Interview - Mexicolas

The opening to this is completely true. I stood outside the gig venue and phoned the tour manager about the interview which the PR had organised, only to find the PR hadn't really done a lot of organising. Either that or someone hadn't read their emails saying I was turning up. Whatever, it reminded me of the times I used to go street teaming where you were told to arrive stupidly early and the band would take pity on you and ensure you got some of their dinner, which was usually pasta or ratatouille; something tomato-based which didn't involve too much cooking. And their crew guy really did sound like Zippy. Their tour manager, the lovely Steve, told me to tell everyone how nice they were for looking after me instead of sending me away. So there you are. Mexicolas - hard working, and generous with food. A great mix.

Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in July 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd

MEXICOLAS

Surprise! Something went a little awry in the organising of this interview. Mexicolas had no idea I was turning up until I was stood outside Southampton Joiners. Instead of hiding under the tables and pretending to be out, like any normal band would, they’ve invited me in to eat their food and listen to crew members impersonating Zippy from Rainbow. Then it's time to duck down the steep stairs, past the graffitied walls and into the cosy backstage/underfloor area.

The Mexicolas are sitting in front of me on possibly the lowest sofa in the world. I tried to sit on it and fell halfway to oblivion. There’s drummer Tim Trotter on the left, bassist Del Carter in the middle and singer/guitarist Jamie Evans on the right.

“Don’t you think he looks like Nick Knowles?” interrupts Jamie, indicating the bassist to his side. “DIY SOS. But slightly more handsomerer.” Er, slightly different hair.

“Slightly different face,” points out Del. Does that mean at the end of the night you’ll be rearranging furniture, putting a few shelves up? “Oh yeah. It’ll be rearranged…”

Mexicolas play explosive and furious rock and are steadily building up a reputation as a more than decent live act. They’ve been rocking for the past three years or so. Now living and rehearsing in a Birmingham warehouse studio, Tim says they formed in April 2004 with “a dictaphone and acoustic guitar, just a handful of sketchy ideas. And then we gradually got some gear, moved into the studio and Del joined us 18 months ago.”

“What date was it Del?” someone shouts.

“Monday October 24th,” replies the bassist they call Mr Stat Man, or so Jamie informs me. What was the weather like? “Well it was actually pouring it down with rain.”

There’s lots of talking all at once.
“You were wearing that disgusting purple…”
“…sleeping bag coat…”
“We went to the Embassy Club…”
”…and you still pulled!”

“So yeah, we’d written some songs,” continues Tim. “And it was almost like a sort of a project really. We were signed to the label and they just said take your time and do what you wanna do and just sort of find yourselves. We did a few gigs, and then as I say Del joined and that’s when we really sort of became a band, and it’s all sort of history from there really isn’t it?”

As for previous jobs, all three band members have a long list. Mexicolas have been going full time for the last year and a bit. Del gets listing: “Lifeguard, shelfstacker, driver, chauffeur, Penis Puppeteer –“

Ehh-errrr! He’s interrupted by the ‘wrong answer’ game show buzzer which Jamie has nicked out of a crew member’s bag, and everyone falls about.

“Selling t shirts at gigs… Penis Puppeteer…” Ehh-errrr! “Pub toilet cleaner. All sorts really.”

“All glamour,” comments Jamie, then he starts giggling uncontrollably. “Tell her that story when you were working and you shit yourself!” Ehh-errr!

Tim worked in instruments shops and did casual work. “My best one was working in a banana factory. That was really awesome.”
“Measuring the bends.”
“Did you get bitten by spiders?” asks Del with interest.
“No, I didn’t actually.” Did you keep stealing the produce? “No, I didn’t actually.”

