How We Are Scientists saw Reading and Leeds

Drum pounder Michael Tapper and doctor-in-training Kate Baicy get the full magazine-spread treatment: a big wind fan, copious artificial light, tens of thousands of pounds in designer clothing. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Drum whacker Michael Tapper rearranges the drinks in the fridge by how much he wants them. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Stylist Millie Van Der Sheer and our new fourth man Max Hart, of Davis, California, argue violently differing philosophies of sleeve rolling. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Edith Bowman stops by to wish us luck, and bassist Chris Cain takes the op to secure a new photo for his fictional serial killer's MySpace page. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

How's this for a hilarious bastardization of our name: 'We Scientists'. So, not 'We Are Scientists' but 'We Scientists'. Kinda funny. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

How's this for a hilarious bastardization of nature: a dick made of banana. So, a dick, but it's just a banana. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Chris N proudly displays the drum kit, every surface of which has been brought to a gleaming finish through peeing on it. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Keith warms up his guitar fury by watching Biffy Clyro immediately before our set. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Michael and Kate warm up their mind fury. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Chris Newmyer issues a challenge just before we go on: 'Play a perfect set, and I will only break you in one place.' Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists

Michael warms up his hand fury on a now-famous paper cup. Photograph: We Are Scientists/We Are Scientists