PUNK IT UP IV – Saturday 25 May 2019 @ ZWINES (The Bluestone Room)
Auckland’s semi-regular premier punk rock’n’roll event returns! As usual, featuring classic and current bands, a plethora of local DJs, merchandise and information booths, and an after party until bloody late.
After being part of the Kings Arms closing events (on the second to last Saturday) as the last real punk show before its unfortunate demise from the Auckland, and for that matter, New Zealand’s, live music scene, Punk It Up was left with a quandary. Where do they do the next knees up?
There were many emails and venue quotes, back and forward conversations between the PIU team, and in the end, combined with the need to maintain the format of “more than just a bunch of bands playing”, the crew decided that a return to Auckland’s real punk roots was needed by putting it on in the same building, using both floors, but especially the upstairs floor that housed the infamous Zwines Niteclub back in the day.
Not only that, two of the bands specially reforming for this May’s party, actually played their first gigs at Zwines almost 40 years to the day!
This is a once in a lifetime chance to see good friends from the past, meet new ones for the future, and indulge in the best punk rock’n’roll shindig this side of the black stump!
Tickets on sale tomorrow at 9.00am from Under The Radar, it’s a limited capacity venue, so don’t miss out!
The Spelling Mistakes
The Spelling Mistakes were formed out of the remnants of Get Smart and the Aliens – Warwick Hitler, brothers Julian and Nick Hanson, and Keith Bacon – and soon became popular with the punters at Zwines. They secured a ‘fervant yet notoriously rowdy following’ (Jason Ankeny, Allmusic.com), and the replacement of Bacon, by Nigel Russell on bass, led the band to go on to win the Windsor Castle’s 1980 Battle of the Bands contest. The prize was day of recording, which led to Propeller records releasing their first single ‘Feels So Good’, which is still a favourite anthem today.
Note that The Spelling Mistakes first show was with Proud Scum at Zwines in May of 1979…
Proud Scum
Attracting a hardcore cult following, and despite their brevity, Proud Scum’s reputation is firmly cemented as one of the most popular second wave of early punk bands in NZ.
Their track ‘I Am A Rabbit’ was covered by Evan Dando on the Lemonheads’ debut EP, after he heard the punk classic on US College radio.
Newmatics
‘Riot Squad’
The Newmatics came out of a fertile post-punk early 80s Auckland music scene that also spawned Blam Blam Blam and the Screaming Meemees. Taking their cues from ska, r’n’b and soul, they were a fearsome live act — but managed to release only nine songs (including their enduring legacy ‘Riot Squad’ — synonymous now with the 1981 Springbok Tour). – Nzonscreen.com
bankRobbers
‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ Ft. Paul Cavemen
Returning to tantalise your earholes will be ‘All Star cover band’ bankRobbers, with Features/Fetus Productions’ own legend, Jed Town, alongside No Tag’s Andrew Boak. Joined by guest vocalists and muscians from other local noisemakers, bankRobbers will be finishing the live portion of the evening, getting punters ready for the afterparty ’til bloody late.
The Bombers (City Newton Bombers)
Featuring members of City Newton Bombers, their live performance is gritty and driving, a perfect fit for the other bands on the bill.
With DJs: Dubhead, Miss Dom, Lise, Phil A & Wastemaster
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