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.
Die! Die! Die!
Since forming their first band in High School back in Dunedin, the duo of Michael Prain and Andrew Wilson have been consistently at the forefront of New Zealand independent music. Die! Die! Die! formed in 2003 as an Auckland-based post-punk group with an explosive, propulsive sound and excellent songs.
Casagrante Apparatus
Dunedin mid-90s experimental trio with a handful of impossible to find releases, including a lathe on Crawlspace, and 2 releases on drummer Stefan Neville’s own ‘A Stabbies and the Rocket Recording’ label.
Hiatus
Experimental music from Nick Hodgson (later known as Nick Harte), High Tension House’s Hamish Noonan and Tim McDonald. Scattered drums and treated guitars form a free-noise vibe that’s not entirely unpleasant
Monkey Records
Monkey records is an independent record label, founded mid-2000, dedicated to releasing and promoting New Zealand based artists of an innovative or experimental nature.
Ebony Sye
Youthful New wave pop group who put out an album in 1987 on Auckland label Ode Records before disappearing. Frontman Neil de Jong would resurface in another short-lived group (Voodoo Love); however the most well-known group he’s associated with would be Alien Weapony, as brothers Henry and Lewis de Jong are his songs, and he’s assisted as a live sound engineer and manager for the group.
The Clean
The Clean have left a giant stamp on New Zealand Independent Music. The group that came to define ‘The Dunedin Sound’ had a terrific topsy-turvy career that spanned 5 albums and a number of EPs, singles, compilations and live releases over a 31 year time-span.
Mainly Spaniards
Jangly indie-rock 4 piece from early 1980’s Christchurch. During their life they put out a well-received 7″ single on Flying Nun before going their separate ways. Failsafe Records released a retrospective compilation of their recordings in 2021.
Jawload
Mid 1990s rock’n’roll outfit from Andrew Tolley, before he found fame with The Hasselhoff Experiment. Tolley formed the group with This will kill that drummer Andrew Goodchild, before expanding the band to a 4 piece (and both Tolley and Goodchild switching to guitar).
Jawload were based in Wellington and released an album and two singles on Tolley’s own Kato Records label.
Dum Dum Boys
An Iggy Pop and the Stooges obsessed proto-punk outfit from the early 80s. After recording New Zealand’s very first full-length punk LP (1981’s ‘Let there be noise’) the group morphed into The Henchmen.
Java Coffee House
Open-plan two-story Cafe on a (previously) busy corner in central Christchurch – Java was a quirky place with a colorful interior, good coffee and food. When Cafe’s were starting to explode in the late 90’s, Java was one of the places to be for young people in Christchurch.