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The Mexicolas:
Shaking things up
the middle land..
Shaking things up
the middle land..
Jamie, Tim and Del happily sip on pints at The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town just before their headline gig. Their ruffled hair,
vintage leather jackets and faded jeans look is fitting with the general ambience of the place – floral wallpaper, kids from the
street chain smoking and carrying pints in their pre-beer belly guts anticipating the bands that are about to entertain them.
Well, hopefully…
A quick chat with the The Mexicolas before their performance is certainly an enlightening one. They are a fun, humorous
troupe; drummer Tim is sharp-witted and sarcastic, lead singer Jamie exquisitely mimics a range of foreign accents while
pulling random faces and laughing a lot, whilst new bassist Del is the quiet one of the group who gets excited when talking
about football and of course, erm, music. Del has only been in the band for a few weeks but seems to be settling in very well.
“These things are just instant,” Jamie says. “We had a 6 hour jam the day he joined and things clicked and went so well. It
was great! We’re already trying out new songs and new material. There’s a good feeling...” He then turns away from Del and
loudly whispers, “oh, but of course he’s on trial tonight…don’t drink too much, Del and if you’re shite, you’re out!”
The band are signed to independent label, In Exile Records and seem to be zooming up the road to Somewhere, very fast.
They have been number one on the Overplay Unsigned charts for over 9 weeks, have recently done a session for Kerrang
radio had a song used by O’Neill Sports and are currently being filmed for Channel 4’s ‘4Play’ series. It’s good to hear that
some independently signed bands are taken seriously and given the opportunity to experience such offers at such an early
stage. The band are thankful and rich with future anticipation. “We’ve worked so hard till now and want to carry on and work
harder and harder,” drummer Tim says. “We’re devoting our lives because this is our lives right now and beyond.” Jamie
agrees. “Everyone has to make sacrifices whatever they do and ours have mostly been not seeing much of family and
friends. But I come from a travelling/gypsy background and have been in bands since I was 18 (he’s now 26). This is what I
know and what I’m used to. I’ll always want to write music and play live. That’s the best! You have to see us play!” Having
heard their demo, it certainly sounded polished and well produced. However I wasn’t all too sure how this precise sound
could be recreated live. However it is the sheer determinism and professionalism of the band that allows them to do it.
vintage leather jackets and faded jeans look is fitting with the general ambience of the place – floral wallpaper, kids from the
street chain smoking and carrying pints in their pre-beer belly guts anticipating the bands that are about to entertain them.
Well, hopefully…
A quick chat with the The Mexicolas before their performance is certainly an enlightening one. They are a fun, humorous
troupe; drummer Tim is sharp-witted and sarcastic, lead singer Jamie exquisitely mimics a range of foreign accents while
pulling random faces and laughing a lot, whilst new bassist Del is the quiet one of the group who gets excited when talking
about football and of course, erm, music. Del has only been in the band for a few weeks but seems to be settling in very well.
“These things are just instant,” Jamie says. “We had a 6 hour jam the day he joined and things clicked and went so well. It
was great! We’re already trying out new songs and new material. There’s a good feeling...” He then turns away from Del and
loudly whispers, “oh, but of course he’s on trial tonight…don’t drink too much, Del and if you’re shite, you’re out!”
The band are signed to independent label, In Exile Records and seem to be zooming up the road to Somewhere, very fast.
They have been number one on the Overplay Unsigned charts for over 9 weeks, have recently done a session for Kerrang
radio had a song used by O’Neill Sports and are currently being filmed for Channel 4’s ‘4Play’ series. It’s good to hear that
some independently signed bands are taken seriously and given the opportunity to experience such offers at such an early
stage. The band are thankful and rich with future anticipation. “We’ve worked so hard till now and want to carry on and work
harder and harder,” drummer Tim says. “We’re devoting our lives because this is our lives right now and beyond.” Jamie
agrees. “Everyone has to make sacrifices whatever they do and ours have mostly been not seeing much of family and
friends. But I come from a travelling/gypsy background and have been in bands since I was 18 (he’s now 26). This is what I
know and what I’m used to. I’ll always want to write music and play live. That’s the best! You have to see us play!” Having
heard their demo, it certainly sounded polished and well produced. However I wasn’t all too sure how this precise sound
could be recreated live. However it is the sheer determinism and professionalism of the band that allows them to do it.
Within a matter of taking the stage, The Mexicolas had all the men in the room enviously wishing they could play guitar
and sing like Jamie and all the girls in the room wishing they could be with Jamie. Yet contrary to some views on this band
that Jamie carries the band on his shoulders, credit is certainly due to the other members. Drummer Tim is a wizard,
pounding drummer and provides superb raucous vocal harmonies. It also seemed like no one in the audience could even
believe that it was bassist Del’s first gig. From the power chords of songs like 'Easy Smile' to the electro-acoustic new
song, 'Wings', the show felt complete, rounded and passionate. Good on ya, boys!
The power, sound levels and style of the band is definitely more transatlantic than most of the bands on the current UK
scene and the band are proud of this. “We listen to bands like QOTSA, Smashing Pumpkins and Chili Peppers. If those are
our influences we’re definitely going to sound heavier. But immediately people type-cast you in Britain. We’re not trying to
be a US band but we like US music,” a frustrated Jamie says. Good point but luckily for the boys, so far both sides of the
Atlantic have warmed to their power sound. With an album and documentary out shortly, give the boys a listen and make
sure you catch them live: www.themexicolas.com and www.myspace.com/mexicolas.com.
Thanks to the boys and to Steve Skelding.
Live photos and interview by Dee Sekar.
and sing like Jamie and all the girls in the room wishing they could be with Jamie. Yet contrary to some views on this band
that Jamie carries the band on his shoulders, credit is certainly due to the other members. Drummer Tim is a wizard,
pounding drummer and provides superb raucous vocal harmonies. It also seemed like no one in the audience could even
believe that it was bassist Del’s first gig. From the power chords of songs like 'Easy Smile' to the electro-acoustic new
song, 'Wings', the show felt complete, rounded and passionate. Good on ya, boys!
The power, sound levels and style of the band is definitely more transatlantic than most of the bands on the current UK
scene and the band are proud of this. “We listen to bands like QOTSA, Smashing Pumpkins and Chili Peppers. If those are
our influences we’re definitely going to sound heavier. But immediately people type-cast you in Britain. We’re not trying to
be a US band but we like US music,” a frustrated Jamie says. Good point but luckily for the boys, so far both sides of the
Atlantic have warmed to their power sound. With an album and documentary out shortly, give the boys a listen and make
sure you catch them live: www.themexicolas.com and www.myspace.com/mexicolas.com.
Thanks to the boys and to Steve Skelding.
Live photos and interview by Dee Sekar.
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