Interview: Authority Zero - Debut New Zealand Shows

Exploding out of Mesa, Arizona in the mid-nineties, skate-punk champs Authority Zero are finally heading to Aotearoa New Zealand, with two headline shows locked in for Auckland and Wellington this March. Their three decade plus career includes the world conquering triple punch of A Passage In Time (2002), Andiamo (2004) and 12:34 (2007), and they're still going strong, unveiling their ninth studio album RBIV Rebel Rhythm in late November. Frontman and co-founder Jason DeVore — who hand-painted the artwork for RBIV Rebel Rhythm — generously took time out to answer Dasha Koryagina's rapid fire Qs. Read onwards and don't miss Authority Zero's long-awaited NZ headline shows, brought to you by Sticky Fingaz Tour Management...

Authority Zero (USA)

Monday 9th March - Double Whammy Bar, Auckland w/ The Recently Deceived, Skarpakazoo
Tuesday 10th March - Valhalla, Wellington w/ Departure Party, Ska Pai

Tickets on sale HERE via UTR

Dasha Koryagina: How would you describe Authority Zero’s sound and the energy people can expect at your shows?

Jason DeVore: We’re super high energy Punk Rock / Rock band that combines elements of musical influence across the board creating what we feel is a unique sound, but familiar to a classic late '90s punk sound.

This will be your first time in New Zealand — what do you know about the country so far, and what are you most looking forward to experiencing while you’re here?

Honestly none of us know much about it other than what we’ve heard. That being that it’s incredibly beautiful, and that we are in for the trip of a lifetime. Most looking forward to seeing how intense the shows can get and seeing the sights.

You’ve played stages of all sizes — what is it about small, intimate venues that still gets you fired up, and how does that closeness change the show?

It’s extremely electric and the energy just bounces from the stage, to the crowd, and then right back to the stage. There’s nothing like the energy in a smaller more intimate room. Everyone is there in the thick of it and you can feel that.

Switching gears a bit — what’s your all-time favourite road-trip album (not your own), and why?

Mine is Against Me!’s New Wave. That became mine one year when we were out in Japan and it has been a great “travel” album ever since.

What’s one song in your set that never stops being fun to play live, no matter how many times you’ve played it — and why?

'A Passage In Time' for me. We can play a full set and then come out for that one song and the energy goes through the roof like it was the first song of the night.