Diary

October

Sunday 4th

When embarking on a music video there is a standard pattern. As we are always trying to utilise our budget as best as we can, we normally fit the whole shoot into one day, thus having an extremely early start. Today was no exception. I woke at six in Walthamstow and had get across town to lovely Streatham for a load in for half seven.

Obviously the pattern continues where we have found that a lot of people working on the videos have devoted their own free time and expertise and again today was no exception. Dylan and Gully, who were directing, live in somerset and travelled down the night before and were first to arrive at Roehampton University. Along with Damo, our DP, his cable basher/assistant Elle, Dave and Simon on the lights, George Wood helping out with everything, and Kumar as exec producer this was to be the make up of the team and crew. Oh yeah, and 16 Roehampton Rascal Cheerleaders!!

The rough plan was to film a performance of "Bleeding Love", the Leona Lewis smash hit that is the B Side to turning up, in the morning, and then at lunch, the cheerleaders would begin to dance along with us, and then, we would down our instruments and the rest of the day would be filming the routines those rascals had planned for the tune. The last shoot we had been on had been the "Anything" video, where we were walking up and down upper street in Islington on a cold Monday night till 3 in the morning. The lego video nearly broke Ingmar over a six month period. The ON TV shoot whilst was inside, was still a fairly long day, with a fairly long drive and a load in and out early and late. The "You" video was in a rainy, wind swept field and again a very long day with a touch of frost at the end, with a longer drive. Turning Up was logistically tricky getting 150 loyal fans down to camden. Over all, the videos that were "in the can" whilst were all brilliant and we were all happy with them, had all been fairly hard long slogs. This day, was to be the easiest and most pleasant, of them all.We had the use of the Roehampton hall, which was warm, full stop. There was a canteen and after Kumar arrived with provisions everyone agreed we would not go hungry. Even though we at points were behind schedule in the morning, by lunch, we had got back on track and as the cheerleaders arrived, we had had our pork pies and were ready the afternoon shoot.

The reason i think everything was so smooth was simply for the fact everyone knew what their job was, and did it really well. We were gobsmacked at how good the cheerleaders looked, and that is really not in a pervy way. They are the real deal. They were second in the nationals last year and most of them are doing dance degrees. As soon as i saw some of the rushes from the monitor, playing along with the music i knew it would look good.

The day actually flew by and we were out of the hall slightly earlier than planned. Directors were happy. Kumar was very happy. Ingmar said he would take some of the images to the grave! Obviously we haven't seen the final cut as yet, but I know, and we all know, it is going to look the nuts.

Friday 2nd

Personally I tried not thinking about the evening nor the single being released as much as possible as it does my head in.
I’d serviced the amp and cleaned the twins (SGs) on the weekend and we had a good rehearsal the night before.
When meeting the boys to load up the stuff and driving up there with our manager it was pretty relaxed with the usual piss-taking camaraderie… and so that attitude remained throughout the day with more excitement by the hour (and me chain-smoking as I’m banned from drinking before shows)
Both me and Anil were keeping our hunger at bay all day, I think it helps with nerves.
Despite knowing the show was sold out a couple of weeks before I’d still not had it in mind that people were going to be out there bizarre as that might sound.
Rogue States made a great impression on the audience and as you may or may not expect are lovely guys. One of their tunes reminded me of Arcade Fire, hope they don’t mind that comparison.
The crowd were fantastic throughout the set that night. It really makes a performance work. Lots of pretty new faces along with the beautiful trusted mirrorcubs and kittens (and some usual smelly ones too – hee hee).
Imogen Heap was there too. As it shames me to name drop, I balance with a confession that 'Hide and Seek' surfaces on my compilations that reflects when I'm in love and when I am recovering from it's loss. I was too shy to say hello or goodbye to her as I hadn't met her in ages (before hide and seek thus shyness). Anyway - I digress.
There was a definite rise in the atmosphere on playing 'Turning Up' which is encouraging sign for our debut single. 'Podium' with all amps blaring sounded enormous and came to an even bigger response, as with our cover of 'Bleeding Love' with our dear Diva belting it like a wig wearing crack ho… We closed all guitars strapped on 'You' at a volume it’s meant to be – Tinnitus loud.
Before we knew it the lights were out and we were offstage, sweaty but ready to carry on. I guess we’ll save it for the next one.
There were a lot of people involved and without which it wouldn’t have been as good as it was. By all accounts Darren made us a mammoth presence whilst using precision in separating the sounds. Justin was the epitome of measured calm juggling our guitars on handovers. Rob blinded us beautifully with lights and manage to match tones to Anil and my eyeshadow. Dangerous John was sharp on point, armed with drum keys and wit. Salubrious Sally could be seen dancing along whilst shifting the merchandise available. Nimar the ambassador of Quam was just that as always.
As Anil had said shortly after ‘I could get used to doing this every night!’ and I certainly would go with that.
I’ve found out that Bleeding Love is exclusively released as a bside for Turning Up for the first week only and will be available from other online retailers following that.
There’s been some great reviews and some funny shit ones. I caught our video on NME TV when hungover on the sofa and people have said they’ve heard it on the radio and in Topshop. Music to get your clothes of too? Hmmm : s
It’s all great to hear fruits of the pie’s labour is an aroma for all now, albeit a slice at a time.
Buy the single and you’ll get the reference ; ) Ed x

