LOST Nightclubs of AUCKLAND (with 48 Sonic)

[@thisarfingai]

1991 - i was living on Oconnel st above Squid, working in Sounds megastore across the road from McDonalds on Queen st. I went out every single night - we partied hard. 48Sonic TO THIS DAY is the coolest and most down to earth guy - there was a lot of 'too cool for school' going on in Au ckland at that time - but 48Sonic was always cool with everyone - the most unpretentious dude - I mean shit, if anyone could have played the superstar game it could have been him because he was the best DJ in town, but he always remained just a good dude. I'm 50 now, seeing him on screen, still grinning from ear to ear makes me so happy. Thank you 48Sonic for always being the SOUL of Aucklands nightlife .

[@48sonic69]

THIS makes me happy! it’s always been about the music and vibes! glad you were there from it’s humble beginnings, best of times! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 🎧

[@CouplesLite]

Sounds near Yifaans & Pizza hutt were always the best place to see bands, I saw Skid Row to De La Soul there.

[@rayc8948]

Great coverage. The clubbing scene in Auckland through the 90s and early 00s was amazing. So many good memories - Coast, WSBC, bEd, Calibre, Kiss & Bacios, Jones, Sinners, Deschles, Rakino, Supper Club. When they changed the closing times to 4am, the clubs started dying. I used to love dancing at Calibre and Ink, and then rolling into Supper Club at 7am and having the day party start. RIP Soane. I loved hearing you spin tunes in Calibre and Ink. Seems like one of the last underground house clubs with good vibes and great house is Ink. Something I'm loving at the moment is seeing the house DJs that I used to get down to over 20 years ago still playing out - Grant Marshall, Greg Churchill, Nice n Urlich, Kahn Hall, Tim Phin etc

[@upp.social]

yeah cheers. seems the early closing was a thing. Does ink play trance?

[@rayc7725]

​@upp.social2490 Ink is mainly house this days. Bit of techno and breaks, but mostly house. Mothership in Shortland Street (I forget the previous place it used to be) had a trance night recently.

[@jackfield8916]

Supper club 💙

[@Andrew_kiwi_AF]

Love this series of lost clubs. So many memories. Used to love going to Fu when it was on queen street. Take me back

[@brandonjackson4612]

Great video. Jonathan remains a great character and full of energy. Odd to see some of those buildings that are now just buildings, car parks, or offices, when they used to be a scene. Keep up the good work!

[@aphelan8895]

Sonic such a GC and a true pioneer in New Zealand music. Respect sir!

[@rayc8948]

Great call out to Margaret. Got a cigarette? No? Fark you!

[@ConnorIngle]

Why does every city have a Margaret, and why are they call called Margaret?

[@HakusW140]

Is that the Margaret who used to sit on the bench on K Rd? ☺️

[@papatuanuku3545]

​@@HakusW140 yes drunken Margaret who asked.. got any loose changes, then she got clever and asked have you got a dollar.. when she is very wasted if she can't get her way, she gets nasty 😂

[@magnumopus5580]

Margret: “Got a cigarette luv” nah sorry “Argh fuck off then” she was a character 😂

[@vasgtfluffy]

Yup memories off the Box. Esp on wednesday night 80s SO many time getting home at 4am and having to be at work at 8am and then relive the longest day ever. Back when it first open Leftfield which became Float was good. Also few time ended up Immigrant and Coast. Sample Gee was the man. Loved the Lagered series.

[@Aotearolla]

Great memories, thanks for this.

[@ryanmcneill7492]

This is bringing back some incredible memories. I’m from N Ireland and lived and worked in the Auckland area for a while in the mid 90’s ( should have stayed …..) I had a ball in that city in some of the venues you’ve covered too ! Unreal. I’ve been back several times to NZ. It never disappoints . 😎

[@aleonflux1138]

Hot diggity! So stoked when you upload one of these!

[@bighoose]

Great document, thank you and the OG 48 Sonic for sharing your time. I use to tape 48's radio shows off bFM back around 96-7 but sadly those I lost those tapes with time, one of my big regrets. Weird seeing some of these locations are just empty shells today when they were the epicentre of the Auckland scene back in the day, tripped me out how bright and small Herzog is when you look through the window today, I remember it as a huge dark, cavernous dungeon filled with heavy thunderous DnB back in the 90's. I saw Randall (RIP) and MC GQ, Trace and many others at Ministry in late 90's. As you get older you realise what a special moment the 90's were for DnB in Aotearoa, there were no cell phones back then so you got to FEEL and witness everything and actually talked to people, not staring at phone screens!

