Mikko

My first impressions of Mikko (pronounced "Meeko") lead me to understand the hype surrounding their wildfire rise through the London circuit. I meet them on a gorgeous sunny afternoon in the bar/café under London venue "The Spitz" and, after getting a round of drinks in, I begin unravelling the mystery being asked by all of my associates. How have they stayed under the radar for the last 2 years? "The truth is," opens Nick, the lead vocalist, "We've been living and breathing recording and rehearsal studios. It's actually a bit strange being out and about." The aviator sunglasses disguising his eyes seem to confirm this.
The atmosphere in Spitalfields is bustling, but sitting with the band, I feel strangely removed from it all, in a sort of care-free bubble. The band have been recording their initial tracks at Olympic Studios, Barnes, where they have been mingling with artists such as The Kaiser Chiefs & The Cure. "I'm a big Eagles fan," continues the band's guitarist, Mole, "and recording in the same studios that they did 'On the Border' must've been subliminally inspiring, as we wrote some of our best material in those studios." Future potential Mikko releases, Very Nasty Time and One of These Days, certainly seem to support this statement.
"So what's the band about?" I ask, rather obnoxiously. "Is it too cliché to say we want to do something different?" ventures Mole (at which Ben, the young keyboardist, smiles, seemingly aware of how cliché it is), "Because we're just playing music that we enjoy. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but fuck it..."
"I think what he's trying to say," interrupts Ben, "is that when people turn on the radio these days, whether its Radio One or XFM, there's nothing to make them prick up their ears - there hasn't been much of a shift in popular music culture since The Strokes."
Whether or not the world is ready to move on from the current indie rock era does not appear to be of any concern to the band. With only a handful of gigs under their belt, the positive response they're recieving from unsuspecting crowds suggests that they are right to stay true to what they are doing.
I turn my attention to the band's bassist, Jones, as he tucks and rolls his third ciggy of the afternoon. A series of bizarre coincidences and mutual friendships led him to the band from his roots in south Devon. I probe him to reveal some gossip. "Nothing to go on record I'm afraid, mate." he proclaims, opaquely. "Needless to say our week down in Devon last Easter was mainly spent just getting.... wuzzered." A reprehending glance over to Nick accompanies a cheeky smile.
Along with Owen, the peaceful, well measured, Canadian comedian - who is one of the finest drummers I've heard on the circuit - the five-piece are all in all quite an intriguing bunch. Having signed to the management company Riot Act, they are now anticipating the record deal that will expose their unique and infectious music to a worldwide audience.
To these ears, the band's potential is endless and there is little doubt that they will be filling the major slots on the UK festival circuit in the summer of 2007. A very loveable band with addictive music is an irresistible combination!
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