Turbo Fruits: Not Just Lads

Turbo Fruits are total jokers. Their records are "good fun" - but brash and laddish - while their videos showcase them "riffing" in showers or carrying around models on the back of their motorbikes. It's like The Jonas Brothers have thrown off their chastity rings and taken up STDs.

That's until you meet them. Jonas Stein, the founding member of the band is about as laid back as you can get, sipping his Guiness next to the fire. "I think this is he seventh day because our Oyster card has run out. Now we're using our pocket coins" he explains. The band are on their second trip to the UK - the first being a short promo tour for a record two years ago - and they've played a lot of London shows. "After tonight it will be our fourth show and tomorrow is our fifth and final. It's been a weird trip". He might as well be talking about life since 16. The band formed after a break from Be Your Own Pet; Jonas' previous band that played Barfly's and Gonzo tours back in 2005. They were whirlwhinds back then, showing unrelenting enthusiasm for vans and roadside cafes. After high praise from Radio One and EPs for Rough Trade and XL they were being touted as the craziest young things to come out of the US in years. In 2008 they split up, leaving Jonas to form the new band with John Eatherly [who has since left]. "Everything seems more stagnant now" he sighs. "It had an edge it was more exciting because it was new".

The nights they've had would be enough to test any body's nerves. With no links to the underground music scene that he has in Tennessee - and with it the house, barn and just-kicking-back-under-a-bridge parties - he's a bit lost. "The Garage? Is there a place called The Garage? That was alright. It was kind of weird because there was a club downstairs and all the clubbers left as soon as we came on". He laughs and obviously isn't taking the fleeing clubbers too seriously, "but we had some dedicated fans from Scotland and Birmingham. They came down for just that show.

In the U.S things were different. The band were touring with Tel Aviv terrors Monotonix. For a band like them it's a big deal. Turbo Fruits don't deny they play pop music and they respect bands like Monotonix who have been putting on famously wild shows for years "Monotonix have toured a lot. So it was cool to see a band like that would be interested in having a band like us on tour. They're the only band they've ever taken with them for any length of time. Hopefully it'll stay that way. We played with Lovvers too. They were a fun band to play with"

They're signed to Fat Possum, a blues label that's gained notoriety for changing direction and signing acts like Wavves and Jay Reatard in the past few years. Why the change? Are they excited to be a part of it? He doesn't seem so sure. "They've kind of branching out a bit. There's a younger generation bringing in younger stuff that the older guys might not be connected to". While the LP didn't have the success they expected over in the states, 'Echo Kids' has another chance in the UK. The NME has given the record 8/10. "I'm totally surprised by that" he laughs "they can be pretty cold to certain bands, no?" Suddenly he starts to back track on his earlier comments. Things aren't stagnant, they're just comfortable. "I've made a base of friends and that's part of the reason I feel less excited than I used to" he says "It's less of a fantasy land". For BYOP much of the UK was a blur. "Yeah, a blur of little dresses and no jackets..." he laughs "it sounds like northern england. I've done my fair share there with BYOP. A lot of venues seem like a blur. We definitely went to Newcastle..."

With the tour coming to a close, the band can now concentrate on 2010. It's a year that's likely to include another US tour, definitely some songwriting and maybe some new recording. Jonas also has other plans. And they don't always involve getting high and scoring 'chicks'. "I have a lot of other passions" he protests. "like motorcycle riding, nothing too fancy or fast. I like the vintage bikes. In the summer time we'll go canoeing. We'll take an ice chest full of beer to a lazy river and just float down for about 5 hours. I'm planning on taking up boxing when I get back too..." Still going to keep Turbo Fruits going? "Music is something that comes natural" he says, grinning. "But next tour I'll have a cauliflower ear and a mashed nose".

Hey dudes. You can buy Turbo Fruits' album by clicking on the words Jonas! Don't get hurt!