All Of It – “20 Years of Keane's 'Hopes and Fears' Live in Studio”

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Host: David Fuerst (filling in for Alison Stewart)
Guests: Tom Chaplin (lead singer), Tim Rice-Oxley (keyboardist/songwriter) of Keane
Date: September 24, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode of All Of It celebrates the 20th anniversary of Keane’s iconic debut album, Hopes and Fears. Host David Fuerst welcomes founding members Tom Chaplin and Tim Rice-Oxley into WNYC’s Studio 5. The episode features live acoustic performances, a deep-dive into the band’s history, creative process, and cultural impact, as well as playful banter and reflection on the band’s journey since their school years.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Lasting Impact of Hopes and Fears

• Anniversary Tour: Keane is touring the world, performing the album live to commemorate 20 years since its release.

• Mutual Nostalgia: The band reflects on initial reservations about dwelling on the past, only to realize the celebratory power of reconnecting with fans:

  “It’s obviously a record that completely changed our lives... to celebrate it with people and see the joy in their faces... has been a lovely thing.” — Tom Chaplin ([06:37])

• Evolution of the Songs:

  “They’ve got a life of their own now...It's very hard to remember when we were first playing them.” — Tom Chaplin ([07:33])
  “Every night...in the song ‘Bed Shaped’...I always think back to this pub in London called the Water Rats ... And it's so weird to then obviously be in a completely different place...all this history.” — Tim Rice-Oxley ([07:46])

Origins: From Schoolmates to Bandmates

• Small-town Beginnings: Both grew up together in the same small town, attended the same primary (Vine Hall) and secondary schools. Tom’s parents were friends with Tim’s, and Tom’s godparents are Tim’s parents.
• Longstanding Bond:

  “Keane is like a brotherhood, really. It’s like a family...it goes back as almost as far as I can remember, really.” — Tom Chaplin ([08:49])

• Boarding School Days: Tom boarded despite his father being headmaster, finding a community atmosphere ([09:52]).

On Coolness:

• Never 'Trendy':

  “We were definitely known as not being very cool…and we were surrounded by this whole scene of kind of cool bands…But actually what's happened is we're…never in fashion, so now we haven't fallen out of fashion. The music has spoken for itself.”
  — Tim Rice-Oxley ([10:54])

• Chasing Timelessness:

  “If you get too enamored with the idea of coolness and being part of what's currently the thing, it’s a dangerous game...We were always very interested in the bands and artists who made kind of timeless classic music.”
  — Tom Chaplin ([11:54])

Early Keen(e)

• Musical Roots in Sport: Their childhood friendship revolved initially around sports, not music ([12:52]).
• Uncertain Beginnings as a Band:
  • The group dabbled in songwriting through their early twenties, gradually taking their music more seriously.
  • Tom: “Tom's the big show off. Let’s get him to be the front man.” ([13:56])
• First Recordings: Played an early track, “Call Me What You Like” from 2000, revealing early influences (Radiohead/Travis) and a guitar-driven sound ([14:43]).
  • Reflections:

    “You can really see we hadn't quite arrived at what we wanted to or what we were gonna be." — Tom Chaplin ([15:32])
    "At that point so many bands in London just wanted to be Radiohead. And you can definitely hear a bit of that." — Tom Chaplin ([16:10])

What Makes a Keane Song?

• Emotional Authenticity:

  “I think really the thing that defines us probably is a kind of emotional authenticity...We struggle to do anything apart from be really honest about normally ourselves...Most of the songs are essentially about ourselves, and a lot...are about the band.” — Tim Rice-Oxley ([17:04])

• Melody-Driven: Catchy, melodic, with a unique sound shaped by piano/keys rather than guitar.

Live Performances in Studio

1. Everybody’s Changing ([02:42] – [06:21])

   • A gentle acoustic version kicks off the episode, setting a reflective mystique.

2. This is the Last Time ([19:10] – [22:50])

   • A stirring performance highlighting the band's signature lyrical melancholy and melodic strength.

3. Somewhere Only We Know ([25:40] – [29:48])

   • A moving studio rendition of their most iconic song.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the 20th Anniversary Tour:

  “It’s a real sort of outpouring of every sort of feeling—joy and sadness and excitement...We try and take people on a journey with the set list and provide lots of variety and fun. Lights and me sort of prancing around the stage, twirling around as well. It’s just great fun, I think.”
  — Tom Chaplin ([23:03])

• Diving into the Archives for the Deluxe Edition:

  “There are three people out there who are going to be very excited about the demo of me singing...whatever was scraped off the bottom of the barrel.”
  — Tim Rice-Oxley ([24:21])

• Repeating Patterns:

  “...You can hear us talking between takes and stuff. And, I mean, the thing that made me laugh about it is that we just haven’t changed.” — Tim Rice-Oxley ([24:58]) “Incredibly puerile, the whole thing in between these incredibly emotional takes, you know.” — Tim Rice-Oxley ([25:06])

Notable Timestamps

• [02:42] Live: "Everybody’s Changing"
• [06:37] Reflecting on nostalgia and fan connection
• [08:49] Small-town and schoolboy roots
• [10:54] “Coolness” and the band’s timeless identity
• [14:43] Clip: “Call Me What You Like” (early Keane)
• [17:04] Tim on emotional authenticity
• [19:10] Live: "This is the Last Time"
• [23:03] What to expect at the Radio City show
• [24:10] Deluxe edition/deep-dive into the archives
• [25:40] Live: "Somewhere Only We Know"

Episode Flow

• Opening: Immediate immersion with a signature piano intro; no lengthy intro/ads included.
• Live Music: Each new topic is punctuated or introduced by a live performance, making the conversation dynamic.
• Retrospection: The hosts navigate the band’s history from childhood friendships, through early band formation, to contemporary reflections.
• Self-deprecating Humor: Tim and Tom’s humble, witty banter sets a warm tone throughout.
• Forward-Looking: Hints at new releases, archival deluxe albums, and the enduring creative process.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in British pop/rock, band dynamics, or music history. Keane’s unique chemistry, self-awareness, and emotional forthrightness are evident in both their performances and conversation. Fans will appreciate behind-the-scenes anecdotes, while newcomers will gain insight into what makes Keane’s music last beyond fashion or hype.

Closing

The episode wraps up with gratitude and excitement for their performance at Radio City Music Hall, capturing not only Keane’s journey but also the lasting bond between band and fans.

“Thanks for having us.” — Tom Chaplin ([30:05])
“Thank you.” — Tim Rice-Oxley ([30:06])