The band's six-stop tour began in Wellington on February 6 and will end at Mount Maunganui's Totara Street 14 days later.
It's a homecoming for vocalist and guitarist Neill Fraser, who grew up in Ōtūmoetai, and a time for him to catch up with family and friends.
"I love the Bay of Plenty, the whole region, it's got such a cool vibe. I always feel like I'm coming home."
He says the venue is perfect - big enough to create a high-energy vibe, but small enough for the band to watch everyone in the room.
Fraser remembers the high energy and the connectedness the last time they played there and is anticipating a repeat.
After months spent apart during last year's Covid-19 lockdown, the four-person band needed to "re-oil the machine" in preparation for the tour.
They've been well into that for a while now, and have been working to pull everything together to cover as much of their material as possible for the fans.
"[We'll] hopefully throw in some extra surprises as well. Put on the biggest show we can."
The band's 2019 tour - which also came to Totara Street - was its biggest New Zealand tour to date but Fraser wants this one to be even bigger.
"More production, more lights, and make it more engaging for the audience."
Fraser was excited to come back to Tauranga for the final gig of the tour.
It's exciting to be back touring after Covid-19 put the band's big 2020 plans, including a trip to the United States and Europe, on hold, he said.
They dropped their Beggar EP which Kiwi fans fell in love with but were not able to push it out to the rest of the world as is traditionally done through touring.
But they were not just going to sit around.
"We've just hunkered down and kept writing, trying to make the best of it," Fraser said.
They finally played their first concert of last year in November, sharing the stage at the Rock 2000 LIVE concert at Auckland's Spark Arena with Devilskin, Head Like A Hole and Racing.
"It was awesome and crazy and really surreal because we hadn't played in so long."
Looking into the crowds at the Auckland show, a sobering feeling came over him.
"I am literally standing in front of the most people in a room listening to music right now, in the entire world," he remembered thinking.
"Unless you grow up being Lady Gaga or Paul McCartney, that's not a reality, ever."
To him, it was a privilege to be able to get up in front of crowds.
"It's nuts ... I know everyone is saying it, but it's just crazy that you can play shows in New Zealand and nowhere else."
It was a testament to the way New Zealand responded to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.
"It means things like the arts can actually live which is rad because it's pretty hard to be a musician when you can't perform to people in person."
And after years of performing in front of crowds, it is completely different now.
"The enthusiasm was insane, everyone was on the exact same buzz.
"It just felt like everyone was there for the right reasons, you know? Everyone wanted to be there, and have a good time, and get involved. Enjoy the music and enjoy getting out ... that's what shows should be, and that's what we always aspire to make our gigs."
Fraser said after the tour the band would be back to fine-tune some new songs and hit the studio to figure out what their fourth record will be, but it's still early days.
The good news was they had a lot of material, he said, and now it was a matter of playing it all together and working out what direction the band would head in next.
As the show in Mount Maunganui will be the last on the six-stop tour, and Fraser said this meant they could properly kick-off and have a decent party to celebrate the end of the tour.
Fraser plans to stay in the Bay for a bit of time after.
"Touch-wood, fingers crossed," another tour in November is also in the works.
Joining the current tour is Auckland punk rock trio Cherry Blind, who have been dominating the airwaves recently with their track "Papercut".
The group went from busking at Botany Town Centre to winning the Smokefree Rock Quest in 2017.
Solo-act Emma Dilemma from Christchurch will also join the band for her nationwide debut.
Both acts will be at all six shows across the country.
10 questions with Neill
1. Favourite song of 2020?
Deftones - Headless. His most listened to artist of 2020, according to Spotify's 2020 Wrapped, Bon Iver.
2. Genre you would love to be part of?
Right where Villainy is already home - rock
3. What instrument can you not live without?
Any kind of guitar, on hand at all times
4. If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Trent Reznor
5. Best advice you have received?
Don't quit.
6. Would you rather toes for fingers or fingers for toes?
Fingers for toes, of course.
7. Highlight of the year so far?
Seeing the bros from Shihad and Six60 ring-in the new year.
8. Favourite lyrics of all time?
"I'm Going Slightly Mad" by Queen - stupid yet brilliant.
Mount Maunganui show
When: February 20, 8pm
Where: Totara Street on Totara St
Age: R18
