ACL Music Festival Interviews

Nic Armstrong & the Thieves

Friday, 4pm, Austin Ventures stage

It's a few weeks before the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and UK rock quartet Nic Armstrong & the Thieves are thinking about a score to settle.

"We've got to repay the Bravery," says frontman Armstrong with a chuckle, backstage at Austin's Parish. He's referring to an incident that happened during a recent East Coast tour with the goth-pop Bravery, who kept to themselves for much of the trek, until the very end.

"The last night, the [Bravery's] bass player was hanging out and for some reason decided to strip naked in our van," recalls Armstrong, who reports the bassist eventually mooned the Thieves' tour manager. "[But] we completely out-stripped them, partying-wise."

It will be a reunion for the Thieves and a few other ACL artists, including Oasis, whom the band supported on a few U.S. arena stops. "We're definitely gonna cause a little trouble in their dressing room," he predicts.

Otherwise, the Thieves have been causing very little trouble during their extended stay in Austin, where they've decided to write and rehearse demos for the follow-up to this spring's acclaimed The Greatest White Liar on New West. There's no telling how much new material the band will have by Sept. 23, though Armstrong promises a "straight-up rock & roll show." While the band's material works well in dark clubs, they're anxious to get onstage for their second outdoor U.S. festival, following an appearance at Coachella earlier this year. Plus, they can't wait to meet up with some equally rowdy pals during the ACL Fest weekend.

"There's a few people we met on the road," Armstrong insists, "and we'll see who's up for a party."