Strung Out are celebrating thirty years of existence and as such are performing their sophomore album Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues, released back in 1996 in full. For the OG fans of the band, this was an opportunity not to be missed. Not only that but two local supports to boot as well. Sounds like a damn good evening to me.
You know what I love about Whammy Bar, I mean besides the fact that it has great staff, vibes, and legendary status in Auckland; it is the fact that on a Saturday night where most music venues are playing some kind of EDM – no shade, just not always the vibe I am looking for – you can rock up and find an international punk show.
Tooms
Kicking it off was Tooms, a duo comprising of Nich Cunningham on bass and Dorian Noval behind the skins, with both also holding down vocals. I am a long time Tooms fan, one of my favourite sets of theirs being in support of Propagandhi back in 2019. If you ever get a chance to see these guys perform live, take it, there will be no regrets.
There is something deeply satisfying about Noval’s howl piercing through Cunningham’s deep melodic bass lines; Cunningham’s vocals like a drone that perfectly underpins Noval’s intensity, her work behind the kit a straight out spicy punch to the face. Their set has all the makings of post-punk, thanks to its simplicity, many of their tracks in that lower register that seeps into your skin. Excellent choice of support and proof of why you should always get to gigs early.
The Vile Maxim
I last saw The Vile Maxim down in Hamilton in support of The Bleeders earlier this year (shout out to Last Place, a great little venue where Strung Out also played on Friday night!). These guys really embody that nineties punk rock vibe and they have a great time doing it. In all honestly there is nothing better than watching a band who love what they do, there could be ten people or ten thousand in the room and they will still deliver a set where they give it their all.
Steve Lowry‘s delivery of their songs is at times animalistic; he prowls the stage, he eyeballs you, he folds his body in half, baseball cap firmly on head and spits vocals. Offset by Miek Miek on guitar, her higher octave vocals cut through and complete that decidedly nineties sound.
The fast paced energy of Deadman was a great song choice for early in the set, for those who have never seen The Vile Maxim before it drives a stake into the ground with statement, claiming their ground unapologetically with their sound. The bass line of No-One Is Coming To Save You and the rolling drums over the top before the track drops into that two-step for the chorus is infectious, Lowry’s vocals rolled in gravel as they should be.
By now Whammy was packed, bodies jostling as they were driven on by the music, The Vile Maxim keeping their foot on the accelerator throughout. There is an undeniable similarity to many of their songs, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially as it is obvious that they are having a shitload of fun. Closing out with one of my favs Richmond Downs from their 2025 EP that features an intro with down tuned guitar, The Vile Maxim was great for priming the punters for the main act.
Strung Out
A roar went up as Strung Out took the stage, bodies already hovering over the front edge as is Whammy tradition (always one of my favourite places to witness a punk or metal band). Strung Out hail from California, Simi Valley to be exact, their skate punk/melodic hardcore sound embodying their hometown.
If you know your punk you know that these guys are part of the legendary Fat Wreck Chords (founded by none other than Michael Burkett aka ‘Fat Mike,’ frontman of NOFX) roster, who has a bit of an alumni going on with bands such as Lagwagon, Good Riddance and No Use for a Name.
Interestingly enough, Fat Wreck Chords catalogue and operations were acquired last year by Hopeless Records, but anyways I digress…
Wasting no time, Strung Out began to play Firecracker, first track off the album. For us older ones in the audience, it was like a key opening a safety deposit box inside our heads, memories flooded back off blasting this album when it was first released. The only overtly political track of the record, it features incredibly fast vocals from frontman Jason Cruz which he replicates live.
Strung Out have always had quite the technical mastery to their playing, its punk but it ain’t sloppy, there is a precision to it that still somehow feels raw. The crowd obviously felt it too, locking in as they moved from tracks such as Solitaire with its chuggy chords and excellent guitar hook into one of my favs and longest track on the album Gear Box, which metal fans would certainly feel an affinity with due to its guitar work.
Bring Out Your Dead went down a treat which was to be expected, if you’re fan of Strung Out you know this track and for many last night to see it live would have literally been a dream come true. Distorted riffs, killer guitar solo, lyrics that punch you in the gut. Absolute perfection.
As promised the boys played the album from start to finish, something that many of the fans in the room never thought they would ever witness live, Chris Aiken on guitar (who has been with the band for over two decades) ensuring that the memories of the night are carved into their brains; alongside Cruz he was phenomenal.
Of course they couldn’t end it like that, there had to be encore with a few tracks thrown in from their ten studio album discography to really make the night. And what an encore it was, Velvet Alley from An American Paradox, Too Close To See, and even New Gods from Dead Rebellion released in 2024.
Last night proved that Strung Out are still as vital as they were thirty years ago, they have a couple more shows left in NZ, if you can, catch them (and buy some merch while you’re at it). Tickets from Under the Radar
ONYX BATES
Photography by Leonie Moreland
Strung Out
The Vile Maxim
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