In Cahoots was a hardcore punk band from Newtown formed in 2008, and made their live debut on July 12 that year at a Mount Victoria house party alongside The Outsiders. The lineup featured Dan Fraser on guitar and vocals, Cameron Reid on drums, Lucie Camp on guitar, Liz Gibson on bass, and Ben Clausen on lead vocals. At the time, Dan Fraser was also active in Shortlived and Scab, bringing experience from earlier Wellington bands dating back to the late 1990s, including Deaf Terrorists, Bonus Donor, The Deadline, and others.
Drawing heavy inspiration from 1990s American hardcore – particularly bands like Tragedy and His Hero Is Gone – as well as punk acts such as D.F.L. (Dead Fucking Last), In Cahoots delivered raw, aggressive sound rooted in that era’s crusty, emotive style.
In October 2008, they recorded a seven-song self-titled release, which included a cover of D.F.L.’s “Sourpuss.” The tape was self-released in April 2009. Liz left the band in late October to travel the Americas with Steph Stutely from Cult of The Cobra stepping in on bass.
The band’s run ended abruptly with their final show on April 29, 2009, at a bill that also marked the last Wellington performances for Scab and Shortlived. Dan Fraser headed overseas, bringing the project to a close after less than a year.
In the years that followed, members remained active in the Wellington and broader New Zealand punk scene: Ben Clausen and Lucie Camp later played together in the party-punk band The Dilfs. Liz Gibson went on to join Awkward Death, Ayn Randy, and Fog. Cameron Reid played in other local bands including Entrails and Dial. Dan Fraser and Cameron Reid reunited in the pop-punk outfit Phone Sex Robots, with Dan also playing in Pop OD, Bonecruncher, and Forced Starvation.
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| Origin | Newtown, Wellington |
| Genre | hardcore, punk |
| Years Active | 2008 – 2009 |
| Associated Acts | Shortlived, The Dilfs Ayn Randy Phone Sex Robots |
| Past Members | Lucie Camp (guitar) Ben Clausen (lead vocals) Dan Fraser (guitar, vocals) Liz Gibson (bass 2008) Steph Stuteley (bass 2008-2009) Cameron Reid (drums) |
Releases
| Title | Date | Label | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Cahoots | 2009, April | EP | tape |
Timeline
2008, July 12, Home St.
House party at Stu and Niam’s with The Outsiders, In Cahoots.
2008, September 12, Valve
2008, October, Dan’s parents place
Recording In Cahoots.
2008, November 7, Bar Bodega
2008, November 29, Valve
2009
2009, April 5, Lorne St.
w/ Backyard Burial, Gaywyre, Dauntless
2009, April 9, Bodega
w/ The Outsiders, Not Quite Right
2009, April, In Cahoots
2009, April 29, The Adelaide
