BOYS LIKE GIRLS drummer JOHN KEEFE shows KERYN POINTING how one man in a jockstrap can make for a very interesting interview…

I bet that line got your attention. But before all you pervy readers can get to the part about the semi-naked man in the middle of a chilly winter, I’m going to be a little more savoury. After all, it’s about the music, right? Well, at least it is for John Keefe, one quarter of the Boston pop rockers, Boys Like Girls.

Clearly, being a musician and all, it’s granted that the guy should be at least a bit keen on music. But mention his influences and he practically explodes with passion, turning a simple conversation about their plans for Australia into a five minute tribute to Daniel Johns. “I want to see Silverchair!”, Keefe enthuses. “I actually grew up listening to Silverchair. One of the first songs I learnt was Tomorrow. I’ve always been a big fan and I’ve never seen them… I don’t even know what to say. I’m just so excited about going over there!”

The boys will be hitting our shores soon as part of the astounding Soundwave Festival lineup and clearly couldn’t be happier to do so. As we begin to compare Soundwave as Australia’s version of the annual Vans Warped Tour, which the band played last year for the first time, we’re interrupted by raucous laughing in the background and John whispering, “Dude, that is so gross”. Oblivious at the time, I tentatively ask what’s going on. Keefe willingly fills me in. “My friend just walked in wearing… what is that called? A jockstrap? He’s wearing a jockstrap and nothing else. And he’s hairy and… he’s very weird”. Then, he offers to send me a picture if I’d like, helpfully adding that his friend happens to be a ‘big Italian dude’. Needless to say, I politely decline as I begin to wonder if there is a boundary to the amount of times the word ‘jockstrap’ can be mentioned in one article.

Curious, I ask John if this sort of stuff happens a lot on the road, only to be given a perfectly angelic answer as he sobers up from the jockstrap (yes, I think I’ve reached my limit) event. “We try to be good people. I don’t want to do anything like wreck hotel rooms – we’re not like that. We just have fun and play video games and talk about music…”, John confesses and instantly apologises for how ‘totally boring that sounds’.

Boring, however, is definitely not a suitable word to describe Boys Like Girls, the band that got its big break thanks to a discovery on MySpace. After releasing an eponymous debut album in 2006, the boys found themselves touring non-stop and sharing the stage with some of the hottest names in the pop punk scene right now. Complete with a blatantly obvious name which sets the standard for their equally honest lyrics drilled into you by catchy hooks, I couldn’t help but ask John what kind of girls do boys like? “Boys like girls… with really nice eyes”. Leaving you with that pearl of insight, I only have one more thing to say… JOCKSTRAP.

BOYS LIKE GIRLS are part of the Soundwave Festival on February 23 at the Riverstage and Parklands. A deluxe version of their self-titled debut is out now through Sony BMG.

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