These New South Whales

“Australian punk royalty” (Monster Children, Tone Deaf) These New South Whales are a belt with many notches. Their “irresistible” songwriting (Kerrang!) and “old-school-cool energy” (The Line of Best Fit) have earned them international acclaim, an ARIA nomination, and a reputation as “one of the best punk bands in Australia” (triple j). Their hit Comedy Central show – touted as “the punk Flight of the Conchords” (NME) and “the best mockumentary since Spinal Tap” (Monster Children) – saw them become the first Australian band to develop and license a TV series to a cable television network. And their podcast What A Great Punk ended its debut year inside Spotify’s top five music podcasts before enjoying a sold-out live run at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

While their reputation as all-round entertainers grows, their music has long outgrown the comedy label that defined their formative years. Their latest album, TNSW, was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Hard Rock Album after debuting at #9 on the ARIA Australian Album Charts, while single ‘Changes’ earned full rotation on triple j, beginning 2023 as the station’s 11th-most played track. It’s “the group’s crowning achievement”, says NME, and according to Mojo, “It's not even funny how comprehensively they kick the ass of most other contemporary punk-leaning ensembles”.