Dr Kevorkian and the Suicide Machine
The early 2000’s recording outfit of Jordan Reyne. Built around Reyne’s strong vocals and a variety of musicians, mostly of the studio-pro variety (which currently includes Trinity Roots’ Rikki Gooch).
Dress
Yuri Frusin and Helen Johnstone (also both of Garbage and the Flowers) with Pianist Kristen Wineera (The Idle Suite, The Drugs, The Blueness).
Both members have since reunited with GATFs guitarist Paul Ling in the Melbourne-based Minit.
The Mint Chicks
Excellent post-punk band taking in equal measures of Voidoids style angular guitar and Blood Brothers style furious hardcore screaming and breakbeat crunch. A talented 4-piece with an excellent grounding in music production, they were snapped up by Flying Nun after building a strong live reputation in auckland during 2002-3. ‘licking letters’ is the first single, coming from the break-through Octagon, Octagon, Octagon Ep, and is a jerky, stop-start ripper, few bands have shown such intensity committed to plastic.
The Topp Twins
Years of playing camping grounds, festivals and all sorts of alternative venues have turned the Topps into a household name in New Zealand, eventually becoming television stars with their scattered performances. Their performances include country yodel sing-a-longs, any number of sketch-character setups (usually with crowd involvement), and of course spoon solos.
Gestalt Switch
(At the time) young and upcoming Dunedin rock act, forming in December 2001. Haven’t heard their 4 song debut ep, but they seem to be pushing a diverse sound – with loudness appearing to be key.
Maryrose and Brian Crook (April 2004)
The Renderers played Christchurch on Friday April 23rd, 2004 at Creation along with the Terminals and an acoustic performance from Hamish Kilgour (The Clean / Magick Heads etc). I conducted this interview with Brian and Maryrose Crook in the lead-up to the show.
Skeptics
Hugely popular and influential New Zealand industrial rock act who emerged out of Palmerston North in 1979. Known for their grinding sound (a mix of noisy, scattered and angular guitar and eclectic electronic sounds) and one particularly visual music video – the incredible and universally banned ‘Affco’.
Slim
4-piece Christchurch hard-rock outfit who originally formed as Gluefist. Made a bit of an impact in the late 90s through to 2002 with a few singles (particularly ‘Bullet In My Hand’, which received significant radio play) and a few high-profile support slots.
French for Rabbits
Lovely, dreamy, folky indie-pop from (former Ragamuffin Children and The O’Lovelys) keyboardist Brook Singer and Jazz guitarist John Fitzgerald (guitar). Taking a DIY approach the group have toured Europe and the US, garnished exposure on television series soundtracks and grown a fairly sizeable following around the globe.
Swampy
Nick Bollinger (The NZ Listener): “Dunedin based troubadour with a four track writes witty commentaries on society, love, and discount shopping. His guitar, casio and drum machine provide more colour than one might expect.”
The Riptoids
Christchurch lo-fi rock group from the mid 1980’s with an ever-changing line-up and several releases on group member Campbell McLay’s ‘Onset/Offset’ label.
Plains
Auckland-based group comprised of experimental underground regulars – Tim Coster (field recordings), Richard Francis (computer), Rosy Parlane (guitar, computer), Mark Sadgrove (feedback, linuxcsound), Clinton Watkins (guitar) and Paul Winstanley (electric bass, digital feedback).
Silent Decree
Really dark and ominous Auckland Goth/Post-Punk 4-piece formed in Howick in 1981. Released an EP on Paul Lurkers Industrial Tapes label before splitting up in 1983. Vocalist Patrick Waller would go on to form The Kiwi Animal, while Andrew Moon was in Goblin Mix.
The Penthouse
The Penthouse (sometimes just referred to as ‘Level 5’) was a venue name given to the 5th floor of Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti School in Central Christchurch, above the old Hallensteins building in Cashel Plaza.
Creation
Excellent multi-use space established by the Therapeutic Arts Trust in 2000 – Ciaran Fox was originally involved before Adam Hayward joined the board in 2001 and took over directorship in 2002.