Gig Review: Minuit @ Meow Nui, Wellington – 30/08/2025

There is nothing else in the world that will draw out the reclusive Gen X more than a beloved band from the late 90’s embarking on a reunion tour. And few bands of that era drew as much universal praise and admiration as the electronic trio Minuit. Beginning in the late 90’s with a series of self-released EPs culminating in the release of their debut album The 88 in 2003, Minuit saw ever increasing success with their studio releases. And successful as these releases were, what I think truly gave the band such a dedicated following was their incredible live shows and dedication to touring.

So it’s not surprising that after a decade of silence, all four shows announced for Minuit’s 2025 reunion tour sold out before most even got the news it was happening. I was lucky enough to go along to the second show on the tour at Wellington’s premier music venue Meow Nui and never have I seen the place as packed as it was that night. The crowd was so smooshed that it acted as a single impenetrable mass of flesh, where there is usually some kind of punter osmosis from front to back, any effort to squeeze oneself towards the front was greeted with a look of “no sir, you shall not pass”. It may have been direct but it was neither rude nor aggressive, in fact the vibe was overwhelmingly joyous. At one point I even saw a couple in their 60’s making out with the passionate vigour of two teenagers who just discovered how to incorporate their tongues into kissing.

The show kicked off just after 8pm with Te Whanganui-a-Tara based screamo band Western Haikus. A Gen Z, hardcore screamo band may seem an odd choice at first for a Minuit show, but their full throttle intensity and rawkus energy was perfect for breaking in the vibe and warming up the crowd, even the older members of the audience got into it, they may not have been head banging along (due to the risk of a permanent neck injury) but the reception was warm and enthusiastic. There is a familial link between the bands too, in that front man for Western Haikus, Israel, is the son of Minuit’s DJ Ryan, AKA Funk’n’SloCuts. The entire line up for the Wellington show was actually a family affair as the Jola Burns duo are in fact cousins, and their lead singer Alyahna is the Goddaughter of Minuit’s vocalist Ruth and her partner, DJ Paul.

If getting to see Minuit play after so long was the overall highlight of the evening, the specific highlight for me would have to be Jola Burns. It was my first time hearing their music, and within the very first song I was a fan. Their mix of bright and energetic electro pop, dark ethereal grooves and upbeat modern pop gives their set a dynamic element that keeps the audience engaged and moving. Having played music together since they were kids, the songs crafted by Kahu and Alyahna have a well thought out musical flow and intricate complexity that only comes from a well-developed musical relationship. Kahu provides the instrumentation through samplers, drum pads and electric guitar, while Alyahna’s impressive vocals and poetic lyricism provide a central figure to the sometimes overwhelming barrage of tones, textures and rhythms. All of this is then amplified by the duos energetic and joyous live performance, their presence is so radiant it literally fills the room – if you can’t get out to see these two in person I highly recommend checking out the live show they did on Radio Active.

With the crowd now thoroughly warmed up, Minuit took the stage to rapturous applause, and within seconds, they showed that 10 years of absence has done nothing to diminish the trios effervescent stage presence and energetic performance. While my first reaction was one of nostalgia for a band I first saw as a teenager, very quickly, I just settled into the vibe of a regular gig. You would expect music from over two decades ago to feel somewhat dated or out of place in time, but you would also be forgiven for thinking this was a freshly minted current band. Of course hearing songs like Except You and I Hate Guns brought back memories, as well as full audience singalongs, the vibe felt no different than that you would find in any EDM gig today. I’m not sure if the guys on the decks have incorporated new elements or what, but at times it felt like I was hearing these songs for the first time, while the first half of the set had that unmistakable tone of late 90’s electronica, sharp and spacious tones over high tempo but minimalistic drums, the latter half was a full on sonic bombardment more like that of a modern summer bush doof.

One of the most memorable things about Minuit’s live shows was always singer Ruth’s presence on stage, she has this kind of cute shyness when she speaks that is immediately contrasted by the confident performance she breaks into, moving and dancing across the stage and engaging with the audience in a way that can pull a tightly packed crowd even tighter to the stage. Nothing about the show would lead you to believe Ruth is actually a mum now in her 50’s, and not the same woman I first saw over 20 years ago, she hasn’t slowed down nor lost any of that unique element that made her such an icon of the 90’s/2000’s era. DJs Ryan and Paul also came to the stage with the same intensity of the early days, bopping away behind their desks and feeding the audience with the same infectious energy that make their live shows such an event to behold.

I hope the overwhelming positive reception these live shows have had will be enough to get Minuit to squeeze out a few more tours before finally tapping for good.
If anything, this tour has shown that Minuit not only still have it, but the people most definitely still want it.

Photo Credit: Shannon Williams / SW Photography
Minuit Photo Gallery
Jola Burns Photo Gallery
Western Haikus Photo Gallery