near where we live. Matt: The Cribs are excellent and one of my favourite bands also The Sunshine Underground. Oliver: Could you recommend some French bands to us?
Leo: This Is Pop....
Oliver: The Plastiscines? Matt: Plastiscines? Aren't they girls?
Leo: Yes they are.
Matt: We should try and get them on tour with us!
Are they any good?
A few days after their show at La Maroquinerie, an interview is scheduled at their label's office, V2 France.
We therefore meet up with The Pigeon Detectives' singer, front man Matt Bowman and guitarist Oliver Main.
They courteously welcome us and are prepared for our questions which they answer meticulously.
Oliver: German crowds are very good as well. We did a lot of gigs there in January and last week and they were all brilliant.
Matt: I think people should buy it because it's literally, from my point of view, a collection of twelve punk/pop songs that are catchy, energetic, fantastic! Basically, everybody can relate to the album, it's all kinds of typical things that happen to every person when they're growing up: romance, getting with girls, splitting up with girls, partying with your friends, fighting in the streets, everything you do between the ages of seventeen to twenty three. That's in any city in the world, not just England. So I think every one can relate to the lyrics and they get stuck in your head, which I don't know if that's a good thing!
Leo: Talking about your virtual musical family...who would be your mum and dad, brothers and sisters?
Oliver: Could you recommend some French bands to us?
