Brubeck was a Wellington punk rock band formed in late 1996 by Paul Tansley and Sarah Radford, after their previous group Lime Nugget broke up. Recruiting Dave Hampton on bass and Johnny Brough (formerly of Schitzofrantics) on drums the four-piece soon became a cornerstone band of the capital city’s “fourth wave” of punk
Brubeck spent the first half of 1997 honing a set of original songs, and recording eight tracks in a day-and-a-half session. Two of these songs (Letterbomb and Specimen) were included on the Punked If I Know! CD, produced by Auckland label Onefoot Records, who also offered to release a split CD, Cigarettes and Sourbears, with fellow Wellington band Monkey Puzzle.
Brubeck’s live debut was a high-profile opening slot for Washington, D.C. punk legends Fugazi on June 28, 1997, at Victoria University Hall. Paul cites the gig as a formative experience for the young band, noting their raw, unpretentious performance – complete with house lights on to avoid any “showbiz” veneer – as a profound influence. Over the years, they shared stages with many more international acts like Millencolin, No Fun at All, The Offspring, Less Than Jake, and Sprung Monkey.
In 1999, drummer Johnny Brough left the band and James Watson, straight outta Upper Hutt College, jumped in. Despite the age gap, James integrated seamlessly into Brubeck. In 2001, Brubeck released their debut album, The Myoclonic Twitch, a 20-track, 33-minute burst of fast, melodic punk. Recorded over an extended period starting in 1999, the album showcased the band’s songwriting range, from frenetic tracks like Lawn to the infectious Skinny and Rob Clark’s Fishing Secrets. Released on August 9, the band did a lap of the North Island to celebrate the album and kept up a busy schedule over the following two years.
Brubeck played their final shows in July 2003, opening for California punk band Strung Out and a mid-winter evening show in Civic Square. With Sarah heading off to Australia, Paul, Dave, and James decided to hang it up rather than replace her.
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| Origin | Wellington |
| Genre | melodic punk |
| Years Active | 1997 – 2003 |
| Labels | Half Pie Recordings |
| Associated Acts | Blake, Monkey Puzzle |
| Past Members | Paul Tansley (guitar, lead vocals) Dave Hampton (bass, vocals) Sarah Radford (guitar) Johnny Brough (drums 1) James Watson (drums 2) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes And Sourbears | 1997, July | One Foot Records | split | CD |
| Punked If I Know | 1997, July 28 | One Foot Records | compilation | CD |
| A Day In The Life: New Zealand Punk/ Ska/ Hardcore | 2000, June | compilation | CD | |
| The Myoclonic Twitch | 2001, Aug 9 | Half Pie Recordings | album | CD/ DL |
| Underground Resistance | 2003 | Stakeout Records | compilation | CD |
Timeline
1997, June 28, Victoria Uni Hall
1997, July, Cigarettes And Sourbears
1997, Punked If I Know
1998
1998, January 9, Vans Warped Tour
1998, March 28, Aro Valley Hall
1998, September 25, James Cabaret
1998, October 29, Indigo
Photo: Skippy
1998, December 1, Indigo
Photos: Jim Gardner/ Skippy
1999
1999, June 27, Queen’s Wharf Event Centre
The Offspring (USA), Brubeck
1999, July 30, Indigo
1999, September 24, Indigo
1999, October 5, Valve
Less Than Jake (USA), Brubeck
1999, December 16, Indigo
2000
2000, summer, Civic Square
2000, February 1, James Cabaret
2000, June 9, Powerstation
A Day In The Life compilation release show w/ Sommerset, Kitsch, Day One, Blake, Brubeck
2000, June 16, Thistle Hall
2000, October 24, James Cabaret
No Fun At All, Brubeck, Kitsch
2001
2001, April 6, Kings Arms
w/ The Ataris
2001, April 7, Odins Inn (Napier)
w/ The Ataris
2001, April 8, Indigo
w/ The Ataris
2001, August 9, The Myoclonic Twitch
2001, August 11 – September 1, North Island tour
- Aug 11, Youthzone: Brubeck, Foamy Ed, My Two Cents
- Aug 24, Masonic Tavern: Brubeck, Foamy Ed, Next In Line
- Aug 31, Odin’s Inn/ State of It: Brubeck, Foamy Ed, Tempo 38
- Sept 1, Indigo: Brubeck, Foamy Ed, The Valley Five
2001, September 30, Valve
2001, November 16, Indigo
2001, November 17, The Stomach
2001, December 15, Valve
2002
2002, March 2, Palmerston North Events Centre
2002, March 28, The Stomach
2002, August 3, 85 Broadway
2002, September 6, Underground Arts
Brubeck, Dirk Drent, The Minimals, Bonus Donor, Hung Jury
2002, October 25-26, Punkfest
2002, November 1, Indigo
Shakhan album release with Brubeck
2002, December 7, Valve
2002, December 14, Irish Society Hall
2003
2003, January 11, Brewers Bar, TGA
Brubeck, Mailbox Skipole, Tempo 38, Dead Letter, Misadventures
2003, February 8, The Stomach
2003, February 28, Bar Bodega
Missing Teeth, Brubeck, The Offbeats
2003, March 15, Alternative Routes
2003, April 10, Indigo
Hot Water Music, Brubeck, The Bleeders, The Deadline
2003, June 28, Indigo
Missing Teeth, The Offbeats, Brubeck, Foamy Ed, If I Had A Gun
2003, July 3, Indigo
2003, July 5, Civic Square
Come and watch Grouch, Brubeck and P Money play in Civic Square, Wellington on the 5th of July at 7pm with 10 tons of snow and a huge snowboarding competition!!!
