The Snake Behaviour Newsletter Interview

Showing no signs of slowing down, Christchurch Rockers The Snake Behaviour are heading into their 20th year of creating hard-hitting music and delivering incredible live performances. They recently shared all their future plans and a whole lot more with Muzic.net.nz, and here’s what was said:

What NZ bands and musicians would you like to tour with, and why?

A few people have commented that a tour with ourselves and Animalhead would go well from a sonic perspective, we have been seeing and hearing their stuff too and love it, but all comers really, we just love meeting new bands and playing with our friends. We would love to get on the road again with the Omeka boys, or any of our mates from here in CHCH. Also on the wish list, Stray Dogs, and Intergracia.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

Basically we just say our genre in however it comes our TBH! Just a jumble of notes in an order, with rhythmic hitting and some shouting to be honest

What can we expect to see from you in the next year?

We have spent most of this year working on our Sophomore album Youthanise so there will be the release of that and a subsequent flurry of shows in various parts of the country…we actually head to where it all began again in November and start a pre-release tour of Tasman. Rumour has it, a show with an international band heading to our shores is also on the cards in the first few months of 2023. But it’ll also be a year of celebration, 20 years of this little band next year!

What NZ bands and musicians would you like to see more of, and why?

Basically like an earlier answer all comers man, literally anyone and everyone. There’s so many that deserve recognition that we won’t ever really hear about. Also it’d be great to see even more of the harder genre bands with females in them, some notable mentions would be Volts, Emma Dilemma is already all over the place, but more please, Bin Day, Etheran, Curlys Jewels, Daytrip just to name a few, the more Wahine in heavy music, the better!

Who are your favourite NZ bands and musicians?

In terms of the real big guys, You can’t go past Shihad (It’s actually a crime to not like them), and some of the older legends, Chris Knox, Don McGlashan, The Mutton Birds, Split Enz, Margaret Urlich (RIP), and on and on we go, we have such a rich musical history in this country
From a local point of view our friends Omeka who are about to achieve big things, the guys in Hecates Cult, Empire, Intergracia, Stray Dogs, and the big dogs of the CHCH scene, Pieces of Molly, Stonehurst, and honestly all our friends, we couldn’t separate them really

What local albums have you been listening to recently?

Emma Dilemma‘s album Spit, and a few from mates of ours, the self-titled EP by Hecates Cult and also an old one from old friends Radius Kink called Orange Room gets a regular spin in Chris’s car stereo

What is your favourite NZ venue, and why?

Hard question, too hard, there’s been some great venues in CHCH over the years, the now defunct New City Hotel was a second home for us. Here in CHCH The Embankment, 12 Bar, Darkroom and Rolling Stone stand out! In terms of round the country I’ve always loved Western Springs, and Forsyth Barr stadium, but on a local level you can’t go passed the Dong Dong Lounge and Valhalla too.

Have you got any tips for dealing with nerves before a gig?

Despite contrary belief don’t get drunk, for me, it’s preparation, be prepared, so you know it’ll go well, other than that, just treat it like a glorified practice, You’re doing it cause You love it, so just roll with it, if it starts going wrong remember the greatest bands in history have also had train wrecks! Also you’ve been invited to play by someone who believes in You, so channel that!

What is the one thing you want NZ to know about The Snake Behaviour?

That this is more than music to us, it’s about creating meaningful differences in our community, hence the bi-annual Rock 4 Love and our yearly Christmas hamper Nominations etc…..and besides that, that we don’t think we are better than anyone, we will play in a back shed, or western springs, we don’t really give a fuck, we just want to play

What has been your most memorable show to date?

There’s actually been a fair few, the Fire Aid show in CHCH where we met our amazing friends Fall of Them (now Omeka). The single release show for out song Lights Out, the Rock 4 Love shows, especially the first where a month after the terror attack we organized a bunch of bands to rock out in the name of love, not hate, our album release show, playing the Ding Dong and Valhalla, and 100 percent the 3 international shows we have been lucky enough to open. The number 1 though would 100 percent be opening for The Dead Kennedys 

Check out The Snake Behaviour on Muzic.net.nz

Photo Credit: Phantomfotograf