While the opening credits may seem familiar, Tāmaki Makaurau 5 piece Flaxxies are writing a killer few next chapters. 4 high school BFF’s bond through their obsessive love of music. They wrote & self produced, (along with the “6th Beatle” sound person Ryan Cruickshank) their debut EP Dream Days (2020) allowing the band to develop a foundation to their sound, which has been built upon and diversified through subsequent releases.
2021 saw them sell out their debut headline show at Auckland’s Galatos, continuing to grow their reputation as a killer live act.
Along with supporting other emerging artists, Flaxxies continue to write & release music in an effort to forge a path for themselves within the music industry.
Their early 2022 release, a 4 track EP, featured the singles King of The Reef and Lot 61, which received substantial traction, with the latter landing at #2 on the NZ Radio Charts.
After bouts of COVID and a focus on university studies, the band ended 2022 strongly with the single Brain Teasers.
Following this was a performance on the main stage at festivals Rhythm And Alps, a sold out New Years Eve headline slot at Lukes Kitchen, and support slots for touring bands including Shag Rock and The Grogans.
The band now use their music as a platform to express the burgeoning issues that come with the transition to adulthood – work, car trouble, love & heart break, family pressures, drugs and booze now enter the picture, and the expression through their music obviously resonates with their growing fanbase.
Early 2023 saw the release of Altitude, created together with members of Daily J, Mako Road and No Cigar, a song which hit #1 on the Radio 1 (Dunedin) listener voted charts, as well as reaching #4 on the national Student Radio charts. Sets at festivals Soundsplash and Plans After closed out the summer of 2023.
Armed with a catalogue of new songs and a more diverse & mature sound, the band entered the studio with legendary producer Tiki Taane (Six60, Shapeshifter, Dylan Frost, Salmonella Dub.)
Singles from those sessions showcase the depth of their influences and the strength of their musicianship, thanks in some part top the countless hours they spend jamming together at Flaxxies HQ – a warehouse in South Auckland.
Snapped Up (By The Boss) and current single Cast Me Away have rung true with their fanbase while growing their audience and garnering attention with their peers and the Aotearoa music community.
During this time the band welcome new kid on the block drummer, Neo Leo – stolen from a commune somewhere in Flaxxies spiritual home of Coromandel.
With new EP “Sunstruck” about to drop and national touring lined up throughout 2023 the band continue to write new chapters for themselves, but remain at the heart 5 best mates, helping each other navigate the chaotic and changing world, politics, self-expression and following ones dreams.
With recent epic performances at Soundscape and Fort Lane Live + support slots with Daily J and with more offers pouring in, it’s clear that the band is making its mark on the live scene in Aotearoa.
High-energy vocalist Benji Humphries, jazz-inspired bassist Chris Manning, rock n’ roll fuelled guitarists Eric Goodger (lead) and Nick Tait (rhythm), and drummer Neo Lee, inspired by the kiwi greats that have gone before and the coastal landscapes of Aotearoa, create a unique fusion of reggae, classic blues, fast and loose rock n roll with dub elements. Just don’t call them surf rock.
This is Flaxxies… stay tuned.