Excellent quirky Christchurch rock group who formed in the late 1990’s, had an incredibly prolific few years with 4 albums, an album and a single released in quick succession. The group then transitioned into an occasional reunion outfit, with several of the key members now living out of town or overseas. Led by their namesake (and only consistent member) the band have had many offshoot groups.
#nzmusic #steffanvansoesthitmachine
Long-running country-folk flavoured rock band from Christchurch featuring singer-songwriter Fleur Walden (aka Fleur de Lis). After forming in 1997 it took until 2004 for their debut album was released – a strong selection of songs that date right back to the bands formation.
#nzmusic #thedialtones #fleurdelis
Christchurch 5-piece rock group who put out a self-titled debut in 1995 after featuring on Failsafe Records Good Things compilation. Disbanded in 1996. Keyboardist Andrew ‘The Hammer’ Hamtpon would later become the head of New Zealand’s Secret Service, i.e. the GCSB.
#nzmusic #wadd #failsaferecords #gcsb
Terrific organ-driven indie pop group from mid to late 1990’s Christchurch. Put out 2 7″ lathe singles then promptly disappeared, but singer / keyboardist / guitarist Annabel Alpers went on to find fame with her solo project Bachelorette.
#nzmusic #hawaiifive0
Jangly Christchurch pop from the early 1980’s. The group recorded a 6 song mini-album with the intent of it being released on Flying Nun Records, however the recordings went unreleased until 2013 when it was picked up and released as a retrospective LP by German label Unwucht.
The song ‘Mystery’ shows the group had bags of potential.
#nzmusic #theworld
Trillionaires were a Christchurch institution through the late 1990s and 2000s. A covers band formed as a super-group of local musicians with the twin vocals of Ross Humphries and Nicole Moffat.
The group were known for their eclectic covers, with each song reinterpreted in their own unique style, usually as a rollicking garage rock’n’roll number, driven by the killer guitar of Mick Elborado and the rhythm section of John Christoffels (bass) and Malcolm Grant (drums).
#nzmusic #trillionaires
Celia Mancini’s ‘lounge band in the ’80s.’ A Christchurch-based group that played a variety of upmarket events with Mancini fronting a killer backing band. Unknown for many years, a recording of Bobby Hebb’s ‘Sonny’ on the excellent ‘The Celia Mancini Tapes’ posthumous release in 2018.
#nzmusic #celiamancini #theafterdinnermints
Presumably named after a song by notorious cult leading serial killer (and Beach Boys collaborator) Charles Manson. One of Duane Zarakov, Celia Mancini and Brother Love’s many psychedelic rock acts – this time a Christchurch-based group who were around during 1991 (after the demise of The Axel Grinders, but before Space Dust and King Loser) and recorded a single cassette EP.
#nzmusic #undergroundmusic #ceasetoexist #theaxelgrinders #kingloser #spacedust
The Axel Grinders were a hard-edged rock’n’roll group with touch of humour, formed by future King Loser members Celia Patel (aka Celia Mancini), Pat Faigan (Duane Zarakov) and Martin Henderson (Brother Love), with John Markie (John Segovia) and Phil Ascott. Their recordings were finally made freely available in 2014.
#nzmusic #theaxelgrinders #kingloser
The Portage was a 2-piece group featuring Nux Vomica’s Lawrence Kennett and Lisa Preston, after the earlier groups demise in the mid 1980’s. The released a single rare EP in 1988, due to be reissued in an expanded format by Leather Jacket Records.
#nzmusic #theportage #nuxvomica #leatherjacketrecords
High School aged indie-pop duo from Christchurch, formed in 2009 after the dissolution of former group Fuzzy Fuzzmin. Recorded an EP of original songs cribbed put together by Steven Park on guitar, utilising ‘sad poetry’ from vocalist Georgia Munn’s notebook.
#nzmusic #folkmusic #0.00horses #fuzzyfuzzmin
High School-aged shenanigans from future BnP members. Lonely Harris Club were firmly a party band with a focus on covers (specifically a large catalogue of Brian Jonestown Massacre songs, plus a handful of classic nuggets).
#nzmusic #lonelyharrisclub #bnp
The very first group to record on Flying Nun Records, fronted by legendary experimental guitarist Roy Montgomery. Dark and Gloomy, evocative recordings – suitably earning the nickname ‘Roy Division’.
#nzmusic #pingroup #flyingnunrecords #roymontgomery
Biography Started life as Christchurch-based teen instrumental duo The Shocking and Stunning Statement, eventually relocated to Wellington and dropped the ‘Statement‘. The majority of their activity came during the early 2010’s – 6 EPs and a couple singles, before the… Read More »The Shocking and Stunning
Manic Christchurch outfit based around the extreme bass guitar talents of (apprentice Wizard) Ari Freeman, with drumming by Andrew Robins, piccolo bass by Andrew Moore and the junk percussion of Mike Fordham (original member Adrian Currie moved to Wellington in 2002). Released an EP before moving on to other groups.
#nzmusic #luge #arifreeman