June 9, 2025 • 6 mins
We love when friends come to see us at DC101, and we just had a great performance from The Kooks in the iHeartRadio Soundbank, powered by Northwest Federal Credit Union!
Along with the music, we had a really good chat with Luke and Hugh in front of the audience about their new album 'Never/Know', how they've been together for over 20 years now, what they like and dislike about each other and how Luke is loving being a dad now.
Big thanks to Luke and Hugh for a great time. Make sure you listen to their new album 'Never / Know' and see them on tour if you can!
Along with the music, we had a really good chat with Luke and Hugh in front of the audience about their new album 'Never/Know', how they've been together for over 20 years now, what they like and dislike about each other and how Luke is loving being a dad now.
Big thanks to Luke and Hugh for a great time. Make sure you listen to their new album 'Never / Know' and see them on tour if you can!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
It's Mike Jones.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We just had the Kooks in at our iHeartRadio Sound
Bank powered by Northwest Federal Credit Union. They played, gave
us a great set, and then we had a really
fun conversation.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Take a listen.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
The Koks are here and our iHeartRadio Sound Bank powered
by Northwest Federal Credit Union. How they sound, guys, pretty good,
I'd say, right. And they're playing tonight at the Anthem,
like they said, with our friends Lovely the band too.
We like those guys a lot. Those guys are good
friends of DC One to one boys. You just put
out the new album congratulations never Know, and it's nice
(00:36):
to hear and there you go. Yeah, give it up
for the new album everyone. It's cool to have a
rock and roll record that's not doom and gloom like
you were just saying, Luke, like, hey, it's upbeat and
during the times right now, it certainly could have been
way down and big frowns all around.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
But that's cool that you guys did that.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, I think it's sometimes that's the role of the
musician and the writer and the performers is to give escapism.
And you know, I see music as medicine, you know
what I mean. And it's like, you know, we can
talk about different topics and things like that, but ultimately,
if we can bring the joy and like I said,
just bringing the peace and love, you know, that's that's
(01:18):
that we don't have to do more than that.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
I think that's a beautiful thing about music.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well there's one other thing you guys did bring and
here I saw you say, the guitar solo is back.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
We just watched Luke and it's about time.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
You know, it's been gone for a while, but they
they got the guitar solos back.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
Yeah, it had a bit of an absence for a while,
I think, but the humble solo is back.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
There's nothing humble about guitar solo.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Let's not at all, not at all.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
It's just it shouldn't be afraid of. I think. And
you're the best in the biz, this.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Guy humble all around.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Thanks man.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So obviously music is what brought you guys together.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
And know, if you guys don't know, the Cooks have
been together for over twenty years now. That's a heck
of iran. That's like three lifetimes for a lot of bands. Really, Yeah,
what else was it, though, what else do you guys?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
What else do Luke and Hugh Sharon Carmon.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Well, we like good shoes, don't we.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
We like good shoes, We like going shoe shopping together,
don't we good boots?
Speaker 4 (02:20):
We like boots. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
I think we have shared philosophy, don't we. We just
kind of believe in very honest, simple delights in art.
And I think we have shared goals. We haven't quite
sort of reached them yet, and I think we're kind
of on our way to something quite special.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Also, we're open to the idea of UFOs being real,
not just open ope actively. Yeah, that's an interest.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So wait, why don't you guys do something with Tom DeLong?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Then?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I mean, he's got to call out that I should
get the Kooks and Blank on a tour together.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Sounds like a party.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
To listen.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
We've seen them, we know they're here. He has knowledge.
You're right, we should get tour with them. That would
be exceptional. Can you imagine the late night conversations.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
He might take you to one of those secret meetings
he has with the Pentagon. You never know. Please take
all right now, you.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Told us you like shoes and your philosophy and everything. Now,
what do you guys do separately that each other isn't
such a big fan of.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Hates?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Well, like, I mean, I mean, you love opera, and
you've been trying to well, I don't hate opera, that's
not but you've been trying to something I need to,
I need I don't know, I need to.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
You've been trying to get me into it. Well, I've
written an operas. I'm trying to get your support around it.
