String Bean Jen's photo of spearmint from the ICA 30th September

Spearmint
Originally uploaded by String Bean Jen

String Bean Jen's photo of spearmint from the ICA 30th September

Best Ballroom from the ICA 30th September

Spearmint - ICA
Originally uploaded by manc_ill_kid

Manc ill kid's photo of spearmint from the ICA 30th September

A third of my life, from the ICA 30th September

Ticker tape parade
Originally uploaded by String Bean Jen

String Bean Jen's photo of spearmint from the ICA 30th September

Isn't it great to be alive? from the ICA 30th September

Isn't it great to be alive?
Originally uploaded by String Bean Jen

String Bean Jen's photo from the ICA show

Finally on stage at the ICA

When we walk onto the stage we get what sounds like a homecoming welcome which makes me feel quite emotional. The picture of Toby as a baby appears and BLAM! we're into "a week away" because of the gigs in Germany and all the rehearsal we play with the perfect mixture of rehearsed knowledge and off the cuff swarve that accompanies our level of excitment and fear. Sorry if that sounds bigheaded but tonight we just got it right. From the moment I'm on the stage I'm hopping around like a untethered Jack Russell, I really feel quite at home. Its having the support of the crowd it fills you with confidence. "Isn't it great to be alive" BLAM! "Sweeping the nation" BLAM! These songs are our favourites, close to our hearts and for many of the assembled people they feel the same, and its very apparent. During, "A third of my life" The Junipers come back on and throw confetti over us adding to the atmosphere and complimenting the picture of Andy's wedding. The stage is covered in a confetti and for a brief moment I worry about cleaning it up but then its gone and I'm filled again with the joy of the moment. "We're going out" BOOM! The old spearmint magic strikes again and we are all smiles, like we've won a competition to play at the ICA. "Start again" BOOM! 'Anyone who has bubbles start blowing now', announces Shirley before we launch into "Best ballroom" WOOOOOOOO! "You carry this with you" has this ever sounded as good? "A trip into space" PAZAOW! we're all in it together, nodding and signaling to each other. Call and response singing is great infectious fun a real group thing. There's something about the way we play these songs now that's refreshing. I remember when we were learning and recording them, for me it was all about claiming the audible territory as your own, there's a gap there I must make a noise to fill it. This time it's stripping it back and leaving space and it sounds bigger and better, did it take me 10 years to realize that? No it's probably longer. Over the years we've played "a trip into space" at the end we turn to one of the band and applaud, it's my turn, I milk it, naturally, teasing feedback out of my amp until Shirley looks at his watch, ok I get the point ha! "It won't be long now" CLANG! "Making you laugh" I join Si at the keyboard, I love this song! "You are still my brother" BLAM! sounds more soulful than ever. Then the very soft and sentimental delivery of "Saturday" with all of us singing along, very emotional, will this be the last time we play this album in full? For the encore we play some of the new "life in reverse" material peppered with a selection of oldies. We bow and we're off. After the 10 year anniversary champagne has been opened it's all a bit of a blur but what a night. Thank you so much to everyone who came and to everyone who has helped us over the years, we couldn't continue without your support, thanks for this big smile I've been wearing this week. JiM xXx

Before the ICA gig, I have somethings to do

The Junipers are on and I'm using up the last of my nervous energy making last minute arrangements, giving things out, lifting things up and putting them in different places, basically wasting time. My nerves are diluted by the sea of familiar faces many of which I haven't seen in more than 10 years but I can't escape the feeling that I should be backstage in my underpants with the rest of the boys. I get backstage just before the Junipers finish. No one is in their underpants but I do get to listen to The Junipers through the backstage monitors, they sound great. As soon as they finish we busy ourselves with setting up. Then backstage again and it's 20 minutes before the film starts. When we signal to Adam to start the film he comes and wishes us good luck, which is really thoughtful. When the film actually starts we are crossing everything hoping no one thinks it pretentious, then they start laughing at the funny bits and from then on we know its going to be alright.

Check, check 1-2 1-2

Lights, instruments, camera, seaside

Adam

with his large glittering ball

setting up at the ICA

Ladders, boxes, wires, people, equipment and the smell of fear

In the ICA

I'm in the 'theatre' at the ICA, there are about four staff running around setting up, its a properly organized and well ran ship, this makes me feel uneasy, I'm not sure why? Then they ask me questions that I should know the answers to. I mumble something about the mirror ball and then run away phoning for backup, Adam (lighting and wizardry) tells me he'll be about 5 minutes. So I go off and hide on my own. Shortly both Adam and Ronan arrive and with the safety of numbers I relax a little and it all starts to happen. Before long the van comes with Si, Andy and Shirley. With the whole family of spearmint in the building there is a lot more control. The sound check goes well; the visuals are ready; we have food; I iron my shirt for a third time and with an hour to go before doors open we can collectively return to the business of feeling nervous.

