Odd man out: Clearly the rebel of the group, Grubin opts to not wear shades

Hockey is for posh people here – is it the same in the US?

No, it’s more regional. It’s big in certain pockets of the States, up in those northern, midwestern states. I played floor hockey in gym class.

Are you loaded or just aspiring to be?

I’d say I was aspiring, but I’m getting room and board and travel paid for, so I’m happy.

What’s the worst thing anyone’s written about your band?

Ha ha. Let’s see. There’s been some pretty complicated put-downs to be honest. They say that we’re trying to be MGMT. I wear a bandana sometimes on stage and that makes us the same, apparently.

Is that more of a sweat issue than a ­fashion choice?

Yeah, and it keeps your hair in place when you’re moving around.

And the best?

That we’re the future of music. It’s not good to be insulted or praised too much.

Your growly voice is impressive – did you experiment to find it?

Yeah, definitely. I was not a born singer and have been constantly changing. It was a self-taught vocal journey. I was wretched in high school. I did more rapping because I grew up in New York and that’s what you did.

You live in Portland, Oregon. Has that had an effect on your music?

Not really. New York has left a bigger impression. Whether it’s just a drum machine or synth sound, I like that, that’s what I grew up with and understand, it’s part of my vocabulary that makes sense. But that’s just the production side. The song-writing part is almost anti-New York, because we have a sincerity that my friends wouldn’t applaud.

Hockey, the sport, can get violent. Does Hockey, the band?

No, not really. One of the guys lunged at me once, like he was going to punch me, but he didn’t want me to start the show, because he wasn’t ready, but we’ve never fought.

Any minor squabbles?

None really. Tony [Stassi] tries goofy stuff like strangling me, ’cos I hate it when people grab my neck. I’m really ticklish I guess.

Have you done anything on stage that you later regretted?

Someone threw a cup at me and I put up the middle finger, but maybe they didn’t mean to insult me and were just throwing a cup.

How polite of you to feel guilt...

We were opening for Friendly Fires. There were still cups getting thrown when they came on, so it seems like that’s just what people do to show their appreciation, you know – throw some trash.

Hockey’s single Song Away is released today. Their debut album Mind Chaos is released 28 September