[GIG REVIEW] MINT @ The Spiders Web, Grimsby, 2nd April 2016

Now the dust has settled on this gig and the venue's owners have probably just got back to some sense of normality, I thought I'd try my best to sum up what happened that evening. Chaos... yeah that seems about fair.

The venue (small pub) was most certainly sold out (300+) with a crowd that will be used to witnessing debaucherous behaviour on 'Geordie Shore' and 'TOWIE' so maybe it shouldn't have been any surprise that multiple shoes were thrown around, beach balls appeared out of nowhere and the crowd surfing tots were cascading over the barrier like Lemmings! (Google them kids, we only know of them cos of the game innit).

For the rare glimpses of the band that I got they seemed to buzz off the energy in fairness. I don't think many gigs get that out of hand for 'MINT' at the minute however they have all the hallmarks of getting ever more rapturous crowds if they continue in this vain, in a kind of 'Catfish & The Bottlemen' rowdy crowd tour? I only gained one picture and it's certainly camera phone quality...

...but the girl in this pic (top right) does enhance my previous description of said crowd I think.

The evening was the launch for their new single 'Living and Dying For' which I urge you to get stuck into below. This new single and arguably their flagship single of 'Wolves' are a wonderful mini CV of what this band are doing and I hope they go from strength to strength with exciting things in the pipeline. 'Jimmy' live is still belting and I wouldn't except the lads to do anything but get sentimental with it. 

'MINT' have made any Grimsby home town gig now unmissable but can they extrapolate that to the wider world? Listen below on the usual socials and see if they're coming near you some time...

Follow / [FACEBOOK]

Cheers,

Jase Hare

[Gig Review] MINT @ The Yardbirds, Grimsby, Tuesday 24th December 2015

Self-described as "music to make you kiss strangers", ‘MINT’ are riding high from Grimsby and are going to be forcing themselves into the limelight soon. The lads can't seem to stop gaining fans and that can only be a good thing. 

Grimbarians beware, having been picked up on the BBC Introducing radar in Humberside, 

I'm tipping these to be thrust from that level to a national one within no time, get on board quickly before they've left town and won't see Freshney Place for a long time.

I'm so glad that my hometowns music scene is encompassed by these guys aswell as many other talented boys and girls. I hope that this town gets back to being on the map for some wonderful sounding human beings, which funnily enough MINT have a tune about.

The fact i'm writing some of this review on Christmas Day shows that I'm prioritising this over pigs in blankets! If that's not a big enough show of dedication then i don't know what is.

'Jimmy' is a wonderful 5 minute, emotion full, ballad that threatens to drop every now and then, before the audience being allowed to sing along near the end without an 'Oooo' or 'Ahhh' in sight. Live performance of this just turned the screw even more for me that I best keep an eye on these lads progress.

I can't let my first proper review of these go by without mentioning Zak's hair! It's a glorious coming to life of Brain May and Mr Messy (of Mr Men fame) into full on Rock n Roll stardom. Don't get me wrong, if he shaved his head i'm sure they'd still sound great but we all know a great hairstyle in a band can add that little extra to a live thrashing on guitar.

Also see a cheeky interview with the lads HERE

checking them out is easy: do so at all the usual place below and make sure you add a little MINT to your audio diet.

LIKE - FACEBOOK
FOLLOW - TWITTER
LISTEN - SOUNDCLOUD
WEBSITE - WEBSITE

All photo credit Joe Brumby

Jase Hare

[INTERVIEW] with MINT

Catching up with the guys from MINT after their headline/homecoming Christmas show was a pleasure. Here’s what they had to say...

Guys, great set, really enjoyed it but firstly for readers who may not know who you are, can you just give us a bit of insight into MINT?

Adam Shaw: Sure, we’re a four piece, suppose you’d call us, Indie band. I'm rhythm guitarist.

Sam Chapman: I’m Sam I hit Drums.

Zak Rashid: Singer/guitar

Andy Maidens: Bassist

Adam. Couple of us met at college and just going around doing guitar things. Zak then actively looked for some more members and found the best musicians we could basically.

You’ve previously supported The Pigeon Detectives and recently supported Foals at a DJ set of theirs, how were the reactions from their fan bases?

Zak: Yeah quality. Been getting a lot of good reactions generally. Think people appreciate we’re trying to do the simple things well whilst still being experimental and not vanilla. Like plain or boring.

Got ya! Haha with a track like ‘Jimmy’ did you feel the need go against expectations then? The crowd seem to love it!

Zak: Sort of, the recorded version is good but then we just come in like ninja’s when we play it live.
Andy: We experiment with our songs and set lists a fair bit to be honest.

New year fast approaching… big things in 2016?

Adam: For certain we’ve got 3 singles coming out quite quick one after the other.

Zak: An EP! Got that coming up so 2016 will certainly be busy but we’ll have a couple of off months to re-charge and probably arrange a mini tour or something.

Your track ‘Wolves’, big sound! And tonight some chaps started howling at it. Is this now a must?

Zak: Yeah! Let’s make it a thing! We did have a guy turn up dressed as a wolf once? Might have been a gig close to Halloween.

Cheers for your time lads and I look forward to future ventures but one last question. Seen as it’s new Star Wars week… favourite Star Wars character? Only one each!

Adam: hmmmm, Boba Fett.
Sam: Probably Darth Vader
Zak: General Grievous, guy had 4 sabers!
Andy: Chewbacca

Feel free to read the gig review of MINT’s Christmas show HERE and follow them up on the below links: 

Follow / [TWITTER]

Listen / [SOUNDCLOUD]