Auckland is in for a very big night of rock this Friday (February 27th), with the likes of Kiwi mainstays Tadpole ready to take over the Domain.
Tadpole will kick off Live at the Domain, before Yellowcard, Highly Suspect, and Good Charlotte each take the stage – promising a huge night of rock to send off the summer. Set against the stunning backdrop of Auckland’s most beloved green space, the event promises an electric atmosphere as fans gather to experience more than two decades of anthemic hits.
Tadpole stands as one of New Zealand’s most influential rock bands, whose explosive sound and charismatic presence catapulted them to national acclaim in the early 2000s. Formed in Auckland in 1994, the band’s journey has been marked by Platinum records, chart-topping singles, and unforgettable live performances that cemented their place in local music history.
After disbanding in 2006, Tadpole made headlines with their reformation in March 2024. They returned to the stage for select performances, delighting long-time fans and introducing their distinctive sound to new audiences.
November 2024 marked a new era for Tadpole with the introduction of powerhouse vocalist Lauren Marshall, bringing fresh energy while staying true to the band’s signature sound. Marshall joined original members Chris Yong (guitar) and Dean ‘Dino’ Lawton (drums), with Romilly Smith on bass and DJ Kritikl on turntables to forge an exciting new chapter in the band’s storied history.
We caught up with Tadpole’s Dino ahead of their first-ever performance at the Domain.
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Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Are you excited about playing Live at the Domain?
Dino: We are all very excited to play at this one. We are big fans of all the bands playing and we have never played at the Domain over our whole career… you can’t beat a summer in the Park!
The full lineup is impressive. Who are you most keen to say when you’re not playing yourself?
I’m going to be a typical drummer here and say Good Charlotte… Dean Butterworth is one of my fav drummers! He’s solid and knows what to play for the song.
How has your reunion gone so far? How have fans received it?
We initially only came out to play for the Devilskin tour, but on that tour run we realised how many fans were out there and what our music meant to them. We started writing again and now we have a brand new album on the way in the next year or so, it’s great!
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Who first suggested a reunion? Were there initial nerves?
Well it wasn’t us… The Devilskin guys and their manager have a lot to do with that I have to say; if it wasn’t for them asking us to tour we would not have bothered at all. As for nerves, speaking for myself, I spewed in my mouth and had a massive panic attack in Invercargill… after that it wasn’t so bad.
Tell us about the new lineup. How did you all gel at first?
The line up we have now is awesome! We all get on well and get on with the job at hand. I think with this industry, 50% of it is music and 50% of it is music business. We all pitch in and get it done now!
Your debut album turned 25 last year! What are your favourite memories of that time in the band’s life?
Oh, I have far too many over that period but I think for the band the biggest thing would have been at the BDO 2001, we were on the main stage playing to 50,000 fans and we smashed it!
I remember sneaking in six cameras in my bass drum so we could shoot the video to number one. We weren’t allowed to film anything back then and we nearly got sued for doing so… EMI got us off somehow and we managed to release the video without any issues.
How did your New Zealand tour go last year? Any favourite shows?
I think the whole tour was awesome! So cool seeing all those old school punters bringing their kids to the shows and blending the generations. We’ve definitely picked up a new audience after all these years. It shows that good music passes through the parents and keeps the Rock flowing in this country!
As for favourite shows on the tour, I have to say that Rock 2000 in Auckland was massive! Never played Spark Arena and it’s always been a goal of ours to do so.
What’s coming up for you after Live at the Domain? Will we be hearing new Tadpole music?
Why, funny you should ask… We have just finished recording three new songs and our new single is due for release in a month or so. We have Boh Runga producing vocals and Tiki Taane is mixing the album so we have the A team hard out! We have managed to secure releases in Japan, Germany, and the USA is looking promising as well, we’ll see how we go after 20 years of being silent; it’s all a bit of a gamble.
For tickets and more information about Live at the Domain, see here.
