They have a brand new rhythm section, a new lease on life but they are still Mental as anything.
Frontman come-keyboard player Greedy Smith said despite 35 years on the road (or maybe because of it) they still having fun.
In fact you’d think a band that has been touring constantly for so long would be slowing down now – but not so.
“We still do 120 shows a year,” Greedy laughs.
“Our biggest break from touring came when I took six months off in 1990 after I broke my arm.”
And even after all these years and all the venues they have played – they are still finding new places to play and they are still travelling the Pacific Highway – which Greedy adds still needs work. Although these days they do more weekend jobs than anything else and are flying more and more.
The Sports Club at Cabarita is a new venue for the band – well sort of.
“I think we played a free gig there a few years ago,” he said.
“But this is our first paid gig their.”
And the band is still mixing it up – with a full on gig at Caba on the Friday and a live, unplugged and free performance at the Coolangatta Hotel later in the weekend.
Not bad for a band who urban myth has it started as a group of art students who passed themselves off as a band in order to con the local publican into giving them a gig in exchange for free beer.
They must be doing something right because that was in the late 70s and now with a swag of albums under their belts and songs that are still gaining airplay and making us dance, smile and have a good time they continue to fill venues.
WHO: Mentals
WHERE: Coolangatta Hotel
WHEN: March 4, 3pm-4pm Queensland Unplugged
The winners of our Mental as Anything competition were;
Juli Bonser – Banora Point
Shane Bonser – Banora Point
Tanya Van De Geer –Tweed Heads South
Ivan Van De Geer –Tweed Heads South
Narelle Murray – Pottsville
Kim Grumley – Pottsville
Congratulations – enjoy your night!
