You missed the riots. You caught the playlists. Now feel it live.
The cost of living keeps climbing. But so does the volume. Friday 22 August, Auckland’s inner city shakes with three bands upstairs and four decades of punk spun through the main bar. It’s not a team-up. It’s a shared refusal to shut up.
At Dead Witch, live sets from Pink Plates, 5th Threat and The Bright Ideas push sweat over polish and grit over nostalgia. Downstairs at Ding Dong, Drew Bang + guests spin the chaos—tracks from the ’70s through the 2000s, loud enough to rattle your boots and remind you who you are.
Pink Plates bring stomp, shimmy, and scrappy charm straight out of Tamaki Makaurau. James Dalton leads on vocals, John Kim and Matt Holden riff through on guitar, Craig Hebblethwaite locks down the bass, and Michael Redwood drives the drums. Their sets hit fast and loose, with zero polish and even less pretense. If you’ve had a pint from Craig and Matt’s Black Sands Brewing, you already know the spirit—they just pour it louder here. House of Beauty Records called it “quite an enjoyable slab of noise.” You’ll feel it in your knees.
5th Threat are back—Rahhpz, Jamie Douglass, and Chris, the original trio who tore through venues across Auckland and Aotearoa in the mid-to-late 2000s. Their debut EP Threat or Death landed four-star reviews from Real Groove and Punkas, with Suzan named “the greatest pop punk song to come out of New Zealand.” You might’ve seen them on ALT TV or heard Blood Feud soundtracking X-Air. They played with Bouncing Souls, UK Subs, Leftover Crack—and Jamie’s basslines powered The Rabble’s European charge. If you remember, you already know. If you missed it, don’t let it happen twice.
The Bright Ideas throw post-punk tension through flanged guitars and rhythm that grins as it punches. Slade handles vocals and guitar. Scruffy slams through drums. Dylan delivers bass with backing vocals that snap and swing. Their sets don’t warm you up—they jolt you awake.
Downstairs, Drew Bang and guests spin punk from every filthy chapter—‘70s grit, ‘80s speed, ‘90s skate, 2000s melody. Expect tracks that raised the roof at house parties and blasted through headphones on long bus rides. The Clash. The Bronx. The tunes you yell in the car when no one’s watching.
Brought to you by ACT UP Entertainment and the crew behind Ding Dong Lounge—no gatekeeping, no fluff, just punk done right.
Doors open at 7pm. Happy Hour runs 7–8pm and again at midnight. Tickets are $10 Early Bird, $15 General Admission, $20 on the door. Cards accepted. Noise expected. Upstairs: sweat. Downstairs: scream. Find your crew. Lose your voice. Leave messy.
IT’S NOT A TRIBUTE. IT’S NOT A SHOWCASE.
IT'S A PUNK NIGHT.
NO GODS. JUST GUITARS.
R18
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