1998 was a vibrant and busy year for the Wellington punk and hardcore scene, marked by a strong mix of local activity and a steady flow of international touring bands.
The year kicked off with local favourites Brubeck achieved a significant milestone when they were invited to perform on the Vans Warped Tour ’98 in Auckland alongside major international acts like Pennywise, The Vandals, and Blink-182. This was a rare opportunity for a Wellington band to share the stage with some of the biggest names in the punk and skate-punk world at the time. Screaming Asylum Productions helped bring Californian punks Your Mother down for a North Island tour that included a stop at Thistle Hall on January 15 with Diecast and Fatal Error.
Auckland and Hamilton bands such as Sommerset, Vendetta, and Vargas heading south for a series of all-ages hall shows in the Hutt Valley and central Wellington during February and March. These DIY-style gigs helped keep the local scene energised and connected across the North and South Islands.
In April, UK punk legends The Varukers brought their old-school aggression to the iconic Bar Bodega, joined by local support from Fatal Error and Barzell. The show was a highlight for fans of classic, no-nonsense punk. Mid-year saw the return of several Wellington acts: Flesh D-Vice, Vas Deferens, and Gobsmakt resurfaced in June, while Sommerset played a more intimate house show at Kensington Street in July.
In September, New York grindcore heavyweights Brutal Truth rolled into town, playing Wellington on the 15th and delivering one of the more extreme and intense shows of the year.
The year wrapped up on a high note in December when San Diego’s Sprung Monkey performed at Indigo Bar alongside local bands Brubeck and Blake.
Throughout 1998, Wellington’s punk scene remained active and welcoming to both local and visiting acts. From all-ages hall shows and house parties to established venues like Bar Bodega and Indigo, the city continued to support a diverse range of punk, hardcore, and grindcore sounds.
January
- Jan 15, Thistle Hall: Your Mother (USA), Fatal Error, Diecast
- Jan 23, Epuni Hall: Bilesuction, Diecast, WGI
- Jan 30, James Cabaret: Sadius Fiend, Diecast, Police Lucifer, Damn Image, Premature Autopsy
February
- Feb 20, Epuni Hall: Sommerset, Diecast
- Feb 28, Aro Valley Hall: Vendetta, Vargas, Arkane, Walking Groin Infection
March
- Help, My Snowman’s Burning #3 zine
- March 28, Aro Valley Hall: Sommerset, Brubeck, Barzell
April
- April 23, Bar Bodega: The Varukers (UK), Fatal Error, Barzell
May
- May 30, Thistle Hall: Balance, Fatal Error, Barzell
June
- June 4, Bar Bodega: Gob Smakt, Vas Deferens, Flesh D-Vice
July
- July 4, 23a Kensington St: Sommerset, Barzell
- July 24, Hole In The Wall: Pothic Gunk: Fatal Error, Reserved For Emily, Creassault
- July 25, Hole In The Wall: Pothic Gunk: Malevolence, Disjecta Membra, Antoinettes Head
- July 30, Bar Bodega: The Hasselhoff Experiment
August
- Aug, Wellington Regional Rockquest Finals: Channel 13, Floorpie
- Aug 29, Valve: Loosehead, The Shirleys
September
- Sept 5, Valve: Sticky Filth
- Sept 12, BNU Hall: Sadius Fiend, Gobsmakt, The Offbeats
- Sept 15, Indigo: Brutal Truth, Malevolence, Fatal Error, Denial
- Sept 25, James Cabaret: Sadius Fiend, The Hasselhoff Experiment, Brubeck, Gobsmakt, Blake
October
- Oct 29, Indigo: Kitsch, Brubeck, Blake
December
- Dec 1, Indigo: Sprung Monkey (US), Blake, Brubeck
- Dec 11, Thistle Hall: Sommerset, Vargas, Punchbag, One Inch Bitch
- Dec 12, Valve: Sticky Filth, Crack Mono
- Dec 16, Indigo: Big Blue Blanket, Punchbag, PDF