But yeah, it's for some people bombastic and toe curling,
but for others cleansing and.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Enlightening. So it just depends.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Really, So we're probably not gonna have a Koops opera
album anytime.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Then it's already been written.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Actually very well might yeah all.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
That, Yeah, Broadway, what's the what's the secret for you
guys staying together for twenty years as a band.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Well, if there was a secret, I think I.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Think you know, like you said, we have shared beliefs
and goals, and I think the minute we don't love
playing music together, it kind of ends. I think every
time we get in the studio, every time we get
in the rehearsal rom there's an excitement, there's chemistry. It's
it's it's brilliant, and I think there's a yin and
yang thing going on. That's that's what chemistry is about,
(04:40):
and I think that's what's kept it going. But you know,
just not to say there's been ups and downs and
all that kind of stuff, but it's I think just
like loyalty respect. I think we just we normally respect
each other, and that's just like that won't go away.
And I think bands fall out over the most ridiculous things.
I think bands are a bit like famously, people in
(05:03):
bands are slightly juvenile and didn't quite grow up properly.
I think we've managed to sort of civilize ourselves out
of adolescents quite sufficiently.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Oh and good hid good hygienes, essential good hygienes.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Gotta smell nice, YEA. Make sure you brush your teeth
a couple of times a day. You want to be
minty fresh all the time. Last thing before we get
some more music, Luke, you're dad. Now you've got a
couple of little ones. If you guys didn't know he's.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
A father, I'm the latest father in the cooks.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Yes, and we just heard Sonny baby. Obviously that's influenced
from your kids. How's dad life changed you?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Now?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I mean it's the best thing ever. I mean,
it's unbelievable. Obviously it's changed with the music. I find
it quite freeing. I think having kids is like it's
the great ego destroyer, which is kind of.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Sure the battle, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
So that's kind of in some ways, a lot of
the battle of a human being is to try and
do that. I think kids it helps because yeah, you're
you're not You're not even second or third.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
You're like, you're like the fourth.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You were the last concern.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, And I think that that's quite healthy and cool,
and and I just yeah, I mean making the record
was really interesting, having the kids running around and pressing
the space bar on the computer when they shouldn't and
all that stuff. But it meant had to be much quicker,
and and I just it's the joy you get seeing
them bop along to the tunes is exceptional.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
So it's the best thing in the world. And I
missed them. I missed them.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Thanks for checking out the interview with the Kooks. Make
sure you subscribe so you can hear all of my
interviews plus the Mike Jones, Mencan, and everything else going
on with the podcast. Just search for It's Mike Jones
on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
It's Mike Jones.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We just had the Kooks in at our iHeartRadio Sound
Bank powered by Northwest Federal Credit Union. They played, gave
us a great set, and then we had a really
fun conversation.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Take a listen.
Speaker 4 (00:11):
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
The Koks are here and our iHeartRadio Sound Bank powered
by Northwest Federal Credit Union. How they sound, guys, pretty good,
I'd say, right. And they're playing tonight at the Anthem,
like they said, with our friends Lovely the band too.
We like those guys a lot. Those guys are good
friends of DC One to one boys. You just put
out the new album congratulations never Know, and it's nice
(00:36):
to hear and there you go. Yeah, give it up
for the new album everyone. It's cool to have a
rock and roll record that's not doom and gloom like
you were just saying, Luke, like, hey, it's upbeat and
during the times right now, it certainly could have been
way down and big frowns all around.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
But that's cool that you guys did that.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, I think it's sometimes that's the role of the
musician and the writer and the performers is to give escapism.
And you know, I see music as medicine, you know
what I mean. And it's like, you know, we can
talk about different topics and things like that, but ultimately,
if we can bring the joy and like I said,
just bringing the peace and love, you know, that's that's
(01:18):
that we don't have to do more than that.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
I think that's a beautiful thing about music.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well there's one other thing you guys did bring and
here I saw you say, the guitar solo is back.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
We just watched Luke and it's about time.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
You know, it's been gone for a while, but they
they got the guitar solos back.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
Yeah, it had a bit of an absence for a while,
I think, but the humble solo is back.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
There's nothing humble about guitar solo.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Let's not at all, not at all.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
It's just it shouldn't be afraid of. I think. And
you're the best in the biz, this.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Guy humble all around.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Thanks man.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
So obviously music is what brought you guys together.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
And know, if you guys don't know, the Cooks have
been together for over twenty years now. That's a heck
of iran. That's like three lifetimes for a lot of bands. Really, Yeah,
what else was it, though, what else do you guys?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
What else do Luke and Hugh Sharon Carmon.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Well, we like good shoes, don't we.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
We like good shoes, We like going shoe shopping together,
don't we good boots?
