Brisbane indie rockers Yves Klein Blue might just be one of the hardest working acts around. They’ve barely unpacked their suitcases from a successful UK tour, and they’re already preparing to board the Bacardi Express. I recently caught up with the band’s keyboardist and guitarist Charles Sale to chat about the popular train tour, the band’s debut album Ragged & Ecstatic, and their jetsetting lifestyle. 
The Bacardi Express is a pretty unique tour. What made you want to get involved?
We were invited to play this year and after hearing lots of great stories from Bluejuice (who played last year) we were very keen to jump on board.
The folks at Bacardi say the success of the tour all comes down to the right combination of bands, personalities, and genres. What will Yves Klein Blue bring to the mix?
As my mum always said, be true to yourself and be true to others. We are also passionate team players and I think this journey can be truly amazing if all the bands band together.
The Bacardi Express has several cool carriages, including the gaming room, jamming carriage, and chill out lounge. Where can we expect to find Yves Klein Blue?
I will definitely be in the jamming room. I also don’t know how to operate DJ decks.
Are you expecting a special show when the Bacardi tour kicks off in your home town of Brisbane?
Home town gigs are always the best, plus the gig is at the Tivoli which is one of our favourite venues.
You’re currently spruiking your debut album Ragged & Ecstatic. What can you tell me about it?
The album was a culmination of everything that we had been experiencing before its creation. From high school through to the plane ride over to LA and every musical influence in between. We put everything we had into the album and we are very happy with the result.
You recorded the album in Hollywood. What made you decide to uproot yourself for it?
We wanted to record with Kevin Augunas and he has a studio in LA. Also we were attracted to the idea of being in a place where we knew nobody so as to avoid being distracted by friends and family. It sounds very anti social and self centered, but I guess we really wanted to concentrate on the task at hand.
Your album was produced by Kevin Augunas who’s worked with everyone from the Cold War Kids to Sinead O’Connor. What did he bring to the process?
He was very good at being able to simplify the songs and all their parts, so that the song was presented in the best possible way. Sometimes it can be difficult to see what a song needs as you have been involved in the creation of every part. We were also loved the natural sounds he achieved with the Cold War Kids. The sounds were unique but not artificial.
You’ve just come back from a tour of the UK where you played sold out headlining shows. Did that reception take you by surprise?
Yes! It was more surreal than surprising.
How do the fans in the UK differ to the ones in Oz?
We did a UK tour with Reverend & The Makers, playing shows from Edinburgh to Brighton, so most nights we would be getting up in front of 1500 people who had probably never heard our music before. So I understood why people may be a bit reserved at the start, however the crowds are very responsive and enthusiastic and we had some nice feedback from people afterwards. People in Scotland were singing along to “Polka.” Crazy
You seem like real jetsetters now, so will you always call Australia home?
More than Peter Allen.
Catch Yves Klein Blue’s Ragged & Ecstatic is in stores now. The band boards the Bacardi Express in March for the following shows.
25 March 2010 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
26 March 2010 – Club Coffs, Coffs Harbour
27 March 2010 – Panthers, Newcastle
27 March 2010 – Big Top @ Luna Park, Sydney
Image used with permission from Peer Group Media