[@colincharan-kumpula6424]

Used to tape hard fast and heavy show on bfm and got the jungle show after it with 48 sonic. Such a great into to electronica, along with earlier breakbead hardcore cassette tapes, that my sis probabky got from you Shae. Cool to reminice about all that. Chur

[@skorpiogrl]

This could go on forever and I'd still be keen to watch and listen. Takes me back, thanks guys 💗

[@Zenobiadream]

The memories! I remember FLESH bar on Oconnell street! And I remember bass bar too!!! Thanks For the skip down memory lane ❤

[@bobanyfingelf]

Paris * Texas - retail clothing store

[@shift3y]

The gigs at Ministry around 99/2000 were legendary. Crammed. Goldie after Big Day Out was the business!

[@upp.social]

So yeah - Experience.. OMG. 1991 I was 14 years old - My sisters English boyfriend brought over a few CDs and gave - Altern8 Energy56 - BOX 1994 ... proper trance music, sooo many choices.. so many. I am still refusing to believe they ALL gone. Cannot believe - there were 30 clubs / bars in CBD with some dance floors. 30 + 1990s now there is 3 if that.

[@petermcgregor5268]

I remember going to all those clubs and i remember Andy Vann when he was aDJ at Club Cleos in Panmure and I loved the old night clubs from the 90s

[@petermcgregor5268]

I remember going to Alfies when Jonathan Stowers aka 48sonic and he was a great Dj

[@JarrodWrightNZ]

Tremendous episode, a little late to the party but I was at the party. Big up Sonic the OG.

[@johnperryanco]

this was actuals cool azz bro love these

[@nyreerussell8806]

OMG THE BREAKS/JUNGLE AND D"n"B THE MEMORIES. THANKS GUY!

[@macanuhisifa2724]

Jonathan..Long time no see bro. I use to work 90 percent of the doors in the city 90's. I rember you. Good to see you alive and well. I use to work for Eden security for Wayne.. Good memories of DTM and sinners across the road...😅😅 Thanks bro..My respect always...🙏

[@jango71000]

Jonathon what a great dude, reminds me of that Hollies song, "he ain't heavy he's my brother" yeah Auckland City in the late 70s, Thursdays Friday nitesQueen St chocka with people, cars hot rods, bikes, noise, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, then the 80s night clubs under the Civic, upstairs in Queen, down left on Nelson St, bars full of people, The 90s, High St the hole in the wall bar, older derelict buildings turned into 3 stories of bars night clubs, Dj clubs 48 Sonic out ahead cool big man, he's my brother. Thursdays to Sundays each night it went off at a different venue... If you knew where to go, live band great dance music Sundays corner of Vic and Albert Streets wow how did the dullards in council take all that energy, fun, excitement, away and replace it with empty streets no cars no people no character.. enough said great video😂

[@blacknapalm2131]

07:48 *RIP THE BOX* It was THE place to be back in the day. The best club with the best music.

[@mystik.mermayde.aotearoa]

Yesssss ❤❤❤❤

[@karinkereama]

Manuel Bundy at Celebre with Ma’v’elle. That was a great night.

[@NZStarWarsNooB]

There was a club/bar at mid city on Queen when the theaters were operating. Went up there a few times when the gaming arcade was also open.

[@pupnat]

Chasers

[@NZStarWarsNooB]

@@pupnat dats it

[@censoredmunky88]

Nice! That club called Studio looks amazing. 🍻

[@warrenfield8896]

An absolute icon of NZ DnB history! Big up 48Sonic!

[@cw155]

Awesome video, glad I found this !

[@kymrobins2432]

Your ol’ lady, on K. Road wz Margret Cook. I heard back in the early 50’s she wz a dancer at the Civic Theatre. Another Auckland icon. Thank u guy I so enjoyed the ckio

[@DetGest]

real cool to discover this as next gen music lover in Tamaki, looking forward to watching more

[@andrewr1084]

Bring back those days.... Stinky Jim is a Legend

[@jonpeddel9616]

Loved the series of these

[@mikedobbs1194]

Best nights down the fu with 48sonic smashing it up…. Ahhhh those days

[@KunalKumar1]

very cool, remember some of the old bars - Tabac, Fu, Zen. nice memories

[@djsamplegee]

Big up the 48. Actual OG. Loved the chat fellas. I can still see Jason Jones clear as day bleeding all over the ambulance. A mere 32 years ago.

[@FitNessFurniture]

Man... this is awesome, very educational, I will say. Im following both of you fellas on Instagram now. 🫡

[@TheAldawg77]

Big up 48sonic. You guys missed a couple up on krd. Rising sun, and galatos.