Speaker 4 (02:20):
We like boots. Yeah, I know.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
I think we have shared philosophy, don't we. We just
kind of believe in very honest, simple delights in art.
And I think we have shared goals. We haven't quite
sort of reached them yet, and I think we're kind
of on our way to something quite special.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
Also, we're open to the idea of UFOs being real,
not just open ope actively. Yeah, that's an interest.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So wait, why don't you guys do something with Tom DeLong?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Then?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
I mean, he's got to call out that I should
get the Kooks and Blank on a tour together.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Sounds like a party.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
To listen.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
We've seen them, we know they're here. He has knowledge.
You're right, we should get tour with them. That would
be exceptional. Can you imagine the late night conversations.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
He might take you to one of those secret meetings
he has with the Pentagon. You never know. Please take
all right now, you.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Told us you like shoes and your philosophy and everything. Now,
what do you guys do separately that each other isn't
such a big fan of.
Speaker 4 (03:25):
Hates?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Well, like, I mean, I mean, you love opera, and
you've been trying to well, I don't hate opera, that's
not but you've been trying to something I need to,
I need I don't know, I need to.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
You've been trying to get me into it. Well, I've
written an operas. I'm trying to get your support around it.
But yeah, it's for some people bombastic and toe curling,
but for others cleansing and.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Enlightening. So it just depends.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Really, So we're probably not gonna have a Koops opera
album anytime.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Then it's already been written.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Actually very well might yeah all.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
That, Yeah, Broadway, what's the what's the secret for you
guys staying together for twenty years as a band.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Well, if there was a secret, I think I.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Think you know, like you said, we have shared beliefs
and goals, and I think the minute we don't love
playing music together, it kind of ends. I think every
time we get in the studio, every time we get
in the rehearsal rom there's an excitement, there's chemistry. It's
it's it's brilliant, and I think there's a yin and
yang thing going on. That's that's what chemistry is about,
(04:40):
and I think that's what's kept it going. But you know,
just not to say there's been ups and downs and
all that kind of stuff, but it's I think just
like loyalty respect. I think we just we normally respect
each other, and that's just like that won't go away.
And I think bands fall out over the most ridiculous things.
I think bands are a bit like famously, people in
(05:03):
bands are slightly juvenile and didn't quite grow up properly.
I think we've managed to sort of civilize ourselves out
of adolescents quite sufficiently.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Oh and good hid good hygienes, essential good hygienes.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Gotta smell nice, YEA. Make sure you brush your teeth
a couple of times a day. You want to be
minty fresh all the time. Last thing before we get
some more music, Luke, you're dad. Now you've got a
couple of little ones. If you guys didn't know he's.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
A father, I'm the latest father in the cooks.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Yes, and we just heard Sonny baby. Obviously that's influenced
from your kids. How's dad life changed you?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Now?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Yeah, I mean it's the best thing ever. I mean,
it's unbelievable. Obviously it's changed with the music. I find
it quite freeing. I think having kids is like it's
the great ego destroyer, which is kind of.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Sure the battle, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
So that's kind of in some ways, a lot of
the battle of a human being is to try and
do that. I think kids it helps because yeah, you're
you're not You're not even second or third.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
You're like, you're like the fourth.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You were the last concern.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, And I think that that's quite healthy and cool,
and and I just yeah, I mean making the record
was really interesting, having the kids running around and pressing
the space bar on the computer when they shouldn't and
all that stuff. But it meant had to be much quicker,
and and I just it's the joy you get seeing
them bop along to the tunes is exceptional.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
So it's the best thing in the world. And I
missed them. I missed them.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Thanks for checking out the interview with the Kooks. Make
sure you subscribe so you can hear all of my
interviews plus the Mike Jones, Mencan, and everything else going
on with the podcast. Just search for It's Mike Jones
on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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