Pete and the Pirates -- Listen Up!

We're constantly getting turned on to new music here at Spinner HQ. Between our Free MP3 of the Day and weekly Free CD Listening Party, we hope you are too. To help further the cause, we're gonna bring you our personal must-hear music picks with Listen Up! -- Spinner's weekly spotlight on staff-approved artists who rock our world.

Who: Pete and the Pirates
Hail From: Reading, England
Why We Love Them: If you're a fan of fun, high-fiving your friends and dancing around like an idiot (see: 'Come on Feet' from their debut 'Little Death'), this band is for you. While their unnervingly perfect pop songs may seem basic to some, to us they border brilliance.
Essential Listening: 'Selina'
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Exclusive Q&A with singer Thomas Sanders, bassist Peter Cattermoul, guitarist David Thorpe and drummer Jonny Sanders:

What's your favorite album right now?
Thomas Sanders: 'Velvet Donkey,' Ivor Cutler

Peter Cattermoul: 'Computer World,' Kraftwerk

David Thorpe: 'Can,' Ege Bamyasi

Jonathan Sanders: 'High Violet,' The National

Tell us about the first concert you ever saw.
TS: R.E.M. in Milton Keyenes with my friend and his Dad. I think it was 1995 and I was very excited even though I didn't know who they were. R.E.M. were genuinely awful -- an appalling live show. It was a bad start to my live music experiences.

PC: I think my Dad took me to a Mike Oldfield concert when I was about 10 years old. Prog guitar land. It was fun.

DT: It was the Temptations in Detroit, Mi., in 1987. It was some kind of 25-year anniversary concert and I went with my Mum, Dad, Sister, Uncle and Auntie. I remember it was outdoors and we had a picnic.

JS: I didn't go to any until I was at least 16 and then I went to see the National B-Boy Championships, which was all sorts of hip-hoppery.

What's your biggest vice?
TS: I've got one that's about a foot across and weighs 15 kilos.

PC: Probably something to do with Mike Oldfield.

JS: Pork scratchings.

What do you consider your biggest non-musical inspiration?
TS: People who have made an impression on my life and my memories of them.

PC: It has to be food, really.

DT: Animals.

JS: The sky and flying.

Please tell us about the weirdest encounter you've had with a female fan.‬
TS: I'm sure it's better not to talk about this in a public forum.

PC: Don't know.

DT: I can't think of one?

JS: Some female fans can be quite annoying. I try not to encounter too many of them. Some hit on each member of the group and get rejected one after the other until they just have to go the hell away.