Ben Kweller ate lunch with Madonna … and lived to tell about it.

He’s also playing NIU’s Duke Ellington Ballroom (with Troubled Hubble and Adam Green) at 7 p.m. today; this is a concert hosted by the Campus Activities Board. The Northern Star spoke with Kweller last Friday about playing music, the thrills of hearing your own music on the radio and, of course, lunching with the Material Girl herself.

NS: “Wasted and Ready” blew up the airwaves. Explain the feeling of hearing your song on the radio for the first time.

BK: We were driving in Detroit, and that was the first time hearing it on the radio. It totally blew our minds.

NS: What’s the song about?

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BK: It’s from this movie called “The Doom Generation.” It’s a f—–up indie film. There’s this one scene where this girl is in bed and she’s like, “Sex reminds me of eating spaghetti.”

NS: You are signed by According To Our Records, an independent label formed in early 2000 by Dave Matthew’s manager Coran Capshaw and business associates Michael McDonald and Chris Tetzeli. How and when did this occur?

BK: Well, basically, I was on tour with Evan Dando and The Lemonheads. After a show in New York, Michael McDonald came up to me and told me about this label he had. They just put out David Gray. It sounded like the perfect home for me.

NS: What’s in your CD player right now?

BK: I’ve been listening to Adam Green, the Shaggs and Bob Dylan’s “National Skyline.”

NS: While breezing through the Rolling Stone archives, they said that when you were with your former band, Radish, you ate lunch with Madonna. How was that?

BK: It was, like, pretty surreal. We showed up and had chips. Maverick Records wanted to sign us; that’s how it all came about. Her manager called us.

NS: Are you planning on following 2002’s “Sha Sha?” When?

BK: I’m planning on getting into the studio in June. Probably, put out the next album in like fall 2003.

NS: I notice a strong similarity with your music and that of Ben Folds and a Blue-Album Weezer. Would you credit these bands with influencing you? If not, who would you?

BK: I would definitely not credit Ben Folds, but I admire him. Carole King is definitely an influence. So are The Violent Femmes, The Velvet Underground, Pavement, Nirvana and Neil Young.

NS: Go over a typical day on the road, please.

BK: Wake up. Hang out for a little bit. Go to sound check. Eat dinner. Do some interviews. Play the show. Do an interview. Go to sleep. Wake up in a new city.

NS: Why should people come see you perform?

BK: Maybe they’ll like my music. It’s always nice to find new albums that you like. If you like catchy songs and a fun time, you should see my show.