14 January 2022 - 0 Comments

Let’s face it, the last five months of 2021 wasn’t the best time to be in the music business, especially if you were in Auckland. Many gigs were cancelled, tours postponed and the planned gig by Written By Wolves to launch The Collab Project had to be placed on hold. The original show was organised to tie in with the release of the single they recorded with Trent Woodley (Hands Like Houses), Better Luck Next Time, hence the name given to this event. To make it a special occasion they have invited five other bands to join in the fun, while keeping the price low and also making it an all ages show, so there is absolutely no excuse to miss what will be a very special night indeed.

This promises to be the rock event of 2022, a concert which is going to kick off in an almighty manner. Two young bands are being an opportunity to play to a larger audience, Slow Rage and Stacked, while Capital Theatre, Coridian and Pull Down The Sun are no strangers to the live environment and have deserved reputations of being some of the most important bands around. Alongside the icons which are Written By Wolves, this is going to be a night to remember.

Written by Wolves

Written By Wolves are one of the highest streamed rock bands from New Zealand, having amassed more than 350,000 monthly listeners and more than 36 million streams on Spotify and over 100,000 subscribers and 46 million views on YouTube. Having announced themselves on the world stage with their debut release, Secrets, the band followed up in 2021 with their new EP and mental health initiative, The Collab Project. This is an ongoing program started by the band to spread awareness and remind followers and fans that no matter what mental health struggles they might be going through, they do not need to go through these alone. The aim is to help normalise talking about mental health issues and to help to break down the stigma attached to mental health. The EP features collaborative re- imaginings of songs from the debut album with Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens), Trenton Woodley (Hands Like Houses), Sonny Sandoval (P.O.D) and more!

In December they released the single Papercut, a cover of the famous Linkin Park anthem about mental health, rounding off what was an incredible year for the band.

The songs have deliberately been placed in an order which takes us on a wild ride of emotions, taking us into places which make us think, yet also lifts us and rocks us hard when the time is right. To say I believe the message and concept behind this EP is one of the most important ever to be brought through rock music is an understatement. - Muzic.net.nz

Capital Theatre

Capital Theatre are another band greatly impacted by the pandemic, as when Covid first hit they were in LA recording their debut album with legendary producer Mike Clink (Guns N’ Roses, Megadeth, Steve Vai). They quickly returned to Auckland and threw themselves into live work, as well as producing some of the most artistic music videos around – check out the toxic tribalism and the unravelling of American society on Force to Fight. Their debut album A Hero’s Journey will be out later this year and is already one of the most anticipated releases for 2022.

Coridian

Coridian is an alternative rock group from Auckland, New Zealand, formed in 2015 by the Raven brothers Mike (guitar), Kris (drums), Nick (bass) with Dity Maharaj (vocals). They have released a string of singles and music videos plus three EPs as part of their Elements Concept with 2015’s Oceanic (Water), 2017’s Caldera (Earth) and 2020’s Eldur (Fire). 2022 is the year of Hava (Air), the final chapter and full-length album. With the first single Wicked Game (a fan favourite reimagining of Chris’s Isaak’s classic tale) being released in 2021, followed by Endless War, a new chapter for Coridian begins.

Pull Down The Sun

Conceived in 2014, Pull Down the Sun creates atmospheric and groove-heavy music shaped and inspired by the curious history and scenic nature of Aotearoa. They hold true to sheer riff obedience, making motions from heavy and erratic, to dark and moody, through to light and uplifting with minimal effort. Their journey so far brings us their debut album Of Valleys and Mountains, which was self-released in 2020 and is soon to have a worldwide reissue through Pelagic Records. It is a colourful concept album that channels their Māori heritage, exploring local legends that have been passed down generations of the Patupaiarehe and the Tūrehu, an Aboriginal people absorbed by Polynesian immigrants to NZ 1000 years ago.

Stacked	Slow Rage

Stacked and Slow Rage are young bands that have made big waves in Smokefree Rockquest in recent years. Two very exciting up and coming bands with big futures ahead of them and here are being given the opportunity to show what they can do in front of what will surely be a sell-out gig.

Pull Down The Sun Photo Credit: Amanda Hodge / It's The Little Things

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