[@48sonic69]

my great grandmother used to own the Rising Sun, grandmother was born there 😃 both are great venues and need to be covered! 🙏🏽

[@papatuanuku3545]

Been to Alfie's club once, The Staircase a couple of times, Calibre club couple of times and DTM don't tell mama's nite club my friend was the nightclub manager back in early 90's who remembers the bar with the Jesus and Mary statues behind the bar on karangahape road? And the night club top off Queen Street you have to walk up a couple flights of stairs was a cool night club.

[@Wafe_NZ]

I remember one night starting at Bobs bar playing pinball and a mate giving me a bag of shrooms. Which I took before heading to the box. That night Grooverider was playing and I only managed to get through 1/2 the set of Riddle before freaking out and having to get home. Still pissed off that I never got to see Grooverider but hey magic night in the city

[@sugabender2119]

This dude is a legend, 2017-2018 Casette 9, my first rave experience and he was smashing it on the vinyls, been hooked to raving ever since

[@MarkTulloch]

The Box - High Street 1997 Dom + Roland Grooverider 48 sonic Riddle Dillinja All the DnB greats

[@rrmplawoffice6087]

yea, 1997 it was a great year in the Box

[@30psi.4g63]

So many great memories. I remember getting lost in the mosaic picture. foo bar toilet 😅

[@cyhermann7147]

Brings back some of the best memories

[@gileslindsay2845]

Horace would have loved this J.

[@48sonic69]

miss the bro 😢

[@styla.sessions]

So good..Awesome history lesson

[@getreal-zj8bz]

Atticus, how long did that last. And was it crowded bar upstairs Wyndham st? Also went to some weird warehouse type secret bar in Mt Eden industrial area near Kingsland.

[@shadowmoon5445]

48 sonic and riddle with pots etc chch massive always the best nights, respect

[@frankclark7653]

My club was park n Bar on Fort St. That was an epic venue and place to drink n go at it then hit the white lady after that fkn fantastic times never forgotten always luv it .😅

[@TrystaneTheBlack]

What's crazy is that even at age 27 I'm now seeing a lot of the nighclubs i use to go to are now gone

[@CouplesLite]

Salute to all the 90s teens who grew up hanging around Queen st and drank at Meyers Park before looking for fights.

[@bbox2047]

😂😂those were the days!

[@CaptainKuki]

Calibre!!!

[@stevenbissett]

The tow trucks killed the nightlife back in the 90's. Hated playing cat and mouse with them. Now the inner city is dead.

[@getreal-zj8bz]

What was the place at the top left corner of k road and queen st. It was above a bank up loads of stairs

[@shae_sterling]

Kuja Lounge :)

[@getreal-zj8bz]

@shae_sterling omg thanks. I remember meeting actress Sophia Hawthorne (rip) with her mother and sister there once.

[@ogplr5914]

big ups 2 the Tamaki clubnight ancestors :) special to hear old stories about whammy etc. honoured to be apart of the present day community. great words from sonic, aroha!

[@117audio]

Absolutely T For Tremendous!

[@48sonic69]

🤩🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@obvertedgaming2924]

R-R-R-R-ROLL THE BEATS!!

[@davidschauster1806]

Great video I reckon I went to 7/10 those clubs, just shows how old I am 🦳 alfies was in *century arcade ❤️

[@getreal-zj8bz]

I had a drink with Gary McCormick one night at the box. Was it the box where they played jazz? I'm sure I went there and dancing to Insomnia

[@djsamplegee]

That nail impression! Unreal. That was a close call.

[@MM-qt9cg]

I remember Ministry - hella huge DnB nights, saw Goldie and LTJ Bukem there, think Converse use to sponsor the events - late 90s, crazy! I remember Calibre had a bit of elitism to it and it was soooo hard to get in, unless I was just wasted Lol OMG The Brain and Sample Gee - im old haha....love this documentary, wow memories! I actually started Djing in 2020 cause of my love for electronic music and my life in Auckland as a student.

[@JDIDDJNZ]

Jred aka skrimshank here totally enjoyed this ❤️ love ya Sonic

[@evltwin984]

Where do you find your old tunes these days mate?

[@JDIDDJNZ]

@@evltwin984 I dunno if you can tbh Denver may have a dat tape somewhere 🤷

[@e1ectroniKa]

Awesome to see. Hey 48 ❤

[@tboyz1]

The long forgotten caverns of Orcland...the cypt 😎

[@localmo88]

Great vid

[@damianhayes1387]

Love your videos mate just came across them and 1 club I haven't seen mentioned is the feel bar on kroad best place I've ever been to does anyone remember it ?

