PRESTON - charming, loquacious frontman of ska-revivalists The Ordinary Boys - is walking through his hometown Brighton, being pelted by rain. Hell hath no fury like a man scorned by his umbrella.

"It kept blowing inside out and I was really frustrated," he says. "I went to smash it against the floor, but it did a Mary Poppins and filled with air, so it kind of floated down in slow-motion, and I looked stupid."

But that's not the end of his weather-related horror, dear reader. "I tried to kick it and completely missed it and fell on my backside. So that's set my day off really."

The 23-year-old was christened Sam Preston, but prefers to be known only by his surname. Named after a Morrissey song from Viva Hate, The Ordinary Boys are the latest in the lineage of British disillusioned-pop; with Preston keen to offload his opinions on modern day life on to record like a lizard sloughing off its skin.

"I'm writing about having a real lack of money at the moment," Preston considers. "I quite like the idea of the same themes running through each Ordinary Boys album, and as we mature and understand each issue better, the angle will be slightly different."

"It's not like we're going to end up drinking in Camden with Razorlight or dating models."

Culture

Crowbarring their way into the UK music just over a year ago, they've released two albums, with first LP (Over The Counter Culture) topping the charts in Japan, keeping somnolent Keane off the No1 slot. Their latest baby - Brassbound - is the latest feather in the cap for the Boys; a quartet splattered in praise by Mozza himself, who invited them to perform at his Meltdown Festival.

"My brother bought me a box of singles for my 12th birthday," recalls Preston mistily. "And I remember I got really, really into Morrissey. But almost in a tongue-in-cheek way. Then you forget whether you're even being sarcastic or not any more."

He'd fallen - hard - and become a Friend Of Morrissey.

"Although I consider myself to be a huge Morrissey fan, up until my late teens I had no idea The Smiths even existed. Now I consider his solo records - probably for nostalgic reasons - to be better than The Smiths ones."

He's a witch I say, burn him!

"It's very controversial, I know. I get into HUGE shouting arguments down the pub with people."

WERE you a Morrissey Fundamentalist - did you ever experiment with (gulp) vegetarianism? "I never obsessed that much over it," says Preston. "I loved the records, but I've never been that personal. It's like when I used to be really into American hardcore bands when I was younger, like Black Flag and Minor Threat and Bad Brains. I found it weird.

"Are you straight edge and do you abstain because you love hardcore or do you like hardcore because you're straight edge?"

And now time for a planetpop intermission:

Call My Bluff fans take note! Straight edge is what hardcore fans who refuse to drink, smoke or use drugs call themselves.

Normal service is now resumed:

"Do Goths like goth music because they're depressed and cut themselves or do people cut themselves because they like goth music and want to try and live as their music would suggest they should", continues Preston.

Genius

"It's the same with Morrissey. He's a genius and people do the silly Morrisseyisms and quiffs and flowers-in-pockets and turn it into something ridiculous. I think it's better to hope the music will fit into your lifestyle rather than having to change your lifestyle to fit into the music."

It's an egalitarian come-as-you-are belief Preston holds dear. The Ordinary Boys have a rabid fan base calling themselves The Ordinary Army. "They don't dress to fit into the Ordinary Boys ethos. We're not going to be like a fancy-dress band. What I wear as soon as I wake up and throw my clothes on, that's what I'm going to wear onstage as well."

Honestly! You can practically hear The Killers' Brandon Flowers throwing his hands in the air and ranting: "People are so quick to blame binge drinking, but it's casual wear that's ruining this society!" Have you ever thought of applying some kohl or donning a fetching, pink leather jacket. Preston?

"I think people would be taken slightly too aback," he laughs. "They'd turn their backs on me! But I do have a pink guitar these days. Bubblegum pink it is, which I've had a few comments about."

It's the beginning of the end for the Fred Perry pin-up (he'll steal your heart and your video recorder)...

"Exactly!" he laughs. "Now I feel comfortable with a pink guitar, they'll be no stopping me. It'll be a purple cummerbund next. And sparkly legwarmers."

The Ordinary Boys' next single, Life Will Be The Death Of Me, is released on Monday, August 29. The group play Academy 1 on Friday, October 14. £12.50. Tickets are priced 0161 832 1111. Tweet