Champ band battlers to play Masterton

Auckland-based psychedelic funk rockers Harvey Knows a Killer will stage their Wairarapa debut at King Street Live in Masterton. PHOTO / SUPPLIED

Kiwi Battle of the Bands champions Harvey Knows a Killer will stage their debut performance in Wairarapa on Thursday as part of their North Island Rhythmic Slither tour.

Rageous Records producer Nathan Judd said the five-piece Auckland-based band play King Street Live on Thursday night after launching their nine-date tour in the City of Sails last week.

The band would also blaze their sonic way through Kuaotunu in Coromandel, Mt Maunganui, Napier, Wanganui, and Wellington while on tour, Judd said, and would stage guerilla gigs along the way as well.

Band members Jermayn Clark, Joss Colling, Windon Bradfield, Rewi McLay and Dillon Riester first started playing their brand of rock, funk and psychedelic soul at Western Springs College and have twice taken Battle of the Bands laurels in the five years they have been bouncing about the Auckland pub and club circuit.

Judd said the band had also shared a stage with renowned Kiwi acts like Home Brew and The Adults and in December launched their debut album Rhythmic Slither through Rageous Records at the Galatos venue in Auckland.

"Their southern fried funk has been igniting venues all over and really is gaining them a cult following among lovers of indie music," Judd said.

"Their energy and spirit were so infectious, I became an instant life fan after seeing them live in 2012. They really are the perfect blend of heartiness, fun, funk and rock'n'roll."

The band describe the Harvey Knows a Killer sound as "southern fried voodoo funk" and the players count as influences a little pantheon of rock gods and Kiwi forbears including Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Supergroove.

Judd produced, engineered and mixed the 10-track Rhythmic Slither album, adding to a discography that includes the earlier five-track HKAK EP from 2010, and the two-track Slither Tour EP produced for the band's musical trek down the North Island.

Pre-sale tickets cost $10 for Harvey Knows a Killer at King Street Live on Thursday night and there is a free tour poster with all pre-sales. Tickets are available through harveyknowsakiller.co.nz. The Rhythmic Slither album is available on iTunes and Bandcamp.