[@shae_sterling]

Oh wow I actually never heard of this one

[@hamishcarter1660]

On ya lads! Educational

[@Redstar309Z]

Big ups to the Tamaki Massive 94-06

[@shift3y]

Herzog, D&B with Long Island Ice Teas for $20. Good times

[@nzmarc]

I could be wrong, but those stairs that lead up to Tabac, and the Tabac site itself - I have a vague memory of going there, very early 90’s, and wasn’t that the original ‘Stairkase’ (was it spelled that way?) This is of course prior to it moving to K-road, and becoming ‘The Kase’ or simply Kase. As I say, might have that wildly wrong, but weren’t the two connected? And is the spiral staircase they walked up, the reason for the name? Chur 48Sonic - What a guy….Also, RIP Brett from Alfie’s….✌🏽

[@danieledward9452]

AWESOME Vid

[@fatsacks70]

I'm surprised Dagobar in Vulcan Lane always gets overlooked..

[@shae_sterling]

Funny enough we did record a chat about it but I thought of saving it for another guest :)

[@rudolphsadaraka57]

I also remember clubs like. Bass bar Sugar reef JDs Roots bar Cal-Neva Coliseum Etc.. Blast from the past lol

[@sunsetlights100]

Awesome 🎉

[@supremebeme]

48 rocking the NB shirt, chur

[@newzebulon5313]

The 80s was the era to party

[@mikelowry111]

ollll fark john Stowers Legend

[@therandymccarthy]

The man 48 sonic!

[@SeanTaylor-j5g]

Gurned out heaps to 48sonic waaay back

[@crsroe]

Ahhhhh those were the days…. when you didn’t even bother leaving ya house till after midnight, collecting stamps, until spilling out onto K-Road into “Suits” & school kids after having the best night of your life……. Till the next weekend

[@stevesmusic1862]

The box was the best

[@upp.social]

What a Shame Auckland had some of the best Night life for its size in wolrd in 1995... What happened.. The BOX and the Coast Bar trance music, actual dance music. arrh

[@lowrollin159]

rubbish

[@rorycathcart3281]

shout out to Margaret from K road. Swapped more than one cigarette for a swig of port with her.

[@rorycathcart3281]

went to the first Brain, btw. My ears never recovered.

[@xen_mind]

Bring back Sinners. If you know you know.

[@twangology]

VIPP!

[@MarkTulloch]

Iquacu Parnell

[@lowrollin159]

the box was a dump everybody has left Auckland,downtown is dead

[@mystik.mermayde.aotearoa]

The box was amazing in 94-95 🥳🎉🤩

[@greylynnjr]

Did ministry turn into monkey bar? I liked view bar up a bit?? Old hip hop bars late 00's

[@Jong-u5e]

Another good bar in the day was TABAC BAR

[@upp.social]

Respect you guys doing this.. But I really to upset to talk.. Is anyone able to say why things stopped , facts dates times, why? I turned my head for 3 years 2003 and turned back 2009 and its all gone.

[@shae_sterling]

Heya! That's a good question. I think the club owners would have a good gauge on it. But I personally think it's a combination of stricter liquor licences, noise control, access to the city (parking etc) and generational differences in culture and music. We had new genres of music developing at that time which made it exciting. Plus the internet wasn't a thing back then. We had to socialise in real life. I did check out a club in 2020 and it was full of 18yo having the best time of their life so there's still some activity happening.

[@cameraop8210]

as already said, new laws, which forced all clubs to shut earlier 3am i think.... also a change in drugs from alcohol and E and speed to P, P ruined the hardhouse scene atleast, probably more scenes.... also property prices are such that any building owner would rather sell to a residential or commercial investor as opposed to owning a niteclub

[@upp.social]

@@cameraop8210 I think it felt like at the time Early closing and also the evil Radio channels pushing evil Hip Hop on our culture that made dancing uncool and also ment driving fast and drinking heaps and being voilent was the new fad?

[@cameraop8210]

could be man, definitely enforced earlier closing times though had some influence. The gay scene is still going hard at KRd which is interesting (Used to have Legend, voyager, DTM now theres Family), just the straight dance scene died. @@upp.social

[@crsroe]

Who went to those ET & Normandy Road warehouse raves,

[@wanihori1166]

A lot of sad depressed people here unhappy and ungrateful for their lives here, and sadly a lot of racism too. When you do meet a good person out here though they’ll be the most genuine person you’ll meet

[@InfinityDsbm]

bad ass

[@pithius2191]

Basketball player?

[@logantau7130]

You both too old for this shit 😂