by LORRAINE CARPENTER

“I’d rather you didn’t throw anything at me. Really.”

Art Brut singer Eddie Argos has been on the receiving end of a famous punch (courtesy of labelmate Kele Okereke, Bloc Party), but did you know that the French routinely bombard him with dirty socks? The ritual took root after one fan instigated a sock-swap during a televised concert in 2004, but Argos isn’t encouraging such unseemly behaviour in the old colonies. He wouldn’t mind if the Quebecois embraced Art Brut the way Europeans have, however, language barrier and all.

“Our songs are quite obviously about what they’re about,” says Argos. “Everyone has little brothers and ex-girlfriends and trouble with sex, so I think it translates everywhere, really.”

Argos, guitarists Ian Catskilkin and Jasper Future, bassist Freddy Feedback and drummer Mikey B may have played their first major gig in Sweden, but they make a distinctly British noise. Amid the music press frenzy at home, where they’ve been lumped into a movement called “art wave,” Art Brut’s brand of strutting punk is frequently compared to the Fall, though Argos attributes this to his “copying Jonathan Richman really badly.” The singer is admittedly obsessed with following in the footsteps of his idols, straight to the top of the charts, and to Top of the Pops, the half-hour TV show that has been a staple in British homes since 1964. But even in this most British arena, Art Brut felt Europe’s love first.

“I did it in Germany, and that still counts. I’m going for the set now: I wanna get France, Luxembourg, England. You don’t have [Top of the Pops] here, do you? That’s terrible.”

Despite fears that Art Brut’s late ’70s sound and cheeky lyrics wouldn’t work in North America, let alone non-English-speaking countries, the quintet have bested their Britpop predecessors by following through with plans for world domination, in the form of Art Brut franchises.

“I quite liked the [band] name, and I felt bad that I’d taken it, so I thought I’d share it with everybody,” says Argos, who encouraged fans to launch their own Art Bruts in the spirit of “Formed a Band,” the lead song on their debut album, Bang Bang Rock & Roll.

“There’s loads of them now. There’s an Israeli Art Brut, there’s one in West Virginia that play our songs in a country style, there’s a few Canadian ones, there’s one in France.”

There are 19 franchises registered on the band’s Web site (and many more under the radar, according to Argos), most of which make original music as well as pay tribute to their namesake. Art Brut 3, aka the Space Peacocks, won last year’s Battle of the Franchises.

“They’re very good, very glam, I quite liked it. They’ve got a song called ‘Modern Art Makes You Wanna Form a Band’ where they sing ‘Formed a Band’ over the tune of ‘Modern Art,’ but they wouldn’t do it while I was there ’cause they were embarrassed.”

Though Argos finds the franchise boom somewhat worrying (“I’ve lost all control—they’re making their own CD”), he can’t help but feel flattered.

“It’s nice to meet them and say hello to them at gigs, and they give me CDs. It’s good. It’s like a big family, and I’m the proud father.”

With Pony Up at la Sala Rossa on Sunday, April 2, 9 p.m., $15

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