Express from languishing under the scornful reign of over glorified, underpaid labour, Pōneke newcomers buffcat have entered the chat, drawing influence from the angry trans-Atlantic post-punks of yesteryear. Iggy Pop, The Fall, Viagra Boys and Fat White Family all combine to create a charmingly aggressive, self-deprecating sound for the present day. Despite the tough exterior, at least 3/4 of the band have never been in a fist fight, and 4/4 don’t ever want to be.
After boasting more former bass players than they could shake a pick at, buffcat’s lineup finally landed with the frenzied charisma of Shaun Blackwell (Hemi Hemingway, Night Shades (UK), HAXON (UK), John the Baptist) at the helm, the fidgety manipulations of Finn Mitchell-Anyon’s (Staff After Party, Bad Hagrid) synthesisers, personality hire Josh Dominikovich (Same Name Confusion, Yolk, Michael Llewellyn & the Darlings, Hemi Hemingway & the Snowflakes) doing something akin to playing a drum kit, and the wrought thrashing of Dean Blackwell (Sheeps, Hemi Hemingway & the Snowflakes) on bass.
Maybe there’s more to come, maybe there’s not. buffcat don’t have a release schedule as such, but they do have rent to pay and shit to do.
Photo by Ashley Brown
"Some scronkin’ saxophone at the end of that absolute throbbah from [buffcat]. That is a bit more of an aggressive sound; really leaning into the Iggy Pop ‘Nightclubbing’ vibe, bit of The Fall as well… some great, charismatic stuff from out of New Zealand"
Berko & Mick on Static, 2ser, Sydney
