There’s a legend in the Hamilton music scene.
It starts with a musician playing a song about smelling underwear. It ends with him playing a song about smelling underwear. But in the middle there is a brawl, a gushing wound and the expulsion of some members of the audience.
It was just another night at the Wailing Bongo. But it’s the stuff of legend in the Hamilton music scene.
This was a different time. The University of Waikato still had a pub on campus. Mobile Stud Unit was still playing live gigs in yellow tutus, green jump suits and occasionally nothing but a sock over their private parts. There was no Riff-Raff statue and The Datsuns were still unknown. And, if that night's episode of Shortland St had started, then the Hilly was full and you were late.
As we celebrate ten years of New Zealand music month, we should all take a moment to remember the Hamilton legends. Those that made you get up and dance, cringe or just bang your head.
The music scene in this fair city has fostered one or two international stars, and quite a number of musicians who will forever remain stars to just their mothers.
There are a few names you will recognize, a few bands you rocked out to and a few who were strangers until today.
And it’s not over yet. New bands are forming every weekend in the mighty Waikato, entertaining the masses and hoping to break into the commercial market.
This is the stuff good nights are made of.
Dudley Streetsweeper (obviously not his real name) was a member of Mobile Stud Unit – known as MSU - during its heady days at the top of Hamilton’s alternative music scene.
“I think when you first saw MSU in its original form, there were two guys with lipstick smeared on their face wearing yellow tutus, and another guy naked except for a sock. They weren’t really playing their instruments, it was manic and there was s a shock value,” he says. “I grew up in another provincial town, back in the day when Rip-It-Up was a free newspaper and not the glossy magazine it is now. This just blew my mind.”
Other bands were also pushing the envelope.
“The Hollow Grinders put on a show where they had go-go girls. The effort the bands went to was impressive. They were great value to see.”
Streetsweeper says the key for bands then and now is about finding a gap in the market and making your sound seem fresh and new again.
“I first saw The Datsuns when they were school boys playing Green Day Dookie covers. Dolf couldn’t even tune his guitar.”
But they were determined. And so they made it out.
“Hamilton always gets written off but to be fair, I don’t know if we have the desire to go big in Hamilton like they do in Auckland or the resources,” says Streetsweeper.
“Making it out of Hamilton is going to depend on getting the attention of mainstream media. And, Auckland has the venues - Hamilton doesn’t have that anymore. Contact (the student radio station) has been hampered since it lost its b-fm frequency.”
Streetsweeper can remember the days when a call to the radio station could end with a gig.
“One day we were bored so we rang up Contact FM and said we would play at a party for pizza and beer. One guy called and asked if we were booked. He rang up 50 people and when we arrived at his place there was pizza and beer waiting for us.”
New bands need to utilize social media to do the same sort of thing, says Streetsweeper.
Hamilton stalwart and co-owner of Autuer House theatre, Richard Swainson, says his direct involvement in the Hamilton music scene also began with MSU. He first started to photograph them in 1993.
“The longer I hung around with those guys the greater appreciation I had for the music scene in Hamilton,” he says. “Those guys were a band of joke and humor as well as music. For me they were a high point of the Hamilton music scene.”
He has many fond memories of his time photographing MSU. But his favourite gig by far was the opening of the back bar at Diggers.
“There was something about that gig,” says Swainson. “It was the first gig there. The rawness of the venue seeped into the crowd and most of the people were fans, so there was an intimacy with the audience. The main set was really manic.”
The result was a complete stage invasion.
“I have pictures of the band playing on top of audience members,” he says.
Of course, says Swainson, the big success of Hamilton has been The Datsuns. He agrees with Streetsweeper that that’s the name most people recognize.
“They approached their music with seriousness, and they were gigging all the time. It’s amazing how quick it happened,” he says. “Though, to be fair they worked for it. I remember sitting outside the banks with the band and having Christian say, this has to be it, they were at the end of their rope and within a week, they were on T.V and it really took off from there.”
If he had to offer up a modern day equivalent to The Datsuns, it would be Milk Train.
“The have gigs at Flow bar and they have inherited part of The Lookie Loos fan base – they are guaranteed a mass audience.”
It places like Flow bar that are keeping the music scene going, says Swainson.
“There are debates about the music scene, about the shift in venues and we have definitely gone through periods where there are more gigs then others,” he says. “In losing the Wailing Bongo, that had a huge impact on campus culture and exposure of up and coming university bands.”
But there are still venues out there for bands. And, says Swainson, a number of music scenes to get involved in.
“There are overlapping scenes. It’s possible you will have never seen The Shrugs, for example, if you are involved in a different scene.”
The genres do overlap once a year at ‘Circle Jerk’ says Swainson.
“Circle Jerk is about bringing the different scenes together,” he explains.
This year the event is being held at Flow Bar on May, 29 at 8 pm. 15 bands are scheduled to play.
One sound that is gaining ground in Hamilton and across New Zealand is dub music – just think Tiki Tane or Salmonella Dub.
Hamilton based band, Knights of the Dub Table, are starting to develop their own following in the region after the successful release of their ‘Tronic EP’. Combining elements of Reggae, Drum 'n' Bass, Hip-Hop and Rock, the six piece band has been doing the rounds since they met at Wintec in 2008. Bass player, Sir Cypher says it was that year’s Band Experiment that really kicked the group into high gear.
“We managed to get into the finals,” he says. “The response to what we were writing was awesome. That’s really how this all started. And then we re-entered in 2009 and won.”
Sir Cypher says building on the couple of hundred fans that heard them at the Band Experiment has been very important.
“A couple of hundred people heard us play, and from there we have been supporting other bands. Each gig we pick up a few more fans.”
Social networking has also been key. The band is growing its online presence.
But there is nothing like playing live, and nothing like a home crowd.
“It’s huge to play in Hamilton, we love playing here,” he says. “It gives you an extra push. You really want to do better then normal – you want to give back and show your appreciation for everyone’s support.”
The Knights are currently finishing up a regional tour with their EP and are working in the studio to finish their first full length album.
“We are reevaluating the money situation and we’re trying to get further afield. Our video is on rotation on Juice T.V and we are trying to get it on C4. So, we are trying to grow it.”
Anther band that loves playing on home turf is the Funky Monkeys – albeit they are targeting a different audience.
Chris Lam Sam, one of the founding members of the group, says the whole goal of the Funky Monkeys was to do something with their musical talents.
“About seven years ago we thought, hey, wouldn’t it be good to do something like the Wiggles. But it spiraled out of control very quickly. “
Their first ever show was a birthday party, quickly followed up by a performance for Plunket.
“People saw what we were doing and they liked it,” says Lam Sam. “People thought it was unique. And, now we are New Zealand’s only full time band for children.”
The group is still based in Hamilton and they try to film here when they can.
“We just released our second DVD an we filmed about 60 per cent of it in Hamilton – at the Hamilton Gardens. We love playing here and our biggest following is definitely from within the Waikato,” he says. “Whenever we play in Hamilton we sell out.”
Lam Sam describes his big ‘rock’n’roll’ moment as the first time the group performed at Coca Cola Christmas in the Park.
“We looked at ourselves and said – ‘how did we make it here? This is where the big kids play’ – all around us were big names. That was our rock’n’roll moment, that’s when we felt like we had made it.”
The band has plans for world domination.
“The Wiggles come to New Zealand so we are going to maybe try get overseas to Australia.”
From children’s bands to punk (an everything in between) - in the end, says Streetsweeper, music from the Tron is a special beast.
“Like the town itself, htown music is transitional; its as good as original music made anywhere else in the world, but exists only in fleeting moments of experience. It rarely gets to be polished, produced and put out there for mass consumption.”
Just like the city.

