1996 – UP THE PUNKS

1996 was a year of both loss and resurgence for the Wellington punk and underground music community. It began on a sombre note with the tragic death of Gerald Dwyer, frontman of Flesh D-Vice, prominent show organiser, and band manager, on January 19. Dwyer’s passing sent shockwaves through New Zealand’s punk and hardcore scene.

Despite the early setback, the scene showed strong signs of vitality throughout the year. In March, Wellington’s Loosehead contributed to the compilation EP When The Mute Get Lucid vol.2, released as part of the Wellington Singles Club. The release featured local acts including Scote, Cowcatcher, and Svelte.

Local hardcore energy was on display in May when Auckland’s Balance played at Thistle Hall alongside new Wellington bands Diecast and Subdue. Thistle Hall continued to serve as a key venue for the scene, hosting energetic shows that brought together national and local talent.

The year also saw cross-genre activity with Skaparty 3 at Antipodes, featuring Skapa and The Offbeats.

In October, Wellington hosted its first Punkfest, organised by the Screaming Asylum Productions crew at Thistle Hall over Labour Weekend. This two-night event drew bands from around the country and acted as a major rallying point for what was described as a nationwide “3rd wave of punk.” It helped solidify Wellington’s position as an important hub for punk in New Zealand.
Other notable activity included tours passing through Wellington, such as UK punk band Citizen Fish in June and Hamilton hardcore bands Shinkasta and Ghidrah in July. Palmerston North’s Motorsheep also played Thistle Hall in August to celebrate their second 7” release, Incomplete Loser.

January

Jan 19: RIP Gerald Dwyer
Jan 27, The Stomach: Cytoplasm, Cannibal Sex Kicks, Wholesale Drainage, Meatmarket, Motorsheep

February

Feb: When The Mute Get Lucid vol. 1: Loosehead

March

March: When The Mute Get Lucid vol. 2: Scote, Cowcatcher, Loosehead, Svelte
March 3, Wild Horse Saloon: Dead Moon, Motorsheep, Shoeshine

April

When The Mute Get Lucid vol. 3: Cowcatcher/ Svelte

May

May, When The Mute Get Lucid vol. 4: Loosehead/ Scote
May 11, Thistle Hall: Balance, Diecast, Subdue
May 11, Bar Bodega: The Offbeats

June

June: When The Mute Get Lucid vol. 5: The Offbeats/ Spade
June 1, Antipodes: Skapa, The Offbeats, Screaming Orgsams, State Of It
June 8, Thistle Hall: Diswomble, Lagerwerfer, Malevolence, Subdue
June 23, Arthouse: Citizen Fish (UK), Wrongbody, SMUT, Human Error, Mutiny
June 26, Thistle Hall: Citizen Fish, The Offbeats, Diecast, Loosehead
June 27, Wild Horse Saloon: Citizen Fish, Motorsheep, Wholesale Drainage
June 28, Nawton Hall: Hamilton: Citizen Fish, Balance, Shinkasta, Ghidrah
June 29, Black Lagoon, College Hill: Citizen Fish, Diswomble, Balance

July

July 6: Thistle Hall: Ghidrah, Shinkasta, Motorsheep, Subdue
July 7, The Stomach: Shinkasta, Ghidrah, Motorsheep, State Of Hate

August

Aug 11, Antipodes: The Offbeats
Aug 18, Bar Bodega: The Offbeats
Aug 24: Motorsheep: Incomplete Loser
Aug 24: When The Mute Get Lucid vol.6
Aug 24, Thistle Hall: Motorsheep, Loosehead, Diecast

September

Sept 13: Excommunicated compilation
Sept 13: The Stomach: Excommunicated release: Wholesale Drainage, Motorsheep, Slugfarm, Cytoplasm, Pushkin
Sept 15: Ska-otea-roa compilation
Sept 19, The Squid: Skapa
Sept 20: The Exchange: Skapa
Sept 21: Shakespeare: Skapa