The Rapture formed in San Francisco, but moved to New York in 1999, teaming up with producer James Murphy for their post-punk debut, Echoes. The band's new record, Pieces of the People We Love, was produced by Ewan Pearson (Depeche Mode, Gwen Stefani) and Danger Mouse, among others. You might think this disco-funk quartet lives as hard as they play. But after a night out with Luke Jenner (vocals, guitar), Mattie Safer (vocals, bass, keyboard), Vito Roccoforte (drums), and Gabe Andruzzi (sax, keyboards, percussion), we're not so sure.

5:10 P.M.
We meet up at the Rapture's practice space on New York's Lower East Side. "It used to be an old Yiddish theater," Vito explains of the stunningly tall ceilings. The small studio downstairs is crammed full of instruments, amps, and a pair of massive JBL speakers. A Bruce Springsteen LP, The Rising, is propped against a wall. The sole sign of rock-star behavior is three Bud Lite caps on the floor. It all feels a bit Wayne's World, with post-punk hipsters instead of metalheads. A pale Mattie has the stomach flu, so he leaves right after the photographer snaps a few performance shots. Then we're off to a crazy night of...

5:23 P.M.
Back rubs! And Ping-Pong! "We're into the leisure sports," Gabe says.  He's also stoked about the band's new in-house label, Throne of Blood.  "People think the name is really violent, but it's actually just the name of a Prince Jammy song," he says.

5:35 P.M.
It's a 20-minute stroll across town. All wear adidas, except for Gabe, a Nike fetishist. His fashion sense is egged on by his girlfriend, who runs the Vena Cava label. In Chinatown, we pass by sidewalk vendors with buckets of live crabs and lobsters, all broiling to death in the late afternoon sun. The stench is overwhelming. Gabe crinkles his nose. "This was a really good idea," he jokes.

6:30 P.M.
After soothing Tui Na back rubs, we sit down at Joe's Ginger restaurant. Sprite is the hardest drink anyone orders. What's the deal? Are these guys Mormons or rock stars?

6:35 P.M.
"Let's order dim sum!" says Vito, who then instructs everyone on how to eat broth-filled soup dumplings without scalding the tongue. Heaping platters of shrimp and chicken follow.

7:42 P.M.
As the sky darkens, we hustle over to the New York Table Tennis Foundation. Vito warns, "This place is no joke." He's on point-it's full of Ping-Pong aces battling under fluorescent lights. It's silent except for the ping of balls. Two men practice their swing with small weights. Luke, quiet until now, turns into a lethal killing machine on the minicourt, creaming everyone else in the band.

8:45 P.M.
There's talk of ice cream, but the band is tuckered out. Gabe looks at his watch. "I'm gonna go home and watch Seinfeld and Everybody Hates Chris," he says. Rock on! . Home » CELEBRITIES » Cruisin' with... » Cruisin' with... The Rapture