DARTZ - Gig Review: DARTZ @ Darkroom, Christchurch - 27/10/2023
I'd been really looking forward to this show already, having heard a few tracks by DARTZ. I have a young bass student who keeps me updated with current Kiwi punk bands, and she'd played me a handful of tracks from The Band from Wellington, New Zealand. Closer to the time, however, I learned that support was from this dog, which got me even more amped.
As much as she adores loads of local bands, my student Luci's absolute favourite is this dog. We've learned the bass lines to their songs Feel The Same, Clockwork, and new single Bug Eyed., so I was already well acquainted with why she likes them so much. As a live act, they certainly didn't disappoint. Front-man Robbie was affable, lively, and hyped. He has a unique and distinct voice, and delivers sharply clever lyrics with a half sung, half speaking style. It sits well over the rich and thoughtful alt-rock being wrought by his bandmates, a tight and polished act with a strong sense of melody, with both refinement and rocking out in equal measure.
The band changeover time was super quick, as this was the first of two back-to-back shows for DARTZ (the second later show being with support from Crustaceanz, which according to Luci "was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!", an even dozen exclamation marks, so you KNOW it's good). DARTZ are in the midst of a nationwide tour in support of new single Earn The Thirst, a rip-snorting "sports-rock" anthem that kicked off their set. What a hell of a set it was, too. Peppered with top banter from bassist Clark Mathews and vocalist Danz, the high-energy pace didn't let up from start to finish. Sweaty, snotty, and saucy, they most definitely earned the thirst. Every song was a frenetic banger, with the loving crowd joining in on 40 Riddiford St, Bath Salts (with a cheeky nod to Slice Of Heaven in the middle), DMC, No Dogs At This Party, Toyota Corolla (my bittersweet nostalgic favourite, to this day still mourning the theft of my beloved 1985 FX-GT), Bush Weed, and High At The Beach.
I can only surmise that DARTZ must have indulged in some suitably hearty portions of Weetbix to be able to perform with this much energy for the first half of the match, only to apparently do it all just as hard out in the second half. A most able and worthy demonstration of how thirst is earned.
The tour continues 3 November at Galatos in Auckland.
Photo Credit: Peter K Malthus
About DARTZ
Three years on, the DARTZ boys have carved out their own lane in Aotearoa's music scene, with a diehard nationwide fanbase enamoured by their high-energy and rark-heavy live set, forceful singalong choruses, and razor-sharp lyrics which tackle everything from challenging colonisers to a fistfight in 1 Outs Captain Cook, to a drug safety PSA for festival-goers in Bathsalts, to ridiculing the moneymania of megachurch pastors in Pray for Prey.
Described as New Zealand's "politically aware class clowns with a reputation for bringing the party wherever they appear" in a recent New Zealand Herald article naming them one of the country's 10 future music stars to watch, DARTZ are Crispy on guitar, Clark on bass, Rollyz on drums and Danz on the shouts.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for DARTZ
Releases
Other Reviews By Peter K Malthus
Narcotic Tonsils - Album Review: You'll Get What You're Given
18 Dec 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Now, I'm just going to get this out of the way right at the start: I know these guys, their guitarist Troy is a really good mate of mine, and I used to share a house with their frontman/bassist Andy - in fact, when he first started talking about a new band he wanted to put together, back in 2019. Two years later, Narcotic Tonsils erupted into being, and swiftly became my favourite Christchurch band (apart from the ones I'm in myself, obviously).
Read More...
Damien Binder - EP Review: Heartful
16 Dec 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Damien Binder is now well into his fourth decade of releasing music, and his third as a solo artist. He has an impressive back catalogue to show for it, and his latest EP Heartful sits admirably alongside his previous releases.
Read More...
16 Dec 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
I had a fair amount of trepidation about heading along to Otautahi Smoke BBQ Festival, the temperature was forecast to be 31 degrees, and I'm one of those folk who, as Billy Connolly so eloquently put it, is "so white, I'm pale blue". Luckily, I found a nice shady spot with a great view of the stage, and easy access to the free water station, and with a nice cool breeze blowing through, I didn't have to worry about burning to a crisp.
Read More...
Lavender - EP Review: Types Of Infatuation
29 Nov 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Types Of Infatuation is the name and the theme of the debut EP from Tamaki Makaurau based Lavender, who has been songwriting and performing from a young age, and whose style has developed into a well-crafted blend of indie folk-pop and alt-rock. Lavender has performed at many high profile events over the past few years, and if this EP is anything to go by, looks well set to go on too much bigger things again.
Read More...
Dylan Kay - EP Review: (I Could) Watch You Forever
29 Nov 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Dylan Kay is a seasoned player, having begun 35 years ago, and having been teaching for the last 25 of them, including setting up what is now Auckland's biggest guitar school, in 2012. Originally from the U.
Read More...
Star Chart - EP Review: White Girl Whining
26 Nov 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
White Girl Whining is the sophomore EP from Tamaki Makaurau-based Star Chart, a project created and fronted by Chrissie Hart, multi-talented multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire. After an impressive career of touring the world playing on cruise ships, in hotels, and as a session musician, she returned to her hometown to finally start recording some original music that she'd been quietly working on since high school.
Read More...
CAITLIN - EP Review: Legacy
22 Nov 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Legacy is the latest in an impressive list of releases from Otautahi-based CAITLIN, an EP comprised of her last three singles and one previously unreleased track, Attention. The four songs presented here amply demonstrate her growth and maturing as an artist and songwriter, as she examines the emotions involved in some deeply personal experiences, at times laying herself bare with rawness and honesty.
Read More...
19 Nov 2024 // by Peter K Malthus
Homemade Pills is a new album by Patients, one of the projects of Christchurch's Aeneas Jones. As well as fronting heavy rockers PhatSak and performing with Chickenyard and When I Was Sexy, Aeneas drew together the collective Patients to play and record this latest effort.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
