Temper Trap Wrap Up US Tour With Cheesesteaks

Posted on Oct 29th 2009 12:00PM by Jolie Lash
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Australian indie rockers the Temper Trap are wrapping up their first stateside trek on Thursday in support of their debut album, 'Conditions,' which dropped earlier this month. Although they aren't likely to be back for a few months, singer Dougy Mandagi tells Spinner they're taking with them some fond memories.

"The Philly Cheesesteak that I had about three hours ago, that was a highlight, definitely," he says, laughing. "Driving around America and just seeing the different kinds of landscapes [was memorable] and going to all these places that we've never been to like Chicago and discovering what an amazing city that is. We all really like America and we all have this really romantic idea of what America is like and so far, it's sort of lived up to it."

While on their coast-to-coast jaunt, the Melbourne band managed to get some real sightseeing in, stopping at Venice Beach in L.A., the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and a general downtown building sightseeing expedition in Chicago. Just like many US citizens, they stocked up on a more unofficial American treasure -- fast food.

"We've been taking advantage of all the fattening foods that America has to offer," Mandagi says, confirming the extra calories have meant watching their waistlines a bit more. "I've been going to the gym and on the treadmill and exercising so I can eat all that crap and not feel guilty about it."

If the group does walk a way with a few extra pounds on their lithe frames, perhaps it will help the four-piece -- whose native country is currently enjoying summertime -- to keep warm when they head to their next tour destination, a wintry Europe. Their leap across the pond also includes a sold-out British tour in December, their biggest to date.

"As much as we like travelling around and stuff, it'll be good to go back to the U.K.," Mandagi says of the place the band has been based out of for much of 2009. "We've got a few dates with Florence and the Machine, and we've got a few big shows of our own, so we're not doing too bad in the U.K. After first coming here and feeling like we're testing the waters and seeing if people like us or they don't, it'll be good to go do our own headlining shows in the U.K. and actually see big numbers come in."

Before the British trek, the Temper Trap will make a quick visit back home to attend the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Awards on November 26 in Sydney. The band is nominated for four gongs including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Best Rock Album and Best Breakthrough.

"It's great," Dougy says of the nominations. "We never expected it. 'Sweet Disposition' didn't even make it to [Aussie radio station] Triple J's top 100, so we never expected to be nominated for the ARIAs, and in four categories. I don't know if we'll win anything or not, but they want us to go back, they want us to do a live performance so we're going to do that."

And the singer tells Spinner, the Melbourne boys will be looking sharp that night, saying "I don't own any suits so I'm going to have to suit up and start looking for one -- look respectable for a change."