2002 Interview pictures from Mira's Oct 16, 2002, Portland show
2002 Interview conducted at The Pound, San Francisco, 21 August 2002 by DJ Victoria Star
"A guitar-heavy shoegaze backdrop over a beautiful female voice, hovering like a red angel and instilling both fear and devotion." (BIG TAKEOVER #44)
By Scott Sweeney
Mira is on stage. We’re at the Trocadero, or maybe it’s the Middle East in Boston. Or the Echo Lounge in Atlanta. Or the Cow Haus in the band’s native Tallahassee, Florida.
Mira is wrapping up their soundcheck. From left to right, they are Mark Davidson (guitar), Regina Sosinski (vocals), Alan Donaldson (drums), Melody Fleck (bass), and Tom Parker (guitar). Regina bends over to take a sip of water. When she stands up, you notice she’s taller than both guitarists. Actually, so is Melody.
“Hi, we’re Mira. This first song is called . . .” They open with “Hollow,” the last track on their second CD, Apart. Tom and Melody synchronize their respective parts. As the song progresses, unfolding in beauty and wonder, you notice how closely the live version follows the recorded version. And you ask yourself, Is Mira one of those bands? Blindly recreating their CDs on stage? Short answer: no.
The long answer is that the band has been known to totally reinvent their songs live. And more often than not, Mira prove themselves to be a live band rather than a studio project that occasionally plays live. For “Going Nowhere,” the jangly guitar intro is sometimes replaced with guitar noise from later in the song, giving it a more even and intense quality. Often, they end that song with more noise and feedback, which fades into “Space.” Alan’s drums cut through the clutter, and the crowd erupts with cheers. Guitar parts are often changed here and there. Instrumental breaks, especially those sans violin or cello, are stretched out and filled with guitar noise.
Their set continues with the next song, a new one titled “900 Turbo.” That’s when you notice that Mira is also not a band to merely stand over their guitars, blandly strumming away. On “900 Turbo,” for example, things can get pretty animated. As Melody’s driving bass opens up to Alan’s measured percussion, you can feel the feedback building. Suddenly, Mark launches into the air and hammers his strings as he hits the stage. And he doesn’t always land on his feet. In fact, it’s not unusual to for him to knock something over, or break something. One night, he broke all the strings on his guitar during the climax of “In the End.” It’s no wonder that he usually has one side of the stage to himself. Tom anchors the opposite side of the stage, strumming and picking his guitar in a more precise way, which helps keep things from spinning out of control musically. In that respect, the guitarists are opposite sides of the same coin.
The rhythm section keeps things moving, too. Alan exudes calm and tranquility, even when the beats are driving and he’s navigating his way through complex drum patterns. And Melody bobs and weaves to the beat, perhaps stepping back, just a little, to her punk-rock past.
Of course, the centerpiece to any Mira show is Regina. As those who have seen them dozens of times can tell you, while Regina may stand front and center gripping the microphone stand with her eyes closed, the forces swirling around her are awe-inspiring. Still, she rises to the occasion, casting her siren-like voice into the technicolor lights and spreading it over the crowd. We’re entranced.
When Regina leaves the stage, and the last of the feedback from “Green” has been silenced, you’ll have been changed. Maybe not your life, but your night will be different. You can leave the Trocadero, have a drink, go to bed, and Mira will still be in your mind. Not content to be merely entertaining, Mira is a band that stays with you.
Mira drift on a wave of dreamy melodies and floating female vocals. Ripples of guitars swell against shores of gently flowing pop rhythms, undulating in a surging, shoegazer undercurrent. Hailing from Tallahassee, Florida, Projekt's newest discovery have smitten the ear of all who have heard their music. Enamored with their refreshing innocence and simplicity, their growing fanbase eagerly anticipates this, Mira's self-titled debut.
"Mira is on fire. Lead vocalist Regina's vocals effortlessly burn and bang through the myriad of soothing audio soundscapes like a red hot hammer, hitting the nail on the head at every pounding. If you thought the days of becoming addicted to a new band after the very first listen were over - guess again." (FRIGHT X MAGAZINE)
• Mira was #1 in MP3.com's "Shoegazer" category for most of 1999.
• Mira's appearance on last year's Projekt compilation, A Cat-Shaped Hole In My Heart, garnered the most press and fan attention of any track on the album. That song, "Cayman," also appears on their debut.