I Got A Lot (New New New) – Mika Miko
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Los Angeles, the land of the superficial: pool-side porno, skateboarding dogs, pruned and lifted old ladies, all-ages shows, vegan snacks and, of course, The Smell. The Smell is LA’s all-ages hipster community centre (but you’re a trendy Platform reader, you already knew that, right?) and has spent the past few years in the music press’ marsupial pouch, and fresh off The Smell’s vegan-punk production line of dreams™ are Mika Miko. With all that sweaty aggression that boils over from supping booze in the LA heat, these four girls and one boy give nods to X-Ray Spex and the rich history of SoCal Hardcore. We’d have loved to meet them on Venice Beach, but the Platform budget only stretched to getting drunk behind the gravestones in a Camden park.
Now if we’re getting sick of reading about The Smell, we’re sure Mika Miko are puking purple every time they get asked about it. With this in mind, our first question is this: “Has the The Smell changed a great deal since it made the transition from niche music blogs to the pages of newspapers worldwide?
“Well now a shit load of people get turned away. Only half the crowd go crazy for the shows. Everyone else is at the back to observe the supposed phenomenon they’ve read about it in the papers.” Jennifer explains speedily, mimicking her onstage yelping.
With Europe’s strong history of squat culture and messy impromptu parties we wondered if the band might have wrangled free from their current tour with Black Lips bring some of The Smell’s underground values to the UK. There’s some hesitance over whether they can confess to playing shows not on the official tour itinerary ‘I Jennifer replies cautiously. “I guess now it’s already happened so we can say, I mean they already got pissed at us for it. Yeah, we played a great place in Nottingham a really fun DIY show that our friends put on at the Chameleon.”
There’s fatigue that hangs heavy over the last date of the tour. Not only have they been playing their scheduled Black Lips support slots but they’ve been sneaking in some DIY shows for their underground buddies (they won’t go into too many details “I’m sure legality doesn’t come in to it, but possibly booking agents bucks do.”) Despite being worn out from nights of double-gigging, Mika Miko are jolted from their slumber as conversation turns to the new British bands they’ve discovered on their trip. “Oh man The Hipshakes are rad!” says Bass player Jessie. The rest of the band in agreement before a barrage of names are yelled. “I didn’t know about Lovvers before I came here too, they are sweet guys.” Seth the drummer, and token bloke, perks up. “Man, I really wanted to get to see Graffiti Island and Black Time” followed by a chorus of, “Yep yep yep” from the sisterhood.
Platform tries to stick the knife in a bit – surely being on the road with each other is bound to bring up a little hatred. Who for instance is the tour-bus music Nazi who can’t keep their hands off the ipod. Come on Michelle, dish the dirt: “We don’t really have that guy, although I just have one request and that is to not play FUCKING Joanna Newsom. I’m not trying to be down on you guys and there is probably stuff that you think sucks of mine, but I just can’t get it.”
Still cracking her knuckles, Michelle pipes up again “I fucking hate music right now. I think it would be cool to operate before the whole Internet craze, so for me, right before the Internet appeared.”
Seth is not so sure about that. Without the Internet we’d be without the cultural behemoth guesshermuff.blogspot.com “Oh man I went through every picture on there one day. My favourite one is like a normal mum and then in the muff shot she’s chained up in the kitchen” Seth says excitedly before a horrified expression on Jennifer face turns into a list of her recommendations for tasteful websites to pass the time with This Is Why Your Fat and Gash or Tash being among the faves.
WORDS: JAKE McGOWAN
PHOTOS: LEWIS CHAPLIN
