Formed in 2005 by Logan Park High School students Lisandru Grigorut (guitarist/vocalist) and Rory MacMurdo (drums) and later adding Harley Jones (guitar/bass) and Mickey Treadwell (synth/saxophone), the group has courted success and controversy, provoking divisive reactions in the process since their song Oops, was that your mother I just had sex with won Radio One's high school demo competition in 2006.
Along the way they've also created some of the most confronting, unique and genuinely innovative music most residents of this city will ever hear.
Fusing elements of everything from noise rock to jazz, their aggressive, chaotic sounds saw TFF win the regional Rockquest final in 2008.
Again a point of contention, the result resulted in a vicious internet backlash on dunedinmusic.com.
Of course, the band wasn't fazed, writing at the time: "It's fantastic that we are a love hate band."
However, after supporting some of New Zealand's best bands, playing Camp A Low Hum and releasing two critically well-received albums, 2010's Irregardless and 2011's Surplus Bargains, the band has been on a technical hiatus with members now scattered from Dunedin to Boston.
That's what makes tonight's show at Re:Fuel with Grigorut's hip-pop, electronica project $noregazzzm (a success in its own right) all the more special.
With geography now against them, who knows when we'll next see a reunion show.
Open deck night
Tuesday Nights at Re:Fuel are now open deck nights.
Set up with two vinyl record players and two CDJ players with a four-channel mixer and full speaker set, the night has been set up to allow everyone and anyone to come down and play the music they want.
Built on the idea that learning an instrument to impress people is too hard, and pressing play is so much easier, open deck night aims to create a non-judgemental, non-genre-specific zone for newcomers to learn the trade, or for pros to come down and show off.
The performance slots are allocated on the night and anyone can go down and relax to the sounds with a "pay what you want" entry fee.
Jo Little and Jared Smith
After three months of touring, Jo Little and Jared Smith are making a brief stopover in Dunedin.
With numerous tales to tell and new songs to share, the pair play at the Inch Bar on Sunday before returning to the road.
See it, hear it
• $noregazzzm, Fauxhound, TFF, Ostrander Aardvark and Dinosaur Sanctuary, Re:Fuel, tonight, 9pm, $5.
• Open deck night with The Fat Controllers Club and special guest DJ Dhalsim, Tuesday, July 31, Re:Fuel, Dunedin.
• Jo Little and Jared Smith, Inch Bar, 8 Bank St, 5-7pm, tomorrow.
- Written by Sam Valentine.
