Gig Review: Powder Chutes @ The Crown Hotel, Dunedin – 28/03/2026
Rock music is very much alive in New Zealand, and its charge is being led by the new generation of talent from all over the country.
Wanaka-based Powder Chutes have teamed up with Waiuku’s own Boondocks on a nationwide tour of Aotearoa, and their stop in Dunedin on Saturday night would be the fifth show on this energy-packed run of gigs. Both bands are fresh off of a huge 2025 that saw the release of each band’s debut albums – the self-titled Powder Chutes released in April, and The Boondocks’ Don’t Let Them See You Cry from October.
The Crown Hotel hardly needs an introduction, as the legendary venue operated by Jones Chin is well-known as an institution in the New Zealand music scene. Saturday’s gig would see Powder Chutes returning once more to the iconic venue, with The Boondocks making their first-ever stop alongside local rockers FÜBAR!
Taking the stage in their usual four-piece form, FÜBAR immediately set the tone for the evening with a roaring rendition of Turnstile’s Birds that had the crowd bouncing along within just a few short moments. The young band had a rotating cast of members joining them on stage for various songs, including Ammonita’s Zoe Eckhoff helping out on both original tunes and a cover of Linkin Park’s By Myself.
FÜBAR are no strangers to playing at the Crown, and they demonstrated impressive crowd work throughout their entire set – even splitting the crowd for a mosh pit at multiple points. Those familiar with the venue know that a circle pit is not an easy feat at the Crown, but all three bands would find that the majority of their listeners were incredibly keen to get their cardio in.
After a high-octane opening act, The Boondocks jumped right into their set with track five on their debut album, Bear With Me. A two-piece band from the North Island, The Boondocks are a force to be reckoned with in Aotearoa’s music scene. Pulling their influences from bands such as Nirvana and Cleopatrick, The Boonies are masters of energy and crowd interaction.
The Boondocks’ superpower is that they hardly ever hesitate to jump right into the action. On each and every song, there is no waiting for a long build or introduction to understand that the duo mean serious business. They have an infectious energy that elevates their live set to what is certainly a can’t-miss act. If you want to dance, then the Boondocks are the band for you. It’s hard to believe that two people can create such a massive sound, yet vocalist/bassist Scott Parker and drummer Branden Pritchard deliver time and time again.
After the crowd was sufficiently warmed up from two electric performances, Powder Chutes hit the stage with a massive wall of noise, tearing into the lead track on their debut album, Merchants. It’s clear that Powder Chutes felt the momentum from the crowd, as their set immediately felt less like a performance and more like a conversation.
The last time Powder Chutes played at the Crown following their LP release last year, there was a clear connection with the crowd from the get-go, and this time was no different. What was immediately surprising, however, was that a majority of the sold-out crowd were screaming the lyrics right back to the band on stage. Whether tearing into the bouncing beat of Scalpel, belting along to the chorus of the unrelenting Straights, or grooving along to the boys’ cover of Highly Suspect’s Bath Salts, there was an unmistakable level of mutual love between the attendees and the young band.
Having been lucky enough to attend a handful of Powder Chutes shows as a member of their tour family, it’s evident that the band is operating on a higher level even from their gigs in 2025. New and unreleased tracks such as Overdose and Rivers showcase a new echelon of maturity from the four-piece which helps to create an incredibly honest and impactful live show. Powder Chutes bare their souls in each and every performance, and you can truly feel that they give their all. Dunedin was no exception.
It’s safe to say that any live show featuring Powder Chutes and the Boondocks is a must-see event. Whatever plans you may have had on these dates – cancel them. You will not want to miss out on the infectious energy that permeates throughout these gigs.
Photo Credit: Keegan Gingrich for Muzic.NZ
Powder Chutes Photo Gallery
The Boondocks Photo Gallery
FÜBAR Photo Gallery