Pop Quiz: Zero 7

Pop Quiz: Zero 7

Aidin Vaziri | Sam Hardaker and Henry Binns met as tea boys in London recording studios in the late '80s, fetching Earl Grey and croissants for the Pet Shop Boys and Fine Young Cannibals, among others. But it didn't take them long to start making music of their own as Zero 7, coming up with 2001's Mercury Prize-nominated downtempo classic "Simple Things." On its third and latest album, "The Garden," the British duo takes a soulful turn thanks to a little inspiration from some '70s easy-listening icons and guest vocalists such as Jose Gonzalez. Zero 7 plays sold-out shows Tuesday and Wednesday at the Fillmore. But will Hardaker and Binns like the posters? We spoke with Hardaker by phone from Somerset.


Sam Hardaker of Zero 7
Q: You're coming back to San Francisco even though you hated your Fillmore poster?
A: It's so funny you say that because I was just thinking about that. It went so wrong.
Q: Tell me what happened.
A: Tell you what happened? How do you know we were unhappy anyway?
Q: Never mind that. Just start from the beginning.
A: Well, you show up at the Fillmore and expect some acid emblazed glorious callback to the '60s and then you get a lime green, cocaine-fueled '80s graphic design poster.
Q: That's not what you were going for with your first album?
A: No. We wanted the acid glory! We got the designer that had been up all night doing coke.
Q: Wait, you didn't make that record for hair salons and Asian fusion restaurants?
A: No. Which album are you talking about? One of them we did.
Q: Which one?
A: You'll have to work it out for yourself.