The Minimals were a raw, chaotic punk band formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 2000. Born out of the Hutt Valley’s gritty teenage scene, the original lineup consisted of Jordon (vocals), Dylan (lead guitar), Sam (bass), and Dylan’s brother Ben (drums), with the trio of Jordon, Dylan, and Sam meeting as students at Taita College, while Ben studied at Polytech. The band later welcomed Matt as a second guitarist, cementing their five-piece lineup and adopting the name “The Minimals.”

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Origin	Lower Hutt
Genre	punk
Years Active	2000 – 2003
Associated Acts	Blake, Brubeck, Sheriff Lobo, Dirk Drent Pat Rimo
Past Members	Jordon Hutchison (vocals) Sam (bass) Dylan (lead guitar) Matt aka Chinnies (2nd guitar) Ben (drums 2000 – Sept 2002) Jason Gascoigne (drums Oct 2002)
Website	www.theminimals.co.nz

Releases

Title	Date	Label	Type	Format
The Oi Polloi Struggle	2002, Aug 19		EP	CD

Timeline

2000, September 23, Hutt Valley High School

A friend of ours was on the Hutt Cities prestigious youth council and had organised this concert to fundraise for something or other. Somehow we ended up saying we would play and even more bizarrely, we actually did end up on the stage “playing”. We weren’t called The Minimals then, but everything about the band (except for the people in it) remains the same today. That is – we smuggled in drinks, got drunk, couldn’t play our songs, threw shit at the audience, sounded terrible and insulted people. We played 2 originals plus two Greenday covers (such challenging songs as Brainstew), an Op Ivy cover and a Bryan Adams cover. Other highlights of the night were some impromptu line dancing, people hotboxing the lighting booth and some g styles.

2000, December 9, Featherstock

If our first show was bad, this one was worse. The stage was some dodgy trailers and everything crapped out. However, the microphone remained plugged in and Sam made sure we kept the campers entertained all night with some marvellous tales.

2001

2001, January, Civic Square

The show was alright actually – we got it videoed and there weren’t too many stuff ups. Anyways, it ended up with Jordon rolling around on the stage and getting kicked rather hard on the bottom, great stuff. The audience of 10 loved it. Not too sure about the sound desk crew, who had taken to turning Jordan’s mic off whenever words beginning with “f” or “s” threatened to spill out. But all in all it was ok – I guess cos we were sober.

2001, February 5, Sam’s Garage (Pomare)

2001, Nathan’s porch, Silverstream

House party with Pat Rimo

2001, April 6, Sam’s Garage (Pomare)

with Pat Rimo and Dirk Drent

We organised this show, once again at the garage on Pomare road. Sam even made some little tickets. 3 dollars for three bands – good money. It was a great night. Shelley from Dirk Drent managed to play despite not being able to feel her fingers, and by the end of the night only a few people had left chunky deposits on the lawn.

2001, April 7, Civic Square

Unwisely, we decided to return to the square. All 7 people (including us) thought it was good. Anyway, the organisers hated us again and we only lasted about 10 minutes before they took over the stage and we left.

2001, August 10, Flashbacks (L Hutt)

Battle of the Bands round 1

2001, August 11, Palmerston North

We turned up not too sure what to expect (apart from some weird band who dress up in girls clothing occasionally) anyway, it turned out the Nana Squad were a wicked bunch of blokes and we got on fine. For the first time there was a big crowd that appreciated the finer arts of the talentless style of music we deliver. They really got into us and it was choice. We stayed up all night drinking and listening to decent music, and much fun was had.

2001, August 17, 85 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North

One week later we were back in Palmerston North for another show with some of the lower North Island’s more established punk rock bands. It was another great night but I think Blake got in trouble for sticking their stickers on everything. Our show was uneventful – the usual high energy and the occasional fuck up – we aren’t perfectionists.

2001, August 23, Flashbacks (Lower Hutt)

Battle of the Bands round 2.

Well we were back for the second round and once again subject to some gothic morbidity. Unfortunately we didn’t know the judges as well, and less of the support crew came. So we never made it past this round. I can’t remember anything else.

