Ting Tings Stay Fresh With 'Ghostbusters' and Vodka

Posted on Aug 3rd 2009 3:00PM by Emily Tan
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To get pumped before a show, some bands huddle up and say a prayer while others might do a random chant. Katie White of the Ting Tings, who braved a rocky flight from the U.K. with bandmate Jules De Martino to perform at All Points West last weekend, loves to down a cocktail and sing some UB40 before she steps onto the stage. "We drink vodka and Red Bull because halfway through the set I'm so tired and lose so much energy," White tells Spinner. "I also have been singing 'Red Red Wine' by UB40, and I don't know why I keep singing that a lot before I go onstage."

If that doesn't help, the band has their own favorite tracks that give them that extra energy boost to perform -- 'Once in a Lifetime' by the Talking Heads for De Martino and Ray Parker Jr.'s 'Ghostbusters' theme for White. "We do this thing on stage when Jules plays 'Ghostbusters' to the crowd where he kind of DJs midway through the set and gives me 20 seconds to breathe," White says. "It's brilliant because it's like, 'Yeah, come on!'"

And while most people would dub 'Ghostbusters' as one of their guiltiest pleasures, the band isn't ashamed of it at all. "It's not supposed to be a joke because we really do love the song," White says. "So we don't really feel guilty that we like 'Ghostbusters.' It's a tune you know, you play it. And the crowd is like, 'Ghostbusters!' We like that.'"

However, music isn't the only thing that helps White prepare for a good performance each night -- she also credits her footwear. Unlike other female musicians who love to look fierce in their five-inch stilettos, White will take flats over pumps any day. "It's really weird. As soon as I put heels on, it changes how I perform," White admits. "I go from really meaning it and feeling funky to totting around. So I can't wear heels, but I wish I could because it makes my legs look longer. And every girl wants their legs to longer when they're being photographed, but I can't."