Simon Oscroft from Midnight Youth is in scrounge mode. His band is having to rehearse for their upcoming tour at friends' places and studios, squeezing in what time they can, where they can.
It's a break from their usual routine. Despite pitching themselves as living the loose, hard rock dream, the band - lead singer Jeremy Redmore, guitarist and backup singer Oscroft, drummer Aidan Bartlett, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Nick Campbell and bass player Matt Warman - is actually disciplined about rehearsing. Twenty hours a week is a must, but often it's 10am to 6pm every weekday.
But they've had to move out of their usual rehearsal space in an industrial section of Albany after the building was sold.
"It's annoying because we're having to look around at a pretty busy time of year and when we're about to go on tour and overseas, so we'll just have to hope something comes up," Oscroft, 24, says.
Worse, from the band's point of view, was that the musical contraptions devised by their DIY guy, Nick, all had to be ripped out of the old premises, so there was also financial loss associated with the move. But, with summer concerts coming up, Oscroft says there's plenty to take their minds off their less than ideal preparation.
They don't let things get to them. All five live together in Browns Bay, near where they all grew up. They flat together, eat together, drink together and work together - a tight unit friend-wise and band-wise.
"We don't even think about living in the same house, and if we have any challenging moments it's not with two against three of us or anything, it's always just a momentary one-on-one challenge that passes."
Midnight Youth has been together five years now, its members now ranging in age from 22 to 25. The former Rangitoto College students have just released their second album, World Comes Calling, after locking themselves away in a Sydney house for six months, barely socialising with the outside world, eating, playing, writing, drinking. That came after a period of shows in Aussie, where they "road-tested" songs at their gigs then decided the songs on their new album needed to capture the energy of those live shows.
"We were all on the same wavelength. It was really exciting," says Warman.
The second album now sits at number 12 on the NZ album charts, with the single of the same name at number 20.
This week the MY boys go on the road for the first of the long summer season of gigs - heading to Christchurch and Wellington, then back home for a special gig at iconic home tavern, The Brownzy, on Christmas Eve.
"Last time we played there, we had a few more people than were probably meant to be there and the cops turned up, but they just enjoyed the show and were really good about it," laughs Oscroft.
Then they'll support Dave Dobbyn at Coroglen on the 29th with the Dukes, before heading to Waihi for New Year, and Mangawhai on the 7th. Busy times, big bucks?
"We're lucky to be full-time musicians but there aren't many in New Zealand who make a living out of it unless you are solo," Oscroft says.
"You just have to get what you get. We're young, all we really need is food and beer."
On paper that sounds dumber than it is; Oscroft is a smart guy. Several of the band members have completed degrees while playing full-time and they treat their music like a job, albeit a fun one. He has ideas, and the group has its next year mapped out - they're off to Los Angeles in April and London in May. They also learned from the release of their first album on iTunes in only the Australasian market, and made sure the second one was available online worldwide, after requests from ex-pats.
"But to be honest most of our fans seem to prefer the physical CD. They outsell online 5 to 1, probably because we appeal to an older rock audience."
They hope for a good turn-out by that audience on January 20, at Big Day Out. Oscroft is stoked with the band's 4.45pm slot.
"We had a look. There are no big clashes with other rock bands so that's good for us and we have just found out we have a 45-minute set which is [insert rockstar expletive here] awesome!"
They have plenty to fill their set. Right now, it looks like it will be five songs off their first album, The Brave Don't Run, and three off the latest.
Asked which other band is a must-see for them at BDO and there's no hesitation.
"Soundgarden. We love all the bands from that era, that Seattle rock from the early 90s is what we grew up with."
Second choice? "Kasabian. Good bit of British rock thrown in there. But I've also heard that Noel Gallagher will be doing four or five songs from Oasis, too, so if that's the case he will be [insert aforementioned expletive] awesome [plus milder faecal expletive]."
There are some things young rockers can always get away with.
Like us" on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
WINNERS OF BIG DAY OUT TICKETS ARE: Owen Thompson of Manurewa and Sara Barker of Beach Haven
Big Day Out is on January 20, Mt Smart Stadium. Tickets at ticketmaster.co.nz
Even in our biggest city, there are still ways to get away from it all.