2001, October 3, Eastside Bar,

Victoria Uni Battle of the Bands. This was one of those nightmare gigs – but it had some really good bits. I think we are just useless at setting up and sorting our sound out by ourselves, and we get too drunk. Anyway it started ok but after a song or two Dylan crashed his head into the pool table light (they moved the pool table) and blood started pissing everywhere. Around about this time he broke a string too. So while that was being sorted everyone else tried to keep it going with some free style rapping and stuff. I think the audience were amused but not so the judges. Dylan returned in time to leap onto the pool table and let rip, meanwhile Jordon was in the judges faces drinking their beer and spitting it over everyone. Great stuff. I think we lost battle of the bands tho.

2001, October 5, Paramata

Once again another party show but this time all the way out in Paramata. Awesome – it was one of our better shows actually, playing in the garage with a semi-decent sound system rigged up we played pretty tight and good. Pat Rimo played after us, by which time everyone had soaked up decent amounts of alcohol. They finished with a mammoth sing along to bro hymn. Nice stuff.

2001, October 13, 85 Broadway Ave

Another show at our favourite Palmerston North pad – this time “Mr Spunky Punk 2001”, some sort of punk rock beauty pageant. Jordon was “Mrs Minimal” and paraded around in his girlfriends togs. Not sure if any one in the band will ever be the same… anyway, the gig was the main event and it went off as indeed it seems all Palmy gigs we have played do. Everyone was in great spirits and a good night was had. We Dunno were totally amazing – rocketing up to the good end of the best NZ band list in no time at all.

2001, October 18, Valve

2001, October 19-21, Punkfest

Punkfest, New zealand’s premier crusty punk festival and us new skoolers got to play, har har har har. We played on the Saturday afternoon but it was still primo. Jordon was getting smart about us going against the leather jacket image they all have. It was awesome. One guy danced for us. I think he was spaced out. Fun all the same. The rest of the festival was awesome – so many awesome bands and the best hairstyles I have ever seen. Also some cheap patches and zines. Wicked.

Photos: Jim Gardner/ Skippy

2001, November 23, Valve

The Rod Johnson Experience, Sheriff Lobo, The Minimals

Mr Red from Rod Johnson organised this gig at the Valve. Our first gig at my favourite venue. Three young bands with quite different styles. Unfortunately it was raining and not as many punters came as we all would have liked. All the same, it was a good time and the crowd that was there had a good time. the valve rocks.

2001, December 7, State Of It, Napier

Having seen us play in Palmerston North, Blake took pity on us and abducted us. We were taken to some strange land with $8 per person mini golf. Fuck it. Anyway, we went to Napier for what was one of the finest weekends of The Minimals’ life. We drove up early and after a stop at the bottle store stopped by the venue. The owners were some neat guys trying to get DIY music back to life. We were to play two shows, the first an all ages and then thru the back to the front for the other. Anyway – our first show was the AA one, and the highlight was having a backstage room. Matt had bought tequila and lemons so we all got cranking on that, as well as everything else we had with us. Nice. A few of the Welly crew was there so it was quite a nice atmosphere. The show was alright, nothing too special except Tim spewed up over my amp 🙂

2001, December 7, Odin’s Inn, Napier

After the all-ages we carried all our gear through the wall into the bar. The site that greeted us was not pleasant – bogans, leather jackets and mullets. After an undie change we were back playing what will go down in history as our greatest ever show. We probably didn’t start playing until 12 or later, by which time we were all perfectly drunk. It went off better than anything ever. The mosh pit was super and we played all our songs right for a change. The energy levels were very high and Blake continued on – keeping us going for a long while. The bar guy was giving us free drinks and in the end booted everyone out apart from the bands and support crew. We ended up walking back to the motel at 7 in the morning (via a just opening café for some pancakes (for a few hours sleep before we got kicked out and went home via Splash Planet for some water sliding fun. It was an awesome night and the highlight of our musical lives.