September
Monday 21st

“Anything” video shoot – Upper Street, London

Probably the craziest and most tiring shoot we’ve ever done. Started at 6pm and went right through to 3.30am!! The whole thing was shot out on the streets between Angel Station and Islington Station so lots of funny looks and people having a look! Another rather new thing to us all was having no music performance whatsoever and having to actually act for the whole video! We all played some very crazy characters, Anil was trussed up in a straight jacket and was wheeled up down the road by Ingmar and Edwin who were mad orderlies (think Terminator 2!) and Gerard was the doctor! The hardest part though was having to do everything in reverse as the whole film is shot backwards!

July
Monday 27th

“You” video shoot – Beechwood Farm

Video shoot today was highly successful! We shot outside in a field performing against a very moody sky, which occasionally opened up causing us to do some very nifty moving of gear! Whole thing is shot on 8mm super 8 film so will have a very 1960’s feel, grainy and moody. Got some amazing sunset footage and photos later on the eve followed by night time special FX shooting. This involved 4 stage fans, smoke, fireworks and apparently some meteors striking us from the sky!!

March 2009 
Saturday 7th

Photoshoot with Daniella Cesarei – Location Streatham Common, Norwood Park

The morning starts up with multiple hangovers or colds. A couple of us desperate enough to eat at the local café just a stone’s throw from our meeting place. It’s not until after we order this that Gerard looks over the manky sandwiches and coffee with disgust and commentary that we regret each bite. The clientele hovering at this time of day in such a place are certainly odd. Much like Mos Eisley in Star Wars. Best not to look them or their poodles in the eye.

Daniella comes by and we forget this quickly as we walk to our location to worry about what we do next tiptoeing over thick sharp thorn branches, nettles and dogshit then scaling up a tall precarious looking wall on a windy day.

‘What’s wrong with you? You’re supposed to be a rockstar!’ laughs Anil. This follows Ed’s attempts to swap places with Gerard on the wall without us climbing down from it. They look like elderly Sumo Wrestlers walking a tightrope.

Once we are positioned correctly in the balance of the shot, some brightspark has the idea of jumping on the spot! Very correctly it is noted that with the track record of how accident prone the band have been collectively we may narrow the odds of ‘something bad’ occurring if only one of us does this. Can you guess who?

After who knows how long feeling strange, cold and for Gerard, Ed and Ingmar a little like they’ve been there before they climb down and huddle over the playback image surprised with the result (see wall pic)

After this Daniella convinces the big bloke behind the wall we’ve been standing on to use their yard as they have the best brick wall available for the shoot to hand.  He transpires to be a supervisor from Community Payback Scheme and appears to only be supervising one person who is painting the building. Failing to see how this remote, obscured building is a priority for the scheme and why this person should wear such a bright jacket when no one besides the supervisor and would see you is puzzling.  The supervisor hasn’t heard of the band when he asks who we are but explains that he is a Bob Seger fan by way of explanation.

After the shoot Mirrorkicks are in rehearsal.

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11th March

Debut at 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, London

I must have passed this place a dozen times and not realised where or what it was. Had I known that 93 Feet East was where I found it to be, maybe then I would not have been so late in finding it? Having said that I still walked 15 minutes in the wrong direction using a map! Our soundcheck is due in about fifteen minutes ago according to the time I think to myself as I go from what looks like the entrance to another then to the bar then to the car park.

Still, bands will be bands and whoever soundchecks on time? I arrive to find other members of Mirrorkicks surprisingly forgiving and recounting their stories of the venue on good nights out.

I notice dancing towards the back when we’re playing and slowly we encourage people to gather into a tighter group. It was a good gig and I wished we had played later in the evening as I was just starting to warm up as we were on our last song. I might start running a lap around before the next one!

Ed

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19th March

Gig at 229 Great Portland Street

Back again and even more people this time around so even better!

