Pop Mx in Oz

Rip It Up, Issue 45, 1 April 1981, Page 8

Pop Mx in Oz

Andrew Snoid

The Pop Mechanix are on the road opening for Split Enz on the Outback Tour of Australia. The Mechanix are playing pubs on their nights off, too all-to promote their CBS single ‘Jumping Out A Window’. Here’s ten days with the boys brought to'you courtesy of Andrew Snoid. March 15 Amidst much confusion we manage ourselves onto the aeroplane which gets us to Melbourne at 6 pm. March 17 We embark on the Outback Tour 1981, and outback it is. Shepparton is the first gig a town roughtly the size of Hamilton. At approximately 8.10 Pop Mx clench teeth, bate breath and play. What a relief. Our first Oz gig and they like it. General consensus was that Paul Scott and I are both mental. Oh yeah, great. . March 18 Horsham. This place is truly outback(ward) very tiny, very hot. Once again we go for the throat, a good gig. Water fight back at motel with Pops and Enz, great relief after the day’s travel, with all of us together in a mini-cruiser. It’s time to get to know your own band excessively well, and get to know someone else’s for good measure. March 19. Ballarat. After Horsham, Ballarat is like New York. Not far from Melbourne, wealthy and scenic. An excellent gig for us; and a great prep for Melbourne. March 20 . We headline at Macy’s in Melbourne first pub gig, and first gig in the city. Lots of media and industry people. Oh God, here goes ... got an encore, and all of us are rapt. Paul Mason discovers Astra Fighters. March 21 Supporting Matt Finish, a Sydney band with a Top 10 album at the Jump Club. Huge crowd, good atmosphere one of our best gigs so far. March 22 Day off. March 23 - v. Melbourne Palais Theatre sold out. This is it.' Amazing place on the waterfront in St Kilda. Truly excited about playing tonight, and the Enz are as nervous as the Pops for their debut city gig with the new lineup. Great reaction for the Pop Mx tonight. Bump into B. Stiggs, Melbourne

resident and Models' drummer. See lan from the Swingers. Feels a bit more like home. Enz take the stage and knock them dead. March 24 Geelong. Before we go on, Class of 81 is playing through the PA; ‘Let’s Go To Australia ...' wonder what the Aussies think about that? Good gig but not as good as the Palais for us. Back to Melbourne straight after the show March 25 Interviews with Sydney papers, interview on 3XY in Melbourne, and press release day. Hogan's Heroes and / Dream of Genie both on TV such a dilemma !