2001, December 13, Valve

Back in Wellington for a gig the next week and it was raining again. Otherwise I guess this show was good, good bands, nice place – fun times. I dunno.

2001, December 22, Valve

Back at the Valve once again for Blake’s final New Zealand show before they left our shores for bigger things in Australia. We got there early to hear Blake practising the NZ classic “yayaya” (beer drinking) song. Wicked. Eventually, after some pre-show drinks, it was time to play, the Valve was packed out and we played quite well. Once again I can’t remember highlights but Blake rocked and played for ages – all their classics and then some. A good night.

2002

2002, January 11, Fry Pan

They don’t call this place the Frying Pan for nothing – it is fucken hot in here. Anyway – this was one of those classic Minimals stinkers.We all sucked and went home crying to mommy.

2002, February 11, 85 Broadway

Another show at Palmy. I cant really remember much about this one 🙁

2002, February 23, 85 Broadway

2002, March 8, Karori Community Centre

Nana Squad, The Perpetrators + others

Karori, home to…well I don’t actually know. Anyway – we were providing the amps and we got there at 9. The show was supposed to start at 8. Bad. Anyway, we had loaded the van with some fans so we all piled out on arrival and we got to playing. It was a pretty fun night – lots of comatose kids and a tiny little bit of trouble with the cops. Sweet. That’s all

2002, June 15, Underground Arts

After a break to do some recording we were back in full flight – knowing all our songs inside out. The venue for this show was pretty cool, a little bit freaky. We played first cos some of the lads needed to get outta town early. It was good and rather uneventful. All the other bands were wicked.

2002, July 14, Garrett Street

Well we hadn’t practised for weeks, and Sam only found out about this gig the day it was on, I guess we should have read the omens. Too bad, we didn’t, we got too wasted and we sucked arse. I think the audience wondered what exactly had hit them. maybe if we were lucky we played one song that actually sounded like music. Too bad, it was a good night at a primo venue. Dirk Drent played before us with their new drummer Nathan (ex Pat Rimo) and they were as good as they always are. And Sheriff Lobo wrapped it up with a good long set – their last for at least a year due to “relocation”. Sad to see them go.

2002, August 2, Indigo

After the Garrett Street show we were a bit more focused this time and it seemed to pay off. Tempo 38 played first and was very styley, then we played. We lasted until the last song without any major fuckups but then i broke a string and Sam’s lead crapped out so the audience was subject to a few minutes break, then we finished off – me with Sarah’s guitar and Sam with a borrowed lead. Nana Squad and then Brubeck wrapped things up nicely, but by this stage I was lost in a sweaty drunken stupor. not half as bad as Paul was backstage tho…oh yeah, some knob stole my footswitch. grrrrrrrrrr

2002, August 16, The Stomach

2002, August 19, The Oi Polloi Struggle

7 song self-released CD

2002, September 6, Underground Arts

This was an awesome all-ages show. It had it all really, power cuts, vandalism, raucous and the cops. Music wise, Hung Jury and Bonus Donor were the first two bands and got things rolling along nicely cept they both played for ages. Then it was us, and we sucked so it was lucky we had a short set. Then Dirk Drent showed once again just how good they are as musicians and Brubeck showed once again why they are such an awesome band. Good times. Oh yeah, new guitar debut for me and new glasses debut for Ben.

2002, September 19, Valve

Auckland punkers Kitsch are perhaps one of NZ’s biggest punk acts at the moment, and were touring on the back of their new album so we asked to play their Welly show and they let us. By our standards we played a really good set – nothing bad that I can remember anyway, ‘cept we still don’t have any new songs. Then Bolbox Rex (weirdest band name i know) played a fucken awesome set. To my useless ears they had quite an original sound and it was choice. And then Kitsch delivered a killer set with song after song and even an encore that no one asked for but everyone was stoked all the same. Woo hoo!