“I haven’t worked a day in my life,” says Jamie. “I’m a gypsy warrior.” The others laugh. “I worked in a pizza place making pizzas and burgers, worked on Family Fortunes for a bit - Ehh-errr! – worked in a record shop, but mainly it was just gigging with loads of bands on the pub circuit.” Have you been in lots of bands before? “Yeah. Hundreds. Thousands.” There’s a fake American accent going on. “The road’s been very long! But we got to play on!”

Next question. Ever bought anything on eBay? Ehh-errr!

“I’m sorry, that slipped,” says Jamie, the picture of innocence.

“A lot of drum stuff basically. I buy a lot of stuff actually from the States,” says Tim. “How about you, Del? Del’s a bit of a technophobe, aren’t you?”

“He thinks that when computers are around him, they break down,” explains Jamie. “Woman and computers just crack up around him.”

“No, I’m just old-school. I don’t really have any use for computers much.”

“Well not since the police came and took it off him,” says Jamie. “I bought Stranglers memorabilia off eBay, I bought a guitar, some clothing, a pair of shoes, SpongeBob movie. I bought a Robert Smith from the Cure limited edition print, Stranglers badges.”

“He bought a Robert Smith picture –“

“I just said that.”

“- which was obviously just coloured in by a nine year old in the Eighties,” says Tim.

“Well it was limited, because they were limited by the amount of pens they had," moans Jamie. "I was kind of duped on that. One of a thousand, you know. Bollocks.”

Ever sold anything on eBay? “Can’t be arsed sending it in the post. Sod it. If they want it that bad, they can come and get it, can’t they,” says Jamie. When you’re touring the country you can just drop it off somewhere, surely.

“That’s a good idea!” says Tim.

The band are partway through the Shame Tour. Where have you played so far?

“Mostly up North so far. Manchester, Sheffield, Oldham, London.” So this is your first one Down South proper? “Arrr!” they say, neatly combining pirates and farmers in one syllable. You were here a couple of months ago, happy to be back?

“Yes. I like this dressing room,” says Jamie.

“For me, Southampton Joiners on the last tour was my favourite gig on the tour so yeah, very happy to be back,” says Del.

“What date was that when we played there?” asks Jamie.

“That was 15th March.”

“And what day was that, Del?”

“That was a Thursday,” replies Mr Stat Man.

“I’ll just shut this door, ‘cause the noise is just…” jokes Jamie, trying to drown out the soundchecking by closing a door, the sort which keep rabid dogs back in films. It's a metal grille and couldn't keep anything out. I could probably crawl through the gaps if I had the time and/or inclination.

“We’re really enjoying the tour. Being in a band is just about playing live you know, so it’s nice to just get out and make a lot of noise and win some new fans over,” says Del. Is there anywhere in particular you’re looking forward to playing?

“We’re really looking forward to Bristol ‘cause it’s kind of home to me and Del,” says Tim. “West Country Boys. Cardiff I’m looking forward to as well because I’ve never played Cardiff before in my life.”

“Looking forward to King Tut’s in Glasgow,” says Del in his cheerful, optimistic voice. “Once again that was a good gig, and you always get a good meal as well.” What day is that on? “Friday 27th.”

The Shame Tour is of course promoting their debut single of the same name. 'Shame' was out on July 16th, but I’m informed they didn’t take pictures of themselves stood next to it in HMV because that was just the digital release date. All three actually forgot it was out until they phoned each other.

“For this first single we decided to just keep it like 500 copies limited edition 7” vinyl and download only,” explains Jamie. “The main thing we wanna gain from the first single is touring, picking more fans up, start to get some radio play, which we got – XFM have backed it, and Kerrang! and some spot plays on Radio 1 as well. So it’s kind of like letting people in on the bigger picture.

“We’re a rock band and rock bands don’t do particularly well with singles, so it’s more geared around the album. The album’s out in February, so probably a couple more singles leading into that, a couple more tours, and such,” he says suddenly sparking into life.

What’s the single about? “It’s basically a little verbal bite back at somebody. People who like stirring the shit too much.” There’s a lot of people like that. “Oh there is, everyone knows one. Takes one to know one I suppose.”

