Classic Rock Magazine Angus Young

Classic Rock Magazine - Issue 329

Powder Chutes, Dunedin Crown Hotel, NZ

Genuinely teenaged Kiwis rock historic

New Zealand pub.

For one night only, Dunedin's historic Crown Hotel is not the home of the spiky indie types whose posters adorn its walls, but of Powder Chutes, a rock band with a capital 'R', whose 2023 single Moths To The Fame turned heads across the globe. With a freshly recorded album in the bag, they take to the stage with the relaxed confidence of youth (the band's cumulative age is a decade short of Mick Jagger's) and provide solid evidence of why they're bound for bigger venues.

The star is guitarist Clarke West, a startlingly adept musician who plays with the nonchalance of someone who completed their 10,000 hours while still at school (he's just left), with rock-solid support from bassist Otis Murphy and drummer Archie Orbell. And if frontman Henry McConnell's voice occasionally sounds a bit boyish, well, there's a reason for that. Moth arrives early, with its snaking riffs and juddering rhythms, but it's not the only highlight. Take It Or Leave It swaggers its way to a giddy climax, and the unnamed songs from the album sound fully formed. It's kinda grunge by way of John Frusciante, Joe Perry and Tom Morello, and the closing cover of RATM's Killing In The Name, played as the audience ricochets around the room, would normally be deemed unnecessary were it not rendered so perfectly.

Fraser Lewry

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Upcoming Events

Previous events

Date Event Location
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Asgard, New Plymouth Asgard, New Plymouth
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Valhalla, Wellington Valhalla, Wellington
Powder Chutes w/ Very Special Guests FUBAR! Penguin Club, Oamaru Penguin Club, Oamaru
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Ragweed Darkroom, Christchurch Darkroom, Christchurch
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests The Crown Hotel, Dunedin The Crown Hotel, Dunedin
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Wanaka Bullock Bar, Wanaka Wanaka Bullock Bar, Wanaka
Rock The Steps '26 Silvan Steps Amphitheatre - Richmond, Nelson Silvan Steps Amphitheatre - Richmond, Nelson
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Last Place Bar, Hamilton Last Place Bar, Hamilton
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Palace tavern, Mt Maunganui Palace tavern, Mt Maunganui
Powder Chutes w/ The Boondocks & Very Special Guests Double Whammy Bar, Auckland Central Double Whammy Bar, Auckland Central
10th Annual McGazza Fest Wynyard Jump Park, Queenstown Wynyard Jump Park, Queenstown
ATOMIC FESTIVAL - Alexandra Alexandra, Alexandra Alexandra, Alexandra
PULL DOWN THE SUN w/ Powder Chutes & Elidi Water Bar, Wanaka, Wanaka Water Bar, Wanaka, Wanaka
PULL DOWN THE SUN w/ Powder Chutes & Elidi Yonder, Queenstown, Queenstown 9300 Yonder, Queenstown, Queenstown 9300
POWDER CHUTES w/ Red Weekend & Superficial Water Bar, Wanaka, Wānaka 9305 Water Bar, Wanaka, Wānaka 9305
Radio One Presents POWDER CHUTES, Re-Ori' 25 U Bar, Dunedin 9016 U Bar, Dunedin 9016
Butterbeam Rail Jam Afterparty Rhyme & Reason Brewery, Wanaka Rhyme & Reason Brewery, Wanaka
Cardona, Soho Basin Opening Cardrona, Cardrona 9305 Cardrona, Cardrona 9305
Powder Chutes - Album Release Tour The Penguin Club, Oamaru 9400 The Penguin Club, Oamaru 9400
POWDER CHUTES opening for DEAD FAVOURS A Rolling Stone Bar, Christchurch 8011 A Rolling Stone Bar, Christchurch 8011

LIVE HIGHLIGHTS

BURNING HORSE FESTIVAL

2024

Powder Chutes return to play the main stage at Burning Horse Festival alongside Left Or Right and The Julian Temple Band.

Burning Horse is an annual pilgrimage for many to what is more than just a music festival.

BIG SIMA & BOOMTOWN

Pluto realease tour

Big Sima & Boomtown return to Wanaka for the release of 'Pluto' 

Boom-bapping, brass-driven live hip hop, laden with tasty guitar licks and funky breaks and riddim... an eclectic mix of genres all rolled into 90 minutes.

...and yes indeed we got the almighty Powder Chutes on support duties! We cant wait!

PLANET 13 FUNDRAISER

Rhyme & Reason, Wanaka

Headline fundraiser for a film project called Planet 13 at Rhyme X Reason Brewery with all proceeds going to the production of Planet 13.

Joe Murdie has been instrumental in supporting a lot of people in our area, including Powder Chutes... so it was great to see people get behind the project, snd help Joe to reach his funding goal to make it happen.

JORDAN LUCK BAND

Luggate Hotel

The Jordan Luck Band brought their annual party to The Luggate Hotel, with all the classic Exponents hits you know & love .

Local Wanaka rockers Powder Chutes joined them for a joyful show of rock in an awesome venue!

 

PIECES OF MOLLY

POWDER CHUTES & ZELANTURA

Rock Heavyweights Pieces Of Molly descend on Wanaka to unleash some serious riffage as part of the Mini Pipe World Champs, with support from Powder Chutes and Zelantura.

POWDER CHUTES

HEADLINE ALBUM FUNDRAISER

A huge milestone for the band as we celebrate the imminent recording of our debut album with a headline gig in front of 250+ people at Wanaka's Bullock Bar.

Support from Cheap Thrills and SnakeRat rounded this off as a local show of strength from the Wanaka Rock Community.

DOLPHIN FRIENDLY

That'll do teur

Powder Chutyes were honoured to open for Dolphin Friendly at both their Wanaka and Queenstown shows as part of their That'll Do Teur, taking in all of the South Islands best winter resort towns.

EAST YORK w/ POWDER CHUTES

Rhyme & Reason Brewery

A full blown tour de force of rock showmanship as East York take time out from supporting DEVILSKIN to play two shows in Wanaka, Daz's hometown.

Powder Chutes provided the support for both shows.