TMC Interview: Crystal Fighters hit logs and tell us about their tonsils

by Anna, pictures by Holly Falconer

Okay I admit it – I’d been expecting five Crystal Fighters: three boys and two Spanish girls with poetic things to say about Basque mysticism and chord structures. And perhaps some leaves sticking in their hair, going by the promo shots that wasn’t wildly unreasonable. Anyway we just got the boys – Sebastian, Gilbert and Graham – but they were great too. We pressed them into them into the greasy leather seats at the Twat Boutique Warehouse and made them answer our questions.

Frontman Sebastian’s singing voice is a cute little accented thing – to the extent where I actually thought he was Spanish. Turns out that’s just for the gigs. He and the other guys Graham and Gilbert are essentially public school boys gone feral: eschewing city jobs for hitting primitive log instruments, covering themselves in mud for promotional shots and ripping up at dirty little squat parties.

But what can I say, they did a fucking fantastic set packed with energy which sparked a stage invasion on their upswinging tribal beepy finale “Xtatic Truth”.

The cute girls – Laure and Mimi – just do occasional vocals, and they’re, like, in New York right now. Despite the references to Basque opera and the crazy instruments they have (best of all is a tuneful log which works like some plus-sized glockenspiel) these kids are a London band. Their big hit I Love London! -”I want to go to the friend’s party/F-Friend’s party! In Willesden! Hoxton! Watford Junction!” is a hyperactive stutter-beat hymn to the city and the nightlife that brought them together.

They sort of rolled their eyes a bit when I asked them if they really did love London. Turns out they do. So what was that party in Watford junction like?

Graham: “It was good.”
Gilbert: “It was probably the best party that I’ve ever been to in… .”
Sebastian: “No no not true. But that’s the point behind the lyrics, there’s so much life in this place, it’s like its own world, you don’t have to be at a Shoreditch club to be having a good time you could be at your cousin’s brother’s friend’s after-wedding, at 2am with six people. In Harlesden. And still be having a great time. Cause London’s that fun.”

The Basque influence comes from the absent Laure whose grandfather was by all accounts a pretty wild old man. In his final days – alone and slightly insane in a haunted house in the Spanish countryside – he started writing an opera called Crystal Fighters. It’s unfinished, but Laure found it when clearing out his stuff, was immediately inspired by its supernatural themes and wild ravings, took it back to London and introduced it to the band. Already interested in European music they pulled in the lyrics, melodies and rhythms on hits like Xtatic Truth.

Crystal Fighters loved Peaches, who was DJing after them.. Sebastian was creeping up taking iPhone pictures of her behind the decks and took her arm to help her off the stage and back into her wheelchair after her little hop-around dance

Would they do a gig if one of them had broken their leg?
“I’ve got tonsillitis” says Gilbert.
“If you could still play the instrument you’re supposed to play then yeah” says Graham
“I’ve played another gig with tonsillitis as well,” says Gilbert
“It may affect the overall punch, but we’d still do it.. unless we needed surgery. I couldn’t play with a broken arm.” – Graham
“I’m not sure I could play with a broken heart” says Sebastian. He laughs mournfully, “break my leg not my heart.” [take note heterosexual readers].

Crystal Fighters are great live, you should definitely go see them.
On MySpace
And Spotify
Their album is out in September