Nic Sick broke into Ōtepoti’s live music scene just as 2024 was drawing to a close. Having formed in halls, the new year has brought a bit of uncertainty, with fewer members and fewer practice spaces. However, the excitement of the unknown has kept the momentum going.
James Bernau (guitarist), Sam Kennett (vocals) and Tom Douglas (known as Doug) have landed into North Dunedin straight outta Knox College, while Studholme's own Finn Mossop (drummer) completes the group as the newest addition to the band.
The band formed last year through auditions to compete in Knox’s musical duel with Selwyn College. The first iteration of the Knox band included a whopping 12 members. When Critic Te Ārohi asked James and Doug if they won the battle, the bandmates humbly laughed, while James called the outcome "controversial," before sheepishly admitting: "Unfortunately we did not win."
Nic Sick landed on a ‘90s and early 2000s inspired "alternative surf rock" sound, as James describes, with the influences of greats like the Arctic Monkeys and Pink Floyd resonating in their sets. The band’s most iconic covers are ‘Just’ by Radiohead and ‘Bliss’ by Th' Dudes. "You just can't mess that up," James comments on the latter.
It was during last October’s ‘Next in Line’ gig that Nic Sick debuted their music to an audience of non-freshers, a night that promised to be "an exhibition of Dunedin's emerging musical talent.” James said with glee that after the show they "got in touch with some of the bands, which was why we got to play” at the second to last Pint Night of the year. While everyone who was willing to sleep through their Thursday morning lectures lined up outside of U-Bar, Doug found himself fangirling over the band-signatured walls in the greenroom. He said that he started blushing when he saw The Butlers’ name on the wall: “I've been the biggest fan of them for ages."
Playing Pint Night ended the year on a bittersweet note: "We just got into the kick of it, and then the year was over." After leaving halls, the band’s been left in a tough position. James says that Nic Sick’s members are no longer all in one place, and they have less spaces in which to practice. The band went from twelve to three members by the end of the year.
Recently, their lead singer Sam managed to find a new drummer on Castle St during Cowboys and Cowgirls night of Flo-Week. Doug eagerly explains, "Sam just added him to the [band] group chat and sent a hazy photo of Finn [in] the dim Castle lighting." This slightly ominous photo was accompanied by the text "Yo, we found our drummer." James and Doug are very keen to take Finn on, especially considering his expertise playing drums for Solstice, who just played at the first Pint Night of this year.
While Nic Sick still finds their feet in the new year, the band doesn't have any planned upcoming shows – though may be on a recruitment drive at other gigs, if their Flo-Week strategy proves successful. James says that he is scared to "lock ourselves into any gigs" before having a full practice together, but is worried that this means that they might "miss out on" opportunities.
When talking about their goals for the future of the band, James mentions the ever-sought after Pint Night and Hyde Street Party. Being part of Ōtepoti's music scene is a big motivation for the boys, who highlight the strong community that keeps Dunedin's live music scene intact. Doug explains, "I feel like [Dunedin] is our hole [...] we're all in the same boat as everyone else, you know?" James finds that "music is just such a good thing to connect with people over." Doug adds that just knowing you have your own little slice of the scene is really fulfilling: "I can look at the bigger picture and think that I've contributed to this somewhat."