Hans Pucket all set to perform at The Dome

Hans Pucket have been touring the country — and loving it. Pictures by Lewis Ferris

Audiences can expect a tight show of original songs from four-piece indie pop rock band Hans Pucket after a busy time touring the country.

The band packed up their instruments and drove to the South Island recently, playing on the Interislander ferry to pay for their passage.

“It’s called Bands on Board and you can sign up to play. We did two shows on the ferry — both there and back and played a mix of our own songs and covers — it was great,” says singer/songwriter Oli Devlin.

They went on to play sold-out shows in Nelson and Queenstown and were thrilled to see so many come out to support them.

Oli and twin brother Callum started the band when they moved to Wellington to begin university. The Christchurch-born brothers have played instruments and sung in choirs since they were young. They started their first band at high school and took part in the Smokefree Rock Quest. Hans Pucket is their second band.

In 2014, drummer Jono Knott joined the duo and more recently they added a fourth member, jazz-trained Callum Passels, who plays saxophone, keyboards and drums.

“Callum trained at jazz school in Auckland and did the Auckland jazz programme. He also teaches saxophone  — he’s incredible,” Oli says.

They released a second album last year “No Drama” on Carpark Records in the US, which has made it back on to the NZ album charts since the tour started.

People may be surprised to learn that the band is older than they appear on the video for the title song No Drama, which features them dressed in school uniform. Filmed at Wellington High School, Oli said it was no wonder people thought the band was younger than they were.

“I think the video has thrown a few people off — we’re all about 30! The song is about growing up and finding your place in the world.”

Hans Pucket is loving touring so far.

“This was the first time we’ve done a road trip in a van together. It’s been absolutely beautiful and we’ve had incredible luck with the weather.”

With four more shows to play before coming to Gisborne next week, Oli says they will be “really well-rehearsed”.

This is a celebratory album-release tour and the show will also feature some older favourites and some new songs as well.

“We’ve got really strong roots in Auckland now as we’ve been playing there for the last six years, but I still think of Wellington as our ‘home crowd’.”

The band is already working on new material for a third album and they started recording new songs at the end of last year.

“We’re all excited about the new songs,” says Oli.

He comes up with the lyrics and melodies and they then work on the songs together with the other band members writing their own parts. Oli describes their music as “catchy, fun songs about feeling bad.”

The band has had critical acclaim both in Aotearoa and abroad.

“No Drama overflows with slippery grooves and thoughtful lyrics, amplified by stirring strongs and horns.” — Rolling Stone.

■  CDs, albums and even cassettes will be on sale at the performance at The Dome Friday August 4.