It’s been a been a good year for the Danish band Mew. In 2009 alone, they released their latest record, No More Stories…, to great acclaim, played this summer’s Pitchfork Festival and received a personal invitation from Trent Reznor to open a few dates on the Nine Inch Nails farewell tour. The band started their latest U.S. tour last night in Philly and will take the stage tonight at DAR Constitution Hall opening for the Pixies. We recently caught up with lead singer Jonas Bjerre to talk about recording in America, playing to other band’s audiences, and more.

Why did you decide to record No More Stories… in Brooklyn?

We definitely wanted a change in scenery. Unfortunately a lot of the big studios in Copenhagen are closing down because people tend to record things themselves in smaller studios. We had actually worked with (producer) Rich (Costey) in Copenhagen but he wasn’t completely happy with the surroundings. He liked Copenhagen a lot but the studios were a little dilapidated. But he worked in this recording studio in Brooklyn and he really liked that. And then later on we returned and he had his own place in Manhattan at Electric Lady Studios.

You worked with Rich on Frengers. What led you to work with him again?

I think in particular because the last record was very dark and cold sounding. That was what we wanted to do at the time but we didn’t want to repeat ourselves. I think we all felt like adding some warmth and color into it by using a lot of percussive instruments and we just thought that Rich would be great at that. He is great at recording stuff to get a really tight and pressing sound and at the same time he is this sort of mad professor type of guy, he is good at keeping the project moving.

You guys did a few dates in the U.S. earlier this year with Nine Inch Nails, what was that like?

Great! I was a little bit scared at first because his fans are really into hard stuff and we really aren’t that hard as Nine Inch Nails, but they were actually really attentive and received us very well. It was a great tour. It was an honor to be a part of that tour because it was Trent Reznor’s farewell tour.

But you guys have had experience opening for bands that big in the past. You’ve opened for R.E.M. in Europe. Do you change up your show at all when you are playing to another band’s audience?

I guess we don’t talk as much on stage because people are there to see the main act and not the support act. And they are definitely not there to listen to the support act chat away. So usually we just go on there and play our songs and introduce ourselves and do the best we can to win people over. And I think we always succeed in winning some people over and that’s what it’s all about I guess.