2002, October 3, The Cross

Battle of the Bands heats

After last year’s stellar performance we were probably one of the first bands to enter this competition in 2002. With a new drummer just on board and only one practice together (the night before) under our belt we weren’t too sure if we would be able to deliver the goods. but by the time we got there and realised it was a bar and the goods in The Minimals case means getting drunk and being useless, well we were right at home. Jason [Gascoigne] did amazingly well for his first show and buoyed by a particularly good turnout from the Wgtn newskoolers (hahaha) we made it into the finals the next day.

2002, October 4, The Cross

Battle of the Bands finals

Well tonight we were the second to last band on, at about 12 or some ridiculous time like that which could only mean one thing, drinking. (again. it has got to be the best theme ever) this show was just as good as the night before. Lots of energy and lots of fun. we all left pretty much straight afterwards to check out Rainbow Country at the Valve (who were pretty fucken tight and good!!) so we don’t know where we ended up but who really cares…

2002, October 18, Valve

The Offbeats, The Minimals, Not Quite Right

After a full on (over $10) meal at the local Malaysian restaurant me and Jordon were well fuelled for this show. The Valve took a while to fill up so we ended up playing at about 11, pretty late for the first band. The set was ummmm, a bit loose due to the excess involvement of certain substances, but it was cool and we were still standing afterwards which was good. Due to our busy schedule we had to leave straight away to head up to palmy but before we left The Offbeats gave us a Woodstock keg – how cool was that. Then we jumped into cars for the trip to Palmy.

2002, October 18, 85 Broadway

Well by the time we arrived at 1am, everyone except Norm (who drove) was munted and we hadn’t even attempted the woodstock keg!!! We arrived in time to see We Dunno play so I was stoked. Our playing – i can’t remember but i guess it was as bad as normal. The end.

2002, October 25-26, Punkfest

We sent a tape in again in the hope of playing for the second year running and we got to. It was held out in Newtown at what turned out to be an awesome venue. Bonus Donor were first and they ripped shit up in a big way. Easily the best set of theirs I have ever seen. Then we played. Chinnies had tonsillitis so there was only one guitarist but luckily our simple songs don’t have any guitar variation so we managed OK (cept for one or two songs but who’s counting) it ended up being a really fun show and we got it on video thanks to the steady hands of Dave Johnson. The Woodstock keg given to us by The Offbeats made a big appearance and all was good. Flesh D-Vice followed I think, some classic old skool shit and then for some more familiar territory Brubeck were on and they ripped shit up too. Then some other bands and stuff…

2002, November 28, Papa Jacks (AKL)

Blake, Foamy Ed, The Minimals

The road trip begins!! Having travelled to Taupo the night before, the trip up to Auckland was not as arduous as it sometimes is, however almost everyone was nursing a hangover of some description. In Auckland we headed to Spencer’s place and hung out until the show start time. We were on first and played our normal short set to an OK reception. Foamy Ed were next and ripped shit up – since i last saw them their songs and their sound has got much smoother and tighter and bigger. Then the headline act Blake played their first show in New Zealand in just about a year and it seemed that most in Pappa Jacks enjoyed having them back home. It was the first opportunity to hear some of Blakes newer material which seems to have gone from strength to strength. Tim spewed all over the stage as he does so well, and certain miscreants were asked to leave for certain illegalities. Anyways, it was a great start to the “Punks ‘n’ Drunks” tour and we all headed back to Spencer’s after the show to drink, smoke and make merry until the small wee hours and then all to soon it was time to leave and travel to Palmy for the Punkas birthday show.

2002, December 5, Youthzone (HAM)

