A sasquatch could well be spotted in Tauranga when The Boondocks take to the stage at Palace Tavern, 217 Maunganui Rd, Mount Maunganui, on May 9.

The Waiuku-based duo, with Scott Parker on bass and vocals and Branden Pritchard on drums, will be supported by punk acts Pink Plates and Not Exact.

“We have never done a headlining tour, but we are excited for it,” Parker said.

The sasquatch was seen in the band’s music video for their latest single, Bear With Me.

Drummer Branden Pritchard and bassist and vocalist Scott Parker.

The duo played in Tauranga twice before, but Parker said they were looking forward to returning to the city.

Parker and Pritchard formed The Boondocks in 2022, but they have been friends since childhood.

Now, they are one of the hottest new rock bands in New Zealand.

“It’s just popping off. It’s been pretty, pretty wild,” Parker said.

The Boondocks released their seventh single, Bear with Me, and made a video with Imaginary Friends producer Dave Thompson.

The track Black Taxi became a smash hit for the band, with more than 28,000 streams.

The two have played with some of New Zealand’s finest rock bands, Shihad, Devilskin, Shapeshifter and Head Like a Hole.

Following in the footsteps of some of these Kiwi rock legends can be a little daunting, but Parker said there is a “real revival for band music” going on.

“In my opinion, rock music’s probably the crew of the crop.”

Parker said he can be quite shy off the stage, but another persona takes over once on stage and loves engaging with the crowd.

“I feel like that expresses myself shamelessly.”

There is a touch of impostor syndrome for Parker with the band’s success, but he loves his interactions with fans while on the road.

Last year, they did about 40 tours and would meet people in small towns throughout New Zealand, looking to take photos with the Boondocks.

“It is pretty cool that people want to take photos,” Parker said.

Organising their first headlining stint has been a learning curve for Parker, as he has had to understand marketing, ticketing, and liaising with local bands like Not Exact.

Parker said that the band will keep tickets at $10 for the show, as they want to get as many people through the doors as possible rather than worrying about turning a profit.

Tickets are avaliable from: https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/ticket/28454/The-Boondocks-Bear-With-Me-Tour-Tauranga.utr