Matt Alien is the long-standing nom de plume of Matt Johnstone; a multi-instrumentalist born-frontman from the likes of Christchurch groups The Hitone Destroyers and The Black Panthers, Auckland group Slavetrader, and most recently Melbourne group Levitating Churches. Harnessing the swagger of early Aerosmith or AC/DC, but with a great deal more noise and the feeling that things might just fall apart at any moment.
#nzmusic #mattalien #hitonedestroyers
Edmund Cake is the quirky alias of talented Auckland-based musician and producer Edmund McWilliams – or at least it was for his 2004 album ‘Downtown Puff’. McWilliams has made his name with the brilliant trio Bressa Creeting Cake and as a producer to the likes of the Finn brothers, Anika Moa and Bic Runga.
#nzmusic #edmundcake #bressacreetingcake #piewarmer #rikstarrr
Former singer song-writer (and artist) with popular late 70s Auckland folk-pop group Waves, Graeme Gash made his solo debut with After the Carnival in 1981, which saw some praise in John Dix’s excellent history of New Zealand Rock and Pop ‘Stranded in Paradise’.
#nzmusic #graemegash #waves #nzfolkmusic
Punchy proto-punk styled group featuring the core duo of Tony Collins and Anthony Norman (both from Dum Dum Boys and The Henchmen). The new group spent several years travelling between Sydney, London, Paris and back to Auckland – releasing a couple albums on French label New Rose Records and finding some US college radio success with their single ‘Zenith’ before splitting in 1991.
#nzmusic #reptilesatdawn #dumdumboys #thehenchmen
Dunedin 4-piece indie-rock outfit with a sound heavily indebted to the classic early Flying Nun groups. Self-released a couple albums and toured with support from A Low Hum before ending in 2009.
#nzmsuci #onanon
Popular early Christchurch punk group that were regulars at the legendary Mollett Street and The Strand.
Survived by a single recording on ‘Teenagers from Outer Space’ – a rare compilation of Christchurch groups compiled by Andrew Schmidt.
#nzmusic #nzpunk #thevauxhalls
Dribbling Darts was Matthew Bainnsters post-Sneaky Feelings song-writing vehicle from 1989-1993. Known for their catchy singlecand silly video ‘Hey Judith’.
#nzmusic #dribblingdarts #sneakyfeelings #flyingn
Excellent instrumentalist trio from the garden city formed by Matt Craw (guitar), James Musgrave (bass), and Jared Kelly (drums) in early 2005. Taking cues from a variety of informed directions, the group were prolific features of the local live scene, and attached themselves to both R18 and all-age crowds with varying success. Playing an involved instrumental sound heavy on dynamics.
Legendary New Zealand underground musician Alastair Galbraith’s first band. Flanked by Robbie Muir and Jeff Harford they put out 2 extremely hard to find EP’s in the mid 80s that show-case Galbraith’s brilliant talent for song-writing at an early age, particularly on their second EP – ‘Stormed Port’.
#nzmusic #undergroundmusic #therip #alastairgalbraith #flyingnun
Loose Palmerston North noise punk outfit. Very few details exist online other than their link to Palmerston North labels Yellow Bike Records and Spotty Dog.
#nzmusic #rake #spottydog #yellowbikerecords
English-born composer who on settling in New Zealand in the early 1980’s started working with many of New Zealand’s best and most creative contemporary independent musicians and groups – Tall Dwarfs, Blam Blam Blam, Big Sideways, Avant Garage etc.
#nzmusic #ivanzagni
3-piece guitar-less surf trio out of Wellington with members using the aliases Capt Hammondhead (Nigel Patterson – screaming vintage organ), Segue Lugosi (Dylan Herkes – over-driven bass guitar), and Trevlac (rock-steady surf drums).
#nzmusic #surfmusic #thechandeliers #stinkmagnetic
Blissful psychedelic pop from Simon McLaren, known for his high-energy, explosive songs in Loves Ugly Children and The Subliminals, partnered with The Onedin Line’s Mark Anderson. The group have released 2 albums 13 years apart, with a live band consisting of well-known Auckland-based musicians.
#nzmusic #sleepersunion #psychpop
The Gordons appeared out of (almost) nowhere in March 1980 to take the mantel of Christchurch’s (and soon New Zealand’s) loudest band; however they were more than just loud. It’s the songs they created during their initial year and a half run that have fuelled the legend of the Gordons. Through blistering feedback and propulsive bass come visions of a dystopian future, and anti-regime anthems.
#nzmusic #thegordons #bailterspace
Auckland punk group from 1979-1980 who were part of the AK79 scene. Their recordings (which were later compiled into a retrospective release) show some reggae and new wave influence.
#nzmusic #nzpunk #primmers #zwines #ak79