{"id":226,"date":"2025-06-07T11:37:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T23:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/?p=226"},"modified":"2026-10-17T10:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T21:53:08","slug":"downer-buzz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upthepunks.co.nz\/bands\/2025\/06\/downer-buzz","title":{"rendered":"Downer Buzz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Downer Buzz was a fast-punk noise band from Te Whanganui-a-Tara\/ Wellington, known for their abrasive, overblown instrumentation and vocals reminiscent of Japanese harsh noise acts. Formed in 2014 as a recording project by Sam Thurston (guitar, bass, vocals) and John Dimery (drums), the duo began jamming at Turret House<\/a><\/strong> before recording seven tracks at Scumbag College<\/a><\/strong>. These tracks were released as a self-titled 12\u201d EP<\/a> in January 2015. By then, the band expanded into a live act with Rupert (Unsanitary Napkin<\/a><\/strong>) on guitar and Mitch (Stress Ghetto<\/a>, Ripfacer<\/a><\/strong>) on bass, debuting at Valhalla on March 14, 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite their intense sound, Downer Buzz remained a side project due to members\u2019 commitments to other bands, including Sam\u2019s tours with Meth Drinker<\/a><\/strong> in Europe (2015) and Rogernomix<\/a><\/strong> in Southeast Asia (2016). They performed notable gigs like Punkfest 2015<\/a><\/strong> at Christchurch\u2019s Trike Club and a set at Take Shelter 2016<\/a><\/strong>, held in a World War II-era bunker at Breaker Bay, Wellington. Downer Buzz’s last show was in May 2017 at a fundraiser for Shakti held at the Innermost Gardens<\/strong> hall in the Mount Vic. town belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin<\/strong><\/td>Newtown, Turret House<\/td><\/tr>
Genre<\/strong><\/td>hardcore noise-punk<\/td><\/tr>
Years Active<\/strong><\/td>2014 – 2017<\/td><\/tr>
Labels<\/strong><\/td>Always Never Fun<\/td><\/tr>
Associated Acts<\/strong><\/td>Rogernomix, Stress Ghetto,
Unsanitary Napkin<\/td><\/tr>
Past Members<\/strong><\/td>John Dimery (drums)
Rupert Pirie-Hunter (guitar)
Mitch (bass)
Sam Thurston (vocals, guitar)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Releases<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Title<\/th>Date<\/th>Label<\/th>Type<\/th>Format<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Downer Buzz<\/a><\/strong><\/td>2015, January 21<\/td>Always Never Fun Records<\/td>EP<\/td>12″\/ DL<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n