A couple of bands from our misspent youth and questionable futures (swiped from www.expdev.net/htownwiki).

The Big Muffin Serious Band
Purveyors of fine (and often silly ) ukulele music in Hamilton and New Zealand since 1983. General musical classification; country-punk-skiffle/barbershop rock. Instrumentation incorporates ukulele, tea-chest bass,snare drum, home-made gadgets, various toys and miscellaneous non-musical implements. Also known for shadow-puppetry, stilt-walking, ludicrous costumes and general clowning.
Founding members are Graeme Cairns, Jim Fulton and the late Ian Coldham-Fussell. Their first performance was at the Waikato Winter Show, May '83.

Book of Martyrs
Book of Martyrs was initially formed in Rotorua. In 1989 they released the cassette Catharsis. They also released the track Cello man on The Mudpool Music Compilation Vol. 1 in 1989.
The band moved to Hamilton in 1990. From here they released their second cassette Purified Seven Times in 1991, Purified Seven Times secured for the band a level of critical acclaim and a national profile seldom accomplished by 'alternative' bands from Hamilton at that time. In 1991 the Martyrs also played support to the Able Tasmans and Bailter Space. A period of inactivity followed 1992, until Book of Martyrs contributed the track The Man That Said to the 1993 compilation Discordia Concors. The band briefly made a much celebrated return to the stage at this time to play at the album release party. The live lineup for this show featured Jonny Armstrong (drums, vocals), Alan Deare (bass, vocals), Justine Francis (violin, vocals), Paul Oakley (bass), and Stan Jagger (guitar).

