Michael from Yves Klein Blue challenges Simon from The Holidays to a battle of wits on the eve of their Immaculate Confection tour.

YKB: We have met before briefly. I remember we once lent you a kettle cord at the Espy, and you played excellently might I add. Looking forward to the tour a great deal, you will be veterans of the road by then; eating bits of wood and glass and drinking martinis whilst operating heavy machinery and sound checking all at once. Hope the “Listen to” tour is going well for both the groups. Here are a few questions for us to know each other by.

The Holidays: Thanks for the lend of that cord at the Espy, was a lifesaver. I was really annoyed that I somehow managed to miss you guys at both the Great Northern and Splendour recently. My only consolation was the promise of an epic nationwide tour where we would get to watch you every night. We’re trying at the moment to refine our touring in-jokes so that we can share them with you in October. Hopefully we can create some together.

Can I say that I’m impressed with the thoroughness of your ‘get to know you’ questions. I hope I can answer them all adequately.

YKB: In what sense is your pop colonial?

The Holidays: We once read a review that said we sounded like Brit-pop from the colonies.

YKB: Your songs have great pop sensibilities and are dangerously catchy. I’ve had that “two drinks to my one” lyric stuck in my head since I heard it. What’s your approach to songwriting? You must be ruthless to keep those song lengths down.

The Holidays: Our approach to songwriting varies. Sometimes the music and lyrics happen together, sometimes lyrics come later. I haven’t quite defined the mystery of songwriting yet, it still feels slightly random to me – mind you there’s no denying that my output depends on the amount of time put into it. And I often end up cutting out verses to keep them shorter. Sometimes that hurts.

YKB: I feel like we got some kind of connection as two of our all time favorite groups are Elvis Costello and Television – how did you get into that kind of stuff? Could you list a few of your favorite tunes?

The Holidays : I’ve loved Elvis Costello for years but don’t necessarily like all of his records. I’m an Imperial Bedroom guy. Beyond Belief, Long Honeymoon, Kid About It, The Loved Ones. It’s quite a wordy album, but the lyrics are great.

YKB: What are you into right now? Who have you discovered recently that’s really struck you (be it old or new)?

The Holidays : Will and I discovered Television a few years ago before we started the band. I bought Marquee Moon on someone’s recommendation and haven’t taken it out of my car since. Couldn’t possibly pick a favourite track, but Guiding Light really gets me. I’ve just recently discovered Stephen Malkmus and have been a little obsessed with Crooked Rain and Real Emotional Trash lately.

YKB: Are there any really embarrassing songs you all sing along to in the car whilst in transit?

TH: We were on a plane a while ago and caught each other with headphones on jamming to Lenny Kravitz’s It’s Not Over Till It’s Over, so I would say that the sitar solo on that track is a guilty pleasure while in transit.

YKB: What about your FIRST EVER favorite band? Who were they? (No faking and saying Bikini Kills or Throbbing Gristle or something cool and indie now, I want major label fodder confessional.)

TH: Will used to like the Cranberries, Al liked Lil Wayne when he was like 14 in the Hot Boyz, Kerridge liked The Living End and I used to be really into Michael Jackson; like Dangerous era. It’s not cool now that he’s been accused but I defy you to find better orchestra hits than on Jam – and the clip with Michael Jordan was the ultimate 1-2 punch.

YKB: The Dark Knight was a great film, wasn’t it? Do you think the new Star Wars film will be a piece of shit? (NB: YKB has no official stance on the quality of any Star Wars motion pictures or products).

TH: Thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Knight, especially that scene where the Joker makes the pen disappear. I really like Maggie Gyllenhaal, but thought she was a little plastic in it though. I’m a bit baffled by this new animated Star Wars film. Is there a time to leave a good thing be? Mind you the animation looks pretty interesting. I walked past this toy store today that had Storm Trooper masks with microphones in them that change your voice. I was so close to buying one but they were like a hundred bucks.

YKB: What’s your position on eating baked beans for every meal of the tour? Do you want to split the cost of a crate of beans with us? (Would you prefer tinned spaghetti? Don’t get that, it’s rubbish! Unless it’s got sausages or meatballs in it – that’s a little better I suppose.)

TH: The baked beans is a tricky one. I like your thinking on the crate idea, but perhaps we could go for something a bit less volatile. Don’t get me wrong – I like beans as much as the next Anglo-Saxon, but they are known for their explosive properties. Agreed that tinned spaghetti is a bit rubbish. In my opinion made worse by those Spam sausages or meatballs. Will and I were thinking of doing cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a la Jerry Seinfeld. Nothing healthy – just Fruit Loops or maybe Frosties?

YKB: Your Wikipedia page is much better than ours, why’s that?

TH: Don’t know much about Wikipedia. Maybe I could write some stuff for your page if you’d like? I heard it doesn’t have to be true.

YKB: Hope this doesn’t put you off spending the entire month of October with us. I promise we’re much less weird in the context of a conversation. See you soon guys.

Yves Klein Blue and The Holidays set up shop at the following venues this October, proudly presented by FasterLouder.

Friday 3 – Mona Vale Hotel, Sydney
Saturday 4 – ANU Bar, Canberra
Thursday 9 – Enigma, Adelaide
Friday 10 – Amplifier Bar, Perth
Saturday 11 – Prince Of Wales, Bunbury
Sunday 12 – Norfolk Basement, Fremantle
Thursday 16 – Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay
Friday 17 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Saturday 18 – Coolongatta Hotel
Sunday 19 – Sol Bar, Sunshine Coast
Thursday 23 – Oxford Tavern, Wollongong
Friday 24 – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Saturday 25 – Northern Star, Newcastle
Sunday 26 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney (U-18s)
Wed 29 – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Thursday 30 – National Hotel, Geelong
Friday 31 – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
Saturday 1 November – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne (2nd show)