But….’I like big buts and I cannot lie’

Unfortunately there were technical problems onstage and we couldn’t start for what felt like a long time. The stage manager came over to the stage hovering anxiously and listing potential problems as the source whilst the sound engineer talking over through the pa system very much like a tannoy announcement at school (you naughty boys!) definitely hadn’t helped in the race to beat the clock and start as soon as possible.

Eventually the right things came to life but a still late meant two songs had to be cut out from the set. The culprit EDWIN has been appropriately shamed and is making assurances that equipment is safeguarded to avoid any potential delays in future. He also apologises to all who came as they had lost two songs as a result of his foolery.

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February 2009
17th – 6th March 2009

Mirrorkicks are in rehearsals, working on artwork ideas for sleeve images and working with Bob Macc over the final touches of remaining album tracks and B-sides including Turning Up, Be Where You Are, Too Slow and Last Man Standing.

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Monday 16th

‘Turning Up’ – Location Camden, Prince of Wales Road, London

There had been discussions between director Alan Ryan and Mirrorkicks since summer 2008 on the idea that would become the ‘Turning Up’ music video.  It’s location is in Camden, London in a quirky retro pub called The Prince of Wales.

The video shoot was in two halves. During the day there were the sequences of a patron of the pub having his pint oblivious and completely oblivious to the band playing. There were close shots of the band performing. We’d all been smartly dressed; Anil looked cool with his bright red hair and mod suit. Then for the evening we’d shoot the sequences of playing in front of a crowd. Ed sings main vocals on the track and Anil used a sparkly red flying V guitar (sensing a theme?!).

For the energy and atmosphere of the evening shots we needed the attending crowd to be involved so we played a couple of live sets to get things going. A couple of cover versions in there also went down well that evening that got everyone singing along to the Jungle Book’s ‘I want to be like you’ (hoo hoo).

Here are some photographs taken that evening: (insert photos of live shots Turning Up)

Special thanks to Alan, Keith, Dave and Oz for their hard work and to Frank for having let us have use of the Prince of Wales for the day and night banging away. Not forgetting all who came that evening to see us play, bouncing around with the music and having a laugh. Monday nights should be more like this.

It was on this occasion Mirrorkicks had also signed their record contract to Fruit Pie Music! (See pic?)

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Sunday 8th

‘On TV’

There has been (as a lot of people in the UK will know) a lot of snow about!

This had hampered our plans to shoot the music video for ‘On TV’ earlier this week. In fact, a lot of people couldn’t get to work and ended up throwing snowballs into each other’s smiling smiles.

Sunday all systems were go and here we met Mr Price on location (a secret building) in Godalmine.

It was a great time. Very physical work, particularly for Anil! He must have had about six or seven energy drinks for it. It’s best not to talk too much about the visuals as it would be better to watch this not knowing what to expect.

It is very exciting working with Steve and Damo again as well as all the other contributors involved that day. Very intense and enjoyable day feeling very much like the writing and production process when recording a song. The buzz of ideas bouncing around very quickly, being lost at times and trusting completely what you’re asked to do or at times asking is going to work.

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January 2009

12th-25th

You two - take a break!

Ings and Ed are off travelling in different directions in Europe whilst Gerard and Anil are at the helm.

Ed sent this postcard looking photo for you to see (insert Rome pic)

Mirrorkicks have been taking and editing photographs for ideas for artwork for the album for quite some time. So far the images are coming together really well and there is an obvious feel and direction for what is needed for this.

There have been discussions with Steve Price about filming another music video together which we’re very excited about. It is likely to happen early next month. Fingers crossed!

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Friday 9th

Debut at 229 Great Portland Street

It’s a cool looking venue that’s in the basement and from hearing the other bands that night, the room has a really good sound especially when more bodies are in to stop the soundwaves bouncing around and sounding all wishy washy. It had been a good first gig of the year and we’re looking forward to more and hopefully back at 229 again.

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Thursday 8th

We’ve been googled out of context

I was told that when googling us (that is an actual verb) Mirrorkicks had been reviewed from the last gig at the Waterats in November 2008. Funnily enough it begins ‘my first reaction was to stick my fingers in my ears’ but as a link to our myspace was posted the review finished favourable!

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Friday 2nd

Mirrorkicks ‘Bleeding Love’

Last year we’d submitted our cover version of Leona Lewis’s ‘Bleeding Love’ to feature on Online music review site Cokemachineglow as part of a collection of ‘fantasy covers’ that is available for you to download. Covers of Adele and MGMT by other artists also feature.

“with a phenomenal Fantasy Podcast, almost 50 minutes of exclusive music that everyone - even the most unwavering of haters, bless you all - can embrace” – Cokemachineglow