Dunedin grunt-rock trio that formed in 1993 and recorded their debut self-titled album at Volt Studios in 1995, and 2nd album Thirsty at Strawberry Sounds in 1997. Bassist / vocalist Richard Strang was also a member of The Magick Heads.
The groups recordings have recently been made available on streaming services after years of being unavailable.
#nzmusic #runt
In 1995 The 3Ds guitarist and vocalist Dave Saunders got together with well-known drummer Alan Haig to record a 3-song single for Flying Nun Records under the name Spacious – all 3 songs were eventually re-recorded by The 3Ds for their final album ‘Strange News from the Angels’.
#nzmusic #spacious #the3ds
The Flamin’ Werepigs were a gritty 3-piece garage-rock outfit from Mid-Late 1990’s Palmerston North who got a couple of recordings put out by Kato Records thanks to pestering label head-honcho Andrew Tolley by faxing a cache of found pornography!
#nzmusic #flaminwerepigs
Junkanoo were a percussive band from Christchurch who put out a split album release on Campbell McLay’s Onset/Offset label in 1986, recorded at Arne van Bussell’s Nightshift Studios. The name ‘Junkanoo’ stems from a festival that was originated during the period of African chattel slavery in British American colonies.
#nzmusic #junkanoo
The Gardening Angels were a Wellington group that featured a fairly fluid line-up over their 2-album time-span, including members of a number of local Ska bans, plus Richard Caigou from The Holidaymakers, and experienced bassist Steve Hemmens (formerly of fames 1970’s group Mammal).
The group regularly played at Bar Bodega during the early to mid 1990s.
#nzmusic #thegardeningangels
The early 1980’s solo recording alias of Kevin Smith – who went on to find fame as an actor with the character Ares in the Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princes franchises before his life was tragically cut short.
Smith recorded and released a series of lo-fi underground rock cassettes, often with Pat Faigan (aka Duane Zarakov – later of Space Dust, King Loser etc) and Steve Watson – initially as part of The Picnic Boys collective and later as a member of Say Yes to Apes, who self-recorded and released a variety of lo-fi DIY releases on their own TV Eye label.
#nzmusic #undergroundmusic #hyphensmythe #kevinsmith
Hyphen-Ears was an underground group formed by South Island-based duo Kevin Smith (aka Hyphen-Smythe) and Steve Watson (aka Legacy of Ears) as a sideline to their Dunedin-based group Say Yes to Apes – which itself was an outgrowth of the The Picnic Boys recording collective).
The two Hyphen-Ears releases were some of the last by the TV Eye collective – vocalist Kevin Smith was soon channelling his creativity into acting…
#nzmusic #hyphenears #tveye
The Picnic Boys was a loose collective formed around the core trio of Kevin Smith, Patrick Faigan and Steve Watson (who later became Say Yes to Apes). At Faigan’s behest the various members recorded their own take on ‘experimental’ music to tape, which was later compiled into a handful of cassette releases on the groups TV Eye label in the early 1980s.
#nzmusic #thepicnicboys #sayyestoapes #tveye
Extremely wild Dunedin old-school rock’n’roll from a handful of underground experimental or lo-fi musicians. I managed to catch them once at the Provincial Lounge in Christchurch and was blown away by their stage antics; which included jumping on the Prov’s bar, kicking over drinks.
#nzmusic #thehodogs
Dunedin based avant-indie trio featuring Mike Dooley (Toy Love and Snapper – Drums) his step-daughter Maxine Funke (Guitar) and Brett Moodie (Guitar), that formed out of the Dooley / Funke duo The Beaters.
Their debut EP was a meditative production guided by Arc Life engineer (and member of David Kilgour’s Heavy Eights) Tom Bell, whilst their follow-up Dance The Dervish is closer to a live recording, though still capturing their eclectic strengths – both released on the bands own Horrible Records (the name, not the quality) label.
#nzmusic #thesnares
A well-liked melodic indie-rock group that emerged from Palmerston North in the early 1990s, self-recorded a cassette before being picked up by Rob Mayes Failsafe Records label for their discography highlight; 1992’s ‘Etch’ EP.
#nzmusic #feastofstevens #failsaferecords
A ‘dirty Palmy low-fi punk sludge band’ from the ever-talented Ross Harkness and a crew of The Stomach regulars. Released the majority of their material on their own DIY cassette and lathe cut imprint Lizard Mull Records. Their recordings have an endearing shambolic nature and some blistering guitar.
#nzmusic #foisemaster
An early garage-rock turned punk group led by Christchurch music stalwart Al Park. Established Mollet Street Market – a communal venue that would become the centre of Christchurch’s punk and underground scenes in 1977-78.
#nzmusic #vaporandthetrails #alpark
Hugely popular Christchurch hard-rock all-girl group with a very 90’s riotgrrrl sound and a line-up that changed quite a bit over time. Members have included: Reta Le Quesne, twins Joanne and Sharon Billesdon, Lisa Preston, Fleur Walden Ninakaye Taane-Tinorau and Carla Rotta .
They recorded 2 singles, then had an album and a music video held back by Festival Records in nefarious circumstances.
#nzmusic #snort
Melodic Christchurch indie-pop trio who released a catchy and incredibly brief 5 song EP, along with a handful of tunes straight to student radio that subsequently turned up on the ‘Indie Hit Disc’ radio promotion CDs. Holloway and Bycroft would later form The Undercurrents.
#nzmusic #thecentrewillhold #theundercurrents