Trucker
Trucker were formed in 1996, by Jamie Stone (vocals, guitar), Stan Jagger (guitar), Paul Oakley (bass) and Paul Tregilgas (drums). They played the Battle of the Bands 1996 coming second overall to Department of Corrections.
The following year Trucker's Vatican appeared on the Green Eggs and Hamilton compilation. In 1998 Paul Oakley left; he was replaced for a short time by Adrian Webclaw and later Dolf de Borst from Trinket. The same year Trucker won the UFM Battle of the Bands and started recording their album Jude.
In 1999 the album Jude was released on FACE Records, while the track Up Your Tempo also made it onto a New Music Compilation given away free with Rip It Up magazine. Jude featured tracks recorded with both Oakley and de Borst playing bass. Trucker were instantly a prominent name in the underground/student radio scene with hits such as Scary Bimbo, Infection, Up Your Tempo, Vatican and Hi-Ace.
The band had considerable success live, playing with such acts as The Hellacopters, Shihad, The 3D's, Dead Moon and Love's Ugly Children. They played the infamous Sweetwaters festival; New Plymouth's Mushroom Ball; and on TVNZ's Ground Zero.
In the year 2000 founding members Stan Jagger and Paul Tregilgas left the group, and were replaced by Julian Smith a.k.a 'Spook' (guitar) and Terry Edwards (drums). In 2001 the track On The Rocks appeared on the compilation Year Zero. Meanwhile Dolf de Borst's band Trinket had become The Datsuns; the various members went off in separate directions and Trucker were no more.
In 2004 Trucker reunited for two dates to celebrate the release of a 10 inch vinyl EP, Wasted in Heaven, on (the Datsuns own) Hellsquad Records and FACE Records. The shows featured all members and previous lineups.

MSU
MSU were, according to themselves, one of the longest lived, most popular and most controversial bands to have ever emerged from the bowels of Hamilton, New Zealand.
Formed in 1993, rumour states they got their band name from a competition held on local student radio station Contact 89FM. Calling their style of music 'pus rock', the band always encouraged copious amounts of alcohol to be consumed while watching them play.
Their debut album, My Pyjama’s Smell Acidicky was released on cassette in 1994. The followup, Blood Spew, came out in 1998 - each copy's artwork was drawn individually, and came with a lyric sheet/art foldout entitled Sing Along With the Mobile Stud Unit. The album included most of their student radio hits to date, such as Grutsniffer, We Are MSU, Chin Mei Wah, and the all-conquering ballad (which was by all accounts a true story), Stu's Pie Cart. The initial release had a run of around 500 copies.
The band's third album, Flaps, wasn't released till December 2001. Featuring artwork that could make even the Bloodhound gang cry, the record showcased a less punky side to the group, and often bordered on disco - Sexual Health Clinic and Marital Aids were almost danceable, and the tradition of Stu's Pie Cart was continued with Salesman, perhaps the greatest song about Telecom ever written. Still, tracks like (the ballad of) Tony Tourettes and Shunt ensured the group couldn't be accused of 'selling out.'
On November 14 2008, MSU played what is intended to be their final performance, again enlisting many of their past members. At the event, the band released a compilation of songs from the previous albums, called Roadkill. (The Nexus editor also got high on Mexican tripping weed on stage and had to hide for the rest of the night)

The Datsuns
The Datsuns are a rock band originally from Cambridge. In 1995, while still at school, Dolf de Borst, Phil Buscke Somervell and Matt Osment formed a band under the name Trinket. Christian Livingstone joined the band in 1997. Recording and releasing material on cassette tapes, Trinket built up a solid following around Htown due to goofy yet irresistible songs like Girly Gumshoe and Chocolate Coated Mamas.
The following year the group were victorious, slaying all opposition with ease.
Renaming themselves 'The Datsuns', in August 2000 they released their first single, Super Gyration! on seven inch vinyl only, with a show at Ward Lane. In July 2002, after featuring several times on John Peel's programme on the UK's BBC Radio 1 and being hailed as "the future of rock" by the British music press, the band signed with the V2 record label. n 2003 the band played on the mainstage at Ozzfest, alongside the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Marilyn Manson and Korn. They played the main stage of the 2004 Big Day Out festival and opened for Metallica in their Australian tour in the same year, and toured with The White Stripes. Their second album Outta Sight, Outta Mind, realeased in 2004, was produced by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones.
In 2006 they released their third album, Smoke and Mirrors. Near the end of the year, founding member Matt Osment left the band, replaced by Ben Cole (formerly of Pugnaut).
In 2007 The Datsuns moved to Gütersloh, Germany to record their 4th record, however the recordings were to become demos, and the band traveled to Gothenburg, Sweden to record at a studio owned by Swedish band Soundtrack of Our Lives, with long time live engineer Scott Newth at the controls.
The album Head Stunts was released in 2008, and they began recording their fifth album in Wellington in March 2010.

Katchafire
Katchafire are a Hamilton reggae band who have gained quite a bit of commercial success. Katchafire formed in 1997 as a Bob Marley tribute band, and later began writing and performing their own songs. Their debut 2003 album, Revival, sold over 30,000 copies (double platinum) and included the hit Giddy Up, the biggest selling New Zealand single of 2002 (which they received a Tui for). Revival debuted on Billboard's Top World Music Albums Chart at #5 in March 2006.
In late 2005 their two albums (Revival and 2004's Slow Burning) were packaged together and released as Double Pack, with artwork reminiscent of an old Zig-Zag cigarette papers pack. In 2007 they released their third album Say What You are Thinking.

Are there Hamilton Bands that you wish you could have seen play live? Bands that are starting to make a name for themselves? Write to the Nexus and let us know – we will compile a list and post it to nexusmag.co.nz! Enjoy music month!