Born Ruffians - the latest signings to the good ship Warp. An indie-guitar band who sound like the missing link between The Shins and Vampire Weekend. These guys know how to have a good time and then write songs about it after the event. Their debut album isn’t out till May, but we took the chance to pit our 20 Questions to them before they got too famous… And the truth about lead singer Luke LaLonde’s porn collection got out…

1. Describe your sound in 3 words.
-guitar
-bass
-drums
2. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?
Weird Al Yankovich - Off the Deep End. I bought it in my home town called Midland at the only CD store.
3. What’s the best cure for a hangover?
I don’t get hungover too often, I think my body has learned to cure itself. Most of the time I wake up in the middle of the night with a desert in my throat and run to the bathroom for 14 glasses of water. If that doesn’t work, try Powerade (or Gatorade) & Bacon.
4. What’s on your rider?
Vegetables, beer, wine, three copies of “Jingle All the Way” (because we like to pretend it’s Christmas all year round), 3 televisions (because we don’t like to do it together), pita and hummus.
5. How do you get ready for a live show?
I do vocal warm ups, I generally like to have a few beers before I play but don’t need them. Sometimes I nap right before going on stage which means I’ll have either an amazing, or god-awful show.
6. What’s your favourite song to play live?
I like the first song, which is almost always “Red, Yellow & Blue.” It always sets the mood for me and allows me to get zoned into the music and into my comfort zone.
7. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Sex. Isn’t that everyone’s?
8. Who would win in a fight, a stoat or a goat and why?
I don’t know what a stoat is, and don’t have time to Wikipedia it but I’ll say the stoat would win. I imagine it probably has bigger horns, and stronger ramming power. Also stoats are bread for fighting, and are more fun at parties.
9. What was the last album you bought?
[No answer!!! - Ed]
10. If you could rid the world of one song - what would it be?
“Taking Care of Business” by B.T.O. Unless Randy Bachman miraculously records another version where he sings the entire song on key and not like a mentally ill child thus making me want to kill myself.
11. Who would play you in a film based upon your life?
I have to take this literally and imagine I’d be at least 65 years old by the time a film about my life is being made. So I hope my lovely grandson Gregors gets the role. He’s such a wonderful little actor.
12. Dead or alive. What 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
- Billie Holiday
- the Muppets
- Talking Heads
- B.T.O. (to make us look good)
- My grand son Gregor’s band. He’s such a lovely little singer.
13. If push comes to shove, what is your all-time favourite album?
Push never comes to shove with me, I’m neither decisive nor aggressive so I can’t answer this question.
14. What’s your most memorable on the road story?
Eating pigeon from a big drunk man in overalls in Tucson, Arizona then hoping all night he didn’t barge back into our room with a sawed-off shot gun.
15. If your life flashed before your eyes, what would be the highlights?
Peeing my pants, and having Darren Hulme make fun of me for almost 10 years about it. Disney World when I was 8 years old. Memories missing. Surfing the internet.
16. What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
When I was 14 or 15 my dad told me to start writing my own songs, and to find my own voice. That always stuck with me, I’m glad I listened.
17. If you had to leave a body part to science, what would it be?
My lips. Then I’d request an open casket funeral just to freak the fuck out of everyone.
18. What’s the best book you’ve read and film you’ve seen in the last 6 months?
No Country for Old Men.
19. What three things could you not live without?
Blood, the sun & water.
20. Tell us a fact about yourself we probably don’t already know.
I have a serious pornography addiction.

mp3:> Born Ruffians: ‘Badonkadonkey’

Links
Born Ruffians [official site] [myspace]