They may have been the freaky guys in high school with the dyed black hair, clunky boots and tight jeans.
But the guys in The Rapture don’t dye their hair anymore. Now, they sound like The Cure, are probably cooler than the kids who picked on them and could care less what other people think anyway. After struggling for 10 years, The Rapture finally landed on a big label and released their debut, “Echoes,” late last year. They had a take-off alt-dance hit with “House of Jealous Lovers,” and this summer they’re on the Curiosa Tour alongside their hero Robert Smith.
RedEye caught up with singer Luke Jenner on a tour stop near Cleveland to discuss touring, high school trauma and some very big things.
What are you guys doing right now?
We’re about to go to a water park. [On the tour] we usually sit in a parking lot and eat lots of chili dogs. It’s pretty boring actually, but today we’re next to a water park. It’s our lucky day.
What was high school like–were you beat up?
I never got beat up. When I stopped playing baseball, I isolated myself. My friends and I stopped hanging out with most people. Me and [drummer] Vito [Roccoforte] didn’t go to graduation. We sat around and played video games. We didn’t care about seeing anybody.
Did you go to your 10-year reunion?
No. Even if I lived [in San Diego], I wouldn’t go. It would be awkward. I don’t like to have relationships based on false perceptions. I don’t perceive myself to be cooler than anyone else. It would be lame to go back and be like, “Yeah I’m cool now.” I don’t have to show them anything. I’m not concerned with what they think.
How’s the tour?
The New York show was good because it was open seating and people could get close to the stage. It’s strange to go to an amphitheater that’s half-empty and the people are on the lawn a half a football field away. I love seeing The Cure play everyday.
I missed seeing them for the last few days.
When you’re in town Thursday you’re doing a DJ set at Smart Bar–is that pure spinning or do you mix in live vocals too?
No vocals. [Bassist] Mattie [Safer] mixes, and Vito and I just try to play stuff that makes people dance. Matt plays straight-up House. Me and Vito tend to mix it up more and play party jams.
What’s the difference between a house crowd and a rock crowd?
Not much of a difference–if the crowd is up for it, the energy is high and great. We’re definitely not DJs, we’re a band. But being at a DJ event where the DJs rule is like being at a great rock show.
Weren’t you named one of Spin magazine’s Next Big Things?
We just went through this huge hype thing in England, which was way more extreme than anything in the U.S. In England, we had huge press. We felt like people were finally paying attention to us. It’s cool, though, I like seeing myself in magazines.
The Curiosa Festival
Main Stage: The Cure, Interpol, The Rapture, Mogwai
Second Stage: Muse, Auf der Maur, The Cooper Temple Clause, Head Automatica
When: 5 p.m. Thursday
Where: Tweeter Center, Tinley Park
Tickets: $26-$66
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Edited by Cara Dipasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
