Art Brut Take Their Turn Shilling For T-Mobile

In case you missed it: T-Mobile ran the next in its line of hipster-friendly adverts during last night's Grammy telecast (the first coming during the American Music Awards, so, yay symmetry). Non indie-focused friends in the room during last night's Grammys were particularly intrigued by the ad: "Am I supposed to know who that British guy is?" After we took pride in breaking off some knowledge ("he's a funny guy who speak-sings for a British punk ba..."), said friend's point was taken. Is anyone expected to know who "that British guy" is? Or an even better question: Does T-Mobile think the demo that would recognize Eddie Argos (or Kevin Barnes) is best reached during Sunday night award shows? Anyway, fun fact -- that's the downstairs at Irving Plaza in that commercial. Oh, no, we mean the Fillmore @ Irving Plaza. Sort of appropriate corporately-taken-over-theme, then. Even if Kevin does think all this isn't really happening.

Commercial after the jump, starring the same Zach Condon-y looking kid from last time as the comic foil.

Posted at 9:44 AM in Commercial Appeal, Video
Tags: Art Brut

8 Comments

I... don't understand that commercial at all.

Posted by: Chris at 02/11/08 11:08 AM  | Reply
Score = 0

Terrible waste of Eddie's talents. Makes no sense on any level. Better advert:

Billy Magnum: "I feel like I'm looking in a mirror."
Eddie: "Perhaps that's because you are a retard."

Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at 02/11/08 1:15 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

I DO know who Eddie Argos is and the commercial is still baffling.

Posted by: g at 02/11/08 1:15 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

I'm so glad I don't watch television. Eddie is a fine singer with a unique voice and he's fun to watch perform live, but you wouldn't know any of that from this commercial.

Posted by: dr.randy at 02/11/08 1:38 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

what a shame that such a funny band gets stuck in a commercial that makes them look boring to a wide audience

Posted by: will at 02/11/08 1:52 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

I love Art Brut but I hate T-Mobile.

Posted by: Jeff at 02/11/08 3:31 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

"Does T-Mobile think the demo that would recognize Eddie Argos (or Kevin Barnes) is best reached during Sunday night award shows?"

No, they think the demo that would recognize Eddie Argos will read about (and watch) the commercial on Stereogum. Free advertising!

Posted by: matt at 02/11/08 3:38 PM  | Reply
Score = 0

Eddie and all: Your friends in Chicago LOVED it-even if it made no sense! Wasn't that the whole point! Hope to see ya'll soon!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Jen Chicago at 02/11/08 11:32 PM  | Reply
Score = 0