Interview: No Fun At All (SWE) - Auckland Headline Show

Swedish punk kings No Fun At All are finally returning to Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time since the dawn of the millennium (!), headlining Tāmaki Makaurau's Double Whammy on 11th November. Read Dasha Koryagina's exclusive chat with No Fun At All below and be in to win a double pass for their only local event of this year, brought to you by REX and Sticky Fingaz Tour Management. Get in your entries HERE by 3rd November...

No Fun At All (SWE)
with Two Skinner and Green Fever
Tuesday 11th November - Double Whammy, Auckland (18+, doors 7.30pm)
Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

For readers who might not know you yet, how would you describe No Fun At All’s sound and attitude?

We're part of the whole early '90s punk thing. Some call it melodic hardcore and some call it skate punk. It's basically the type of music that came out of the US West Coast through bands like Bad Religion and Pennywise. Of course, being Scandinavian, our sound and attitude differs a little. In recent years we've dabbled with a wider range of influences, but we're firmly rooted in that scene originally.

It’s been 25 years since you last played in New Zealand — what do you remember from that last visit, and how does it feel to be coming back to play for a Kiwi crowd again?

Like you say, 25 years and memories are fuzzy. We do recall an awesome dinner involving lava rocks and a great show with a great crowd and we can't wait to come back again. It's also gonna be the last show we play this year and the last one of this particular run, so we'll make sure it matters.

Touring always comes with surprises — what’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that’s happened to you on the road?

Having been a touring band for over thirty years, there's a whole archive of funny things and surprises and it's hard to pick one that stands out. A more recent incident was at the tail end of the pandemic when we were invited to play a "seated" outdoor festival. It was very strictly arranged, vax certificates, masks, crowd testing, the whole thing. Neatly arranged benches and chairs and all that. Three songs into our set, the crowd erupted and within seconds, chairs, plastic cups and people were just flying all over the place. Soon enough, the circle pit was an unavoidable fact. The whole "seated" thing just didn't work. Music carries energy.

Do you have any pre-show rituals — things you always do before you go on stage, or once you land in a new city?

Nothing too crazy really. We make sure we're warmed up, each member in his own way and then we sort of form a circle and have a little talk and then we just go do the thing.

If you could sum up your upcoming Auckland show in three words, what would they be?

Bring your friends!