Blake, The Minimals, Holdfast, Grannypash

Hamilton, like Auckland, was new territory for us, so we were all excited about playing. We were a bit sketch about the ABSOLUTELY NO DRINKING AT YOUTHZONE” policy but all the same, it promised to be wicked. After some random stops along the way, including a filming stop on the Desert Road which will be entered in the national nude day competition next year (high quality footage indeed, see the pic) and some service station directions we all managed to find the venue OK but no one was there so we missioned out of town to Lukes for some pre-show ritualistic behaviour. Most of The Minimals had tea at a pub in town and then headed to the venue to check out Granny Pash – a young all girl ska band that rocked and seems to have big “potential”. Hamilton band Holdfast were next doing what they do well, and very fast. impressive stuff. Then it was our turn and it seemed that we would end up playing to a crowd of 1 blank wall, 1 whiteboard and 3 people. However, once we started people came back inside to our great relief and it ended up being the most fun show of the tour for me. Halfway through a song I split Jordon’s eyebrow with the swinging end of my guitar – but we soldiered on in true punk fashion. Blake played another good set to a healthy crew, except no dancing :(. And then we packed up and mished to Taupo for some rehab.The trip back was not without its highlights, the main one being chased around Hamilton’s back streets by a roadworks van after accidentally knocking over some cones. Unfortunately an unsigned posted dead end street sealed our fate and we were forced to head shamefully back into town to restore the cones to their original state.

2002, December 6, State of It/ Odin’s Inn

After a luxurious visit to the Taupo hot pools we travelled the two hours to Napier in good health and good spirits. Having played the same show here last year, we were well prepared for what was in store – two shows in one night, and then a motel and bed. The shows were on the whole uneventful. The first one we played with Napier locals Tempo 38 who were just as good as the last time we played with them in Welly (= really good) and after Blake had played a goth/metal band called Loki played.

Our set was OK, and Blake’s was too. The audience was pretty disappointing but the set up (including backstage rooms and showers!!) is damn good and made the show particularly enjoyable. the second show was the other side of the building at Odin’s Inn (a bogan bar). The highlight of this show was a bar fight during Blake’s song about bar fights. I played our set sitting down cos I wanted to focus on my musicianship (I was too drunk to play standing up and running around) so I didn’t really see how we went…

We headed into town afterwards but unfortunately everything shut at 3am so then it was back to the motel for some drunken hijinks. Craig and Jordon showed up at 6am and proceeded to crank the quad box and amp in the downstairs room, much to the delight of the other sleeping Blake members.

2002, December 7, The Red Room

Once again unfamiliar territory for the band, but we were made to feel right at home in New Plymouth “the pulse of the energy district” as the Christmas parade was on just as we arrived. We played with local metal band Cynical Ploy who were pretty impressive at what they did. We were without Chinnies for our set so we were a little loose but we managed OK. Blake played last and drunkest but still were able to hold together all the favourites. Most of the people there weren’t punks tho so crowd satisfaction was difficult to gauge.
Afterwards we headed to some huge house for a wicked-as afterparty or so I hear. I coma’d, only waking once to the cooling feeling of beer being poured all over me. All in all the Drunks ‘n’ Punks tour was two of the best weekends ever and thanks is owed over and over to Blake. The end.

2002, December 14, Irish Society Hall

A show with a reason – nice work. Apparently the show made quite a few bucks to send to an Iraq hospital. Feels good to see that we can make a difference! Anyway the show was at an all ages venue so this of course meant a lot of outside drinking and smoking – all was well until after the show when the pigs pulled up. It wasn’t us rolling the tyres down the road dude, it just happened. Anyways, it was a fun night, too many bands to remember but everyone who played I thought played well. Hahaha – Paul from Brubeck got wasted hahahahaha that was classic. Oh yeah – Chinnies guitar mysteriously disappeared just when we were about to play a show (rumour has it that it was never actually unloaded from the car…) so he had to borrow Sarah’s – cheers mate 🙂 and I jumped of the drum rise and landed on Jordon. That was painful, I mean funny hahaha.

2002, December 20, Valve

Christmas party with The Offbeats, Nana Squad, The Minimals, Autozamm

Christmas, what better excuse to have a show. Whilst the turnout on the night was somewhat disappointing, I had the most fun that I’ve had at a show in aaages (it’s all about getting the right amounts of alcohol down i say). The Nana Squad had to pull out due to mysterious circumstances (hahahahaha, mysterious) so Autozahm filled the gap and did a nice job too – good musicians playing music. It ain’t punk but…Then it was us, and we had fun and i can’t really remember much so I won’t waffle on talking about shit like I am now…