“Not necessarily,” begins Tim. “Let’s talk through this…” Everyone laughs again. “This is like a therapy session.”

“['Shame' is] like a bitter bite back at the ones that love to hurt you,” finishes Jamie.

“It’s not a love song, put it that way,” Del pipes up.

“It’s not a love song at all.”

“There will be no love songs.”

“Not this time.”

What was the last CD you bought?

“Scott Matthews,” says Jamie. “What day was that on?”

“Well that was on a Friday,” replies Mr Stat Man.

“But what date?”

“Oh you got me there, I wasn’t really paying attention on that. End of June.”
Their manager points out they played a gig with Scott Matthews before. “Three years ago?” thinks Jamie. “Scott Matthews album, very good. We bought it with two coupons we got from a J20 tasting survey." Nice.

“The last album I bought was Army Of Anyone, which is the guitarist and bass player from Stone Temple Pilots,” says Tim. “A couple of good songs but I’m not really overly impressed. It’s a bit too American rawk whereas STP were just an awesome band.”

“They weren’t American,” points out Jamie.

“I’m still waiting for the new Crowded House and Jason Falkner, who is a brilliant songwriter,” Tim finishes.

Del confesses his mates usually download albums for him. “The last physical one I bought was Easy Star All Stars ‘Radiodread’.”

I ask what the band would like to achieve this year, if they have any goals or hopes. “Somehow, I’d like there to be some kind of filter invented that protects me from the smell these pair emit,” says Del, trapped on the sofa. He thinks of another achievement. “I’d like to still be alive. That’ll be a good one.”

“I’d personally love it if we did at least one gig overseas this year. That would be my goal,” says Tim. Their manager points out they’re playing Wales. “I don’t think that counts!” he says. “The Isle of Wight? That’s overseas.”

“I’d like to get a great support tour with a band and get to play for as many people as we can,” says Jamie. Any in particular? “dEUS? We couldn’t really tour with them, they’re too heavy. Velvet Revolver…”

“Even people like Kings of Leon, they’d be great. They’re quite current,” says Tim.

“I’d love to support Arcade Fire, but it would be a bit of a mismatch,” says Del.

“I mean, you’ve got to be realistic.”

“I’d also like to get divorced and see my kids more,” says Jamie.

“You don’t have to publish that,” says Tim.

“You do. The whole fucking album’s about it, man.” There’s a pause while everyone is caught up in Jamie’s personal gloom, before someone shouts “Next!”

Are Mexicolas playing any festivals this year? “No,” they laugh. OK. That was shorter than expected. Their manager points out they’re playing Cardiff Festival 24. “It’s similar to the Camden Crawl, but it’s based in Cardiff.”

“It’s a bit like Glastonbury or T in the Park, but nowhere near as big at all,” notes Tim in his laidback drawl.

“And it’s not really in a field, it’s in normal venues,” points out Del. “We’ll probably visit all the pubs and then play in the last one.” Is that a good idea? Are you not going to be a little tipsy?

“We’re a very professional outfit, you see,” says Tim. “We don’t do that before we play.”

Festival tips for anyone going to any this year?

“If you see us there, avoid us. Or embrace us,” says Jamie.

“Embrace us, with a warm pint of cider,” says Tim. “And take a pair of welly boots because you might need them for the mud or to piss in.”

Good advice from Mexicolas. At the gig that night, their manager gives me with several thousand badges, a few t shirts and enough postcards to paper the walls of Native Towers. I think it might be a bribe, but I take it all away for, ahem, research purposes. The band are pretty busy over the next few days on the tour - “We’ll be gigging, hopefully meeting some new fans and that. Reaching out, touching faith,” Jamie explains - but they're enthusiastic and looking forward to what lies ahead. Good luck to them.

Mexicolas release 'Shame' through Exile Records from July 16th.

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