Pop Quiz: Keane

Pop Quiz: Keane

Aidin Vaziri | When Billy Joel tries to rock out on the piano he looks like a drunken cab driver. But in the hands of British trio Keane, the dodgy old instrument sounds like Coldplay and old U2 rolled into a big ball of, um, something that is really awesome and round. Keane's debut album, "Hopes and Fears," released earlier this year, has already netted a hit with the gale- force pop of "Somewhere Only We Know." We spoke with songwriter and pianist Tim Rice-Oxley.



Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane
Q: The last time I saw you guys, it looked like your singer was doing karaoke because you were hunched over the piano the whole time.
A: We've had that problem at smaller venues. But as we get bigger, the stages get slightly higher and we become more visible.
Q: What you need is one of those Kool & the Gang keyboards that you hold like a guitar.
A: I've thought about it, all Herbie Hancock style. There's something a bit too ironic about those.
Q: Well, you're doing just as much work as anybody else. Why not get your share of the attention?
A: Exactly. I certainly do a bit of jumping around onstage. Maybe the Kool & the Gang vibe is the way forward.