Phoenix Prepare for Cultural Olympiad, Grammy Awards

This week, Phoenix will head to Canada for a special Vancouver show that's part of the 2010 Cultural Olympiad arts festival, which is tied in with the Winter Olympics. The show, Jan. 22, is already sold out and kicks off a world tour for the French quartet's Grammy-nominated 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.' This first show, however, has singer Thomas Mars somewhat puzzled.

"What's nice is that we have no idea what it's going to be. That's exciting. It's always exciting to do something new," Mars tells Spinner of being part of the Cultural Olympiad. As the show precedes the actual games, which begin Feb. 12, Mars and company won't get to see any of the competitions. "I grew up as a skier, but it's been at least five years since I didn't go to ski," the 33-year-old admits. "I'd like to see the ski jumping. If we got to see that, I'd be happy: Close up. Kamikaze. I think it's something they don't have or something they have that makes them fearless," he says of the competitors.

Mars draws parallels between the Cultural Olympiad show and attending the Grammy Awards ceremony on Jan. 31. As it's Phoenix's first Grammy nod, they're unsure of what to expect there, too. "We are all going to be there. It's like going to the Olympics with your band again. It's silly and enjoyable at the same time; it's a surreal occupation," he sighs. Won't it be a little more boring, though, sitting through all the announcements? "I have no idea what it's going to be. I don't mind sitting with my friends. We have watched Cirque du Soleil and had fun," he jokes, "so I think we can watch the Grammys and have fun."