After playing Aotearoa in 2010, Florida punk stalwarts Hot Water Music are finally returning to headline Tamaki Makaurau's new Double Whammy and Poneke's Valhalla shows. The two summer shows mark the band's 30th anniversary. Formed in 1994 and still featuring all of its founding members – Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, George Rebello and newest addition Chris Cresswell (formerly of The Flatliners, who joined in 2017) – Hot Water Music have just released their 10th studio album, VOWS, which has unexpectedly become a notable success on the German radio charts.
Since their last visit to Japan 14 years ago (you can read our conversation with bassist Black here), Hot Water Music have kept their foot firmly on the release pedal, thrilling fans with 2012's Exister, followed by Light It Up in 2017 and Feel the Void in 2022, along with a steady string of live/B-side collections, EPs and split records. Make some noise with Hot Water Music this February. Presented by SBM Presents, this is an event you may not see here for a while…
“We couldn't be more excited to be heading back to Australia and New Zealand. Sorry for the capital letters, but it's been 14 years since we've played a proper club show there, so we're really excited. I promise there won't be too long of a gap between this show and the next one.” – Jason Black
Hot Water Music
Tuesday 11th February – Valhalla, Wellington
Wednesday 12th February – Double Whammy!, Auckland
Tickets are on sale here via UTR
Hot Water Music smashes “Menace” off their new album VOWS…
Here's their smash hit “Drag My Body” from their 2012 album “Exister.”
press release:
It's been quite some time since Hot Water Music played a headline show in Australia (since 2010 in fact), so it's only fitting that this esteemed band returns to celebrate their 30th anniversary with us.
Thirty years and ten albums later, Hot Water Music has firmly established itself as a timeless pillar of punk rock. Since 1994, their pioneering sound has played countless venues, from the sweaty clubs of their hometown of Gainesville, Florida to massive venues around the world. Their heartfelt anthems, dependable chords and trademark ragged vocals continue to soundtrack many people's lives and have an undeniable influence on punk and hardcore as a whole.
When the band returns in February, they will be performing all of their treasured old favorites from their extensive catalogue, as well as new material from their latest album, “VOWS,” which was produced by longtime collaborator Brian McTernan and features guests Brendan Yates and Daniel Phan (Turnstile) Thrice, Dallas Green (City and Colour / Alexisonfire), The Interrupters and Popeye Vogelsang (Calling Hours / Farside).
Grab your buddies and get ready to get sweaty, because it's not often that a band like this plays in our backyard, so grab your tickets fast.