Mentals, and others

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 14

Mentals, and others

A five-star review in “Sounds,” number one placing in the English alternative charts — all this and more has come the way of Australian, Mental As Anything, who are appearing at the Aranui early next week.

The band has a new album, “Cats And Dogs,” which features the hit single, “If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?” The single, which was. very popular in New Zealand, went gold in their home country. Mental As Anything’s best moment has probably been that number one, “The Nips Are Getting Bigger,” which was a reference to drinking.

There have been other hits for the band, which features two New Zealanders, Reg Mdmbassa. and Peter O’Doherty. Mental As Anything live should be worth seeing, at the Aranui on Tuesday and Wednesday. The dates are part of a short tour of New Zealand, which included the Sweetwaters festival. With the added boost of

the university orientation programme, there continues to be plenty of activity en-tertainment-wise, around Christchurch this week. Regular Auckland visitors Blam Blam Blam and the Newmatics (we’ve not seen them for a while) finish at the Gladstone tonight, but will appear at Canterbury University’s “All Night” Stein tomorrow evening. That is one of the orientation events. Blam Blam Blam are now back to a three piece, and the word is that they’re stronger than ever. Their debut album (which is apparently costing Propeller Records a lot of money) should be finished sometime this month. They were voted best New Zealand band by “Rip It Up” readers in the recent poll, and the “Marsha” single was also, and justifiably, highly rated. To promote the album, Blam, Blam, Blam will spend the next few months working around the county. . The Newmatics line-up has

apparently changed slightly. Their “Broadcast” double single sold relatively well, and this is their first visit to Christchurch since its release. Tomorrow and Saturday at the Gladstone, the Instigators are playing. They have, appeared in Christchurch before, and have already released one single, “Not Really Bad.” A follow-up EP is due soon. Two up-and-coming pop bands from Dunedin, The Chills and .The Stones, are definitely worth a listen at the Star and Garter tonight They have played there since Tuesday. Both are scheduled to appear on a “Dunedin” EP to be put out by Flying Nun records. Dick Driver’s Dance Band is appearing on Friday and Saturday at that venue, while, at the Aranui this week-end, The Spaces will te playing, and promoting their new single, “Peaceful Day” /“Helluva Day.” David Swift