P.M. on trial

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 14

P.M. on trial

By

NEVIN TOPP

Pop Mechanix are apprehensive about playing in Christchurch, in what is regarded as a Dick Driver stronghold. The bass guitarist, Paul Scott, said he was concerned about the reaction that the band would get at the Gladstone Tavern this week with the new vocalist. Andrew Snoid. who replaced Dick Driver. The concern is a genuine one because Paul Scott described the southern outing as a trial run for a national tour later this year. Last week Pop Mechanix played at the Cabana Hotel, Napier, in what Paul Scott said was another place where Dick Driver had been popular. 4 The first three days were quiet, and Snoid. formerly of the Whizz Kids, had a hard time because people said that they preferred Dick Driver.

“However, we decided, what the hell, we would give it (unprintable) and in the last , three days the Cabana ended up having one of the best weeks ever,” he said. The problem of replacing vocalists in the Auckland area had not really faced the group because Pop Mechanix was not al) that well known. Also a lot of people knew Andrew Snoid from the Whizz Kids and the Plague, and that helped. Pop Mechanix were doing well in Auckland, there being enough venues in the area so that people did not get tired of the band. The group’s second single. "Ritz” backed bv "Talking” and "Brains,” had been recorded at Stebbing Studios with lan Morris,’ formerly of . .Th’ Dudes, as engineer,. and Mike Chunn, producing.

Chunn. ex-Citizen Band, now has an 4 exclusive three-year contract to

manage Pop Mechanix, and ' also handles the Crocodiles. According to Paul Scott, Chunn was establishing an office in Sydney as a base for both groups to tour Australia next year. Mike Chunn knew how to handle hotel managers, booking agents and promoters. He could relate on both a business and musical level with those kind of people, “who are difficult to deal with at the best of times,” Scott said. “He really understands what the band is trying to do.” Perhaps the best news for Pop Mechanix is that Eddie Rayner of Split Enz has taken some demo tapes of P.M.’s songs back to his band for them to listen to. At this stage Pop Mechanix are also meant to open for Split Enz and Citizen Band at the Sweetwaters Festival next year.