Heavy feet

Walking down The Mall

Outside the ICA

pausing to compose myself

Getting in the right head space for The ICA gig

It seems almost inconceivable that after planning and talking about something for so long that it should actually be happening tonight. Yet I have taken the day off and I am sat at home ready to go to the ICA. I don't have to leave for another 2 hours so I sit here fidgeting and worrying. There has been so much rehearsing, there have been so many plans, emails about confetti and bubble liquid, sleepless nights, bank accounts hemorrhaging money, I feel so uptight how can I possibly relax enough to enjoy the gig? I set off labouring over every step. Then I remember fourteen or so years ago I saw a great band at the ICA, they showed a film and then played a great set. Very inspiring and thoroughly arty! brilliant! Ever since that day I've wanted to do that kind of gig not just a gig but an event. Somehow tonight that will happen but also somehow my feet are getting heavier. I am utterly nervous. Ticket sales have gone well, rehearsals have been great, the German tour was successful but this is not filling me with the confidence it should.
Now I'm sat at the station totally on edge, I let the first train go. The second train I get on trying to empty my head. The Journey is too quick, arriving at Charing Cross I slowly leave the train making my way across Trafalgar Square toward the grand arches that lead to Buckingham palace. Bloody hell they are grand. Every step is heavy and slow, so slow. I pause when I see the ICA to take a couple of pictures and then I go in.

Getting ready to leave

Before the ICA, but look at my face do I look ready?

Art waiting for me when I got home

Thanks girls xXx

The ICA cometh man

Taking a look at the ICA, with Adam (pictured) and Chris (not pictured) in preparation for the gig which is a week tomorrow.

Ronan

Pre gig at Hörsaal, Hamburg

Andy Lewis

Pre gig at Hörsaal, Hamburg

Si

Pre gig at Hörsaal, Hamburg

Shirley and Shirley in background

Pre gig at Hörsaal, Hamburg

Hamburg, Hörsaal

We set off for Hamburg at 12 affording me a very respectful 7 hours of sleep. The journey seems quick at jusr 3hrs.

We arrive in Hamburg and check into, 'Kogge' the Rock'n'roll hotel we've stayed there almost every time we've played Hamburg and were the first band to stay there on its opening night. The bar is decorated with records and posters, the mens toilet has a painting of Joe Strummer and the ladies have Amy Winehouse. Each room has a theme and tonight we shall be sleeping in the sailor room. The sex museum is next door we are invited in by a kind mumbling man, we decline.

Tonights venue is on the Reeperbahn. Through a long chain of mis-communication and an unfortunate venue closure, we find ourselves in a nice venue with nice promoters but painfully inadequate sound equipment, particularly the tiny mixing desk, fortunately for us the sound engineer, 'Ölaf' is bloody good, some how we workout a way to make it happen but on paper it still didn't look like it was going to work.

We return to the venue after a quick freshen up. The first thing I notice is the audience are a little thin on the ground so coupled with the sound issues I'm feeling a little uneasy about the gig.

When we get on stage Shirley explains, "we will do the show in two halves, 'a week away' album in full in the second half" Big cheer from the audience, hmm promising! Shirley continues, "but first we will play some songs from the Shirley Lee album we released this year" no reaction, so I cheer, and that gets a hearty chuckle. From then on in I know it's going to be fine.

The Shirley Lee set goes down well a good response and very measured playing. When we hit 'a week away' the assembled members of the audience stepped-up their participation and we gladly follow suit. Shirley getting down from the stage whenever he could, dancing with the punters who we had now adopted as our new best friends. If they jumped up and down so did we. The keyboards were blasting out of the huge speaker stacks behind our heads with clarity and gusto, the bass and drums rumbling along like a beast, everyone smiling, its not a gig anymore its a party and everyone is invited.

After the show we bow just like normal only this time for the first time the audience bow back incredible!

Thank you for having us Germany, you were wonderful.
JiM xXx

Berlin, Privatclub

We arrive in Berlin in good time, even before the promoter. I have to recall pre sat nav days where we would blindly drive around the town looking for the venue, arriving late with drained spirits to meet a frustrated promoter, aha the good old days.

There's plenty of time before we go on for another cheese based meal. The venue, Privatclub looks great, a 60's vibe decorated with great enthusiasm and imagination and is perfectly spearmint.

Another great show tonight. Light, shade and enthusiasm despite our lack of sleep. You can tell Shirley is enjoying it because he keeps getting of the stage to join the audience. Tonight he is dressed as what can only be described as an off duty policeman trying be incognito, don't worry you haven't missed it he intends to repeat the outfit at the ICA.

Highlights this evening are the crowd pleasing, "We're going out" and the moving sing along of, "Saturday"

I completely crash after the gig and not even a couple of rounds of Jagermeister can force more than two words from my brain, I just smile and nod until someone carts me off to bed,

JiM xXx

Neil

Over 100 spearmint gigs and still happy

A statue, yesterday

How it should be done

Dresden

Some rare free time to walk around taking the same photos

Service

Another service station

Berlin

Si, setting up at, 'privatclub'

Berlin load-in

The load into the privatclub through this totally filmable and incredibly spooky basement.

Tourist

Doing the tourist thing

Ostpol - pong!

Ostpol, had a fine selection of Retro games

spearmint

at the service station with Mrs Wasp