The Mint Chicks


Arriving from the North Shore sprawl into the vacuum that was the early 00s Auckland live scene, the Mint Chicks provided a blast of wired, aggressive energy. Lead by the enigmatic Nielson brothers, the band would evolve into a riveting blend of pop, psychedelia and punk.

It’s tough to recall, at this distance, how barren New Zealand guitar-based music felt at the dawn of the millennium. The second wave (or was it the third?) of Flying Nun bands had mostly fallen apart. Venues like Kurtz Lounge and the Gluepot, which had nurtured live music through the ‘80s and ‘90s were literally demolished.

The Mint Chicks in 2003
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
The Mint Chicks take out Best Group at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards - Kody Nielson, Michael Logie, Paul Roper and Ruban Nielson
Ruban Nielson at the 2006 B-Net Awards.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Paul Roper, 2003
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Kody Nielson at the 2005 Big Day Out
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Michael Logie, at the 2007 Big Day Out 
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
"Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!" at the Music Awards 2007
Let's Make the Water Turn Black (live in the basement)
Real Groove magazine, October 2006
She's A Mod
The Mint Chicks monster as appeared on the cover of their last EP, 2010's Bad Buzz
Kody Nielson at the 2007 NZ Music Awards
I Can't Stop Being Foolish (Live at Red Bull Studio)
Kody Nielson at the 2006 APRA Silver Scrolls
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Backstage ...
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
The Mint Chicks performing at the APRA Silver Scrolls, Auckland Town Hall, 2006
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Kody sings She's A Mod at the 2009 Music Awards as a tribute to Ray Columbus & The Invaders who were inducted into the Hall Of Fame
Sleeping During The Day
Off the wall in 2003
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
The Mint Chicks: An Oral History
Kody Nielson at the Big Day Out, 2007
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Tell Her No (live in the basement)
Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!
The Mint Chicks at the Big Day Out, 2007
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Ruban Nielson at a Grey Lynn all-ages show
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Ruban Nielson at the Big Day Out, 2005
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Paul Roper, Big Day Out 2007
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Ruban Nielson
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Ruban Nielson, 2003
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Ruban Nielson
Photo credit: Photo by Gareth Shute
Cheese On Toast interview
Walking off a Cliff Again
The Mint Chicks - LATE at the Museum, February 2010
Ruban Nielson
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
Kody Nielson at the Big Day Out, 2007
Photo credit: Photos by Ian Jorgensen (Blink)
I Can't Stop Being Foolish
If My Arm Was A Mike Stand...
Kody Nielson at the 2006 B-Net Awards.
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
A short documentary about The Mint Chicks in Portland
Hot on Your Heels
Labels:

Flying Nun

Members:

Kody Nielson - vocals, keyboards

Ruban Nielson - guitar, vocals

Michael Logie - bass

Paul Roper - drums

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