KEY POINTS:
Taking off to live in the United States is not the Mint Chicks' last chance to be famous. In fact, when they settle down in Portland, Oregon, next year they'll have many chances to be famous but they're going to play it by ear.
"We're not really going
over there with delusions of grandeur about taking over the world but it's just going to give us some more options," says guitarist Ruban Nielson.
He says it's sad to be leaving their family, friends and fans behind but the band, who scooped five awards at the Tuis this year, have gone as far as they can in New Zealand.
"We've kind of hit the ceiling a little bit and there's not much more we can grow here and it just seems like the right time I guess," Nielson says.
"My dad said to me that growth is never a comfortable thing and never feels 100 per cent good, so that's the way I'm looking at it. This first bit is like taking off a plaster or something. A bit painful."
The band head to Portland on January 15 where they have a management team and booking agent set up and they hope to go on tour after settling in.
"But we're just going to play it by ear," says Nielson.
Before they leave the band play two farewell shows in Auckland, tomorrow night and Saturday night at the Transmission Room in Mayoral Rd. A special show like this calls for something special for the fans to take away so the tickets are a collectable white vinyl 7-inch single featuring Walking Off A Cliff Again and new song 2010.
They toured the US earlier this year and of all the places they visited Portland was the one they clicked with the most.
They have family in the city, it has a healthy music scene made up of bands they love - "They're not the biggest bands in the country but bands who are making a living from touring and getting critical acclaim" - and Nielson believes it's small enough for them to make a name for themselves as opposed to a city like Los Angeles.
The band have also become a trio with bass player Michael Logie leaving to go to London with his girlfriend. Nielson says they are all still mates and it's sad to see him go.
"It's pretty hard for Michael, but it's just that this girl is really special and stuff. It's pretty sad on a personal level but really exciting musically," he says.
However, becoming a trio didn't immediately occur to them. At first they "ended up getting depressed" about having to find another bass player and then realised they could still be a band as a three-piece.
The new line-up will mean Nielson's brother and singer Kody will play more keyboards and he will be "making the guitar sound like a bass sometimes".
They have also been writing new songs as a trio and they hope living in the US will inspire more ideas for tunes to go on the followup to last year's Crazy?Yes!Dumb?No!.
* The Mint Chicks play the Transmission Room tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets $29.50 from Real Groovy and include 7-inch single.
