Highly Suspect join Kiwi bands Powder Chutes and Coast Arcade for ‘Lydia’

Highly Suspects’ Johnny Stevens jumped onstage at Double Whammy Bar on Saturday night, joining some young Kiwi rock bands for a performance of ‘Lydia.’

Wanaka young guns Powder Chutes and fellow Kiwi rockers The Boondocks were already throwing down a proper sweaty double header on February 28, backed by Coast Arcade and Haast Hunter.

Then things got silly in the best way.

As our very own Westie Lee tells it, “Highly Suspect’s ‘Lydia’ has been a set inclusion for the boys from Wanaka since Highly Suspect brought them onstage at Spark Arena to play it with them in December 2024.”

Mid-set, frontman Henry said, “This is a song that needs no introduction,” before inviting Coast Arcade frontwoman and ‘total fucking badass’ “Bella Bavin” up to sing. Powder Chutes’ guitarist Clarke then ripped into the opening notes of Lydia on a guitar he acquired from Johnny Stevens himself.

“Johnny was at the back of the venue hanging with me and just vibing out and enjoying watching these lads from NZ breathe new life into one of his classics!” Lee said.

“Half way through, he turned and smiled and gestured that he was gonna go up with them.” Stevens weaved through the crowd, grabbed his old axe from around Clarke’s neck and, in Westie’s words, “proceeded to belt out the guitar solo like a man possessed!"

Photo credit: Antonia Pearl Photography

The room was heaving. “The energy in the room was palpable... You could barely move, but it didn’t matter! Everyone that was there was simply happy to be ‘tall enough to ride’ this crazy rock n roll rollercoaster.”

Westie reckons Stevens was “all class with this selfless act,” jumping onstage in “a hot and sweaty box of a room” to back a young Kiwi band that “ that work so hard in the NZ rock scene and who are paying their dues.

“He could have just stayed at the back and watched the show, quietly. Instead, he made everyone single person in the venues’ evening with a totally unprompted & unscripted appearance on stage.

“He didn’t have to do that.”

But he did.

From Spark Arena to Double Whammy, it’s been one hell of a ride for Powder Chutes. We can’t wait to see what else they get up to. 

Powder Chutes and The Boondocks are all set to continue hitting the road together with some very special guests. Check out the dates below.