The Jesus Lizard Returning to New Zealand in October

Commanding the attention of fans new and old with 2024's sonically slamming reunion record Rack, Chicago's noise rock kings The Jesus Lizard are coming back to Aotearoa New Zealand for two shows only. Anyone who caught their previous visits to our shores (including 1996's The Big Day Out festival) will have the wild sweaty pants-less image of frontman David Yow, onstage and frequently in the pit, and the group's maniacally focused riff majesty permanently seared into their brains.

Their innovative output in the '90s via Touch and Go, all produced by Steve Albini (RIP), and a two album major label run on Capitol is recognised as a key influence on multiple generations of misanthropic guitar-manglers (you can try 2000's BANG compilation as an accessible entry point). This fan will be up front at Tāmaki Makaurau's all-ages show that's for sure. Hailed by Albini as "the greatest band I’ve ever seen", don't miss these giants of deranged US punk at The Tuning Fork and Pōneke's San Fran this October — David Yow, Duane Denison, David Wm. Sims and Mac McNeilly playing their first local events in twenty seven years!

The Jesus Lizard

Saturday 11th October - The Tuning Fork, Auckland (all-ages)
Sunday 12th October - San Fran, Wellington (R18 unless accompanied by your legal guardian)

Tickets available from 12pm, Thursday 8th May via moshtix.co.nz

Here's the video for 'Puss' from 1992's Liar...

Experience 'Hide & Seek' from The Jesus Lizard's new album Rack (Ipecac Recordings)...

Take in 'Glamorous' from 1993's The Lash EP...

Press release:

The quintessential punk band of the '90s - the Jesus Lizard, returns to New Zealand shores for the first time in 27 years this October! Playing two exclusive shows only at Auckland’s Tuning Fork and San Fran in Wellington on the 11th and 12th respectively.

After initially calling it a day in 1999, the Jesus Lizard officially return full time to save us from the current state of musical mediocrity with their latest album, Rack. A blistering resurgence of the so-called ‘noise rock’ they helped define alongside contemporaries Big Black, Flipper, The Birthday Party, with their previous and most noted albums Head, Goat and Liar. For those of us who live in fear of the reunion album and subsequent tour, the Jesus Lizard thankfully display not only the same chaotic and dark nihilism of their earlier careers but also the maturity and seasoning of a band riding a wave of renewed and reinvigorated form.

Once slated by famed engineer Steve Albini as “the greatest band I’ve ever seen’ the Jesus Lizard not only lived up to this lofty praise in their prime but continue to do so in their advancing years. David Yow still leads the charge as the maniacally possessed frontman entering crowds with reckless abandon and a stamina that much younger vocalists would kill for. The original rhythm section of David Wm Sims and Mac McNeilly further continue to prove why they were and are the best bass & drum combo since Jones and Bonham, anchoring the ship as Captain Yow and first mate Denison navigate the wild seas of their songs. And while he may not always feature (as he rightly should) on many modern music journalists ‘best guitarists lists’, Duane Denison could perhaps be the most innovative and idiosyncratic punk rock guitarist EVER. However, each member is a sum of their parts but combined they are as Albini also once said “the purest melding of the sublime and profane.”

Whether you are a longtime disciple of the Jesus Lizard, seeing them when last here in ‘98, or perhaps your fandom is more recent and have only seen videos of their legendary live performances, you will know that these shows are not to be missed.

Tickets go on sale through moshtix.co.nz on Thursday 8th May. But get in quick, these shows will sell out fast!!!!