Goodnight Nurse
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Auckland , New Zealand |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Goodnight Nurse was a pop punk group originating from Auckland, New Zealand, established in 2001. Initially formed as a trio, the band evolved into a quartet prior to releasing their second album. The lineup consisted of lead singer Joel Little, guitarist and backing vocalist Sam McCarthy, bassist Rowan Crowe, and drummer with backing vocals Jaden Parkes.
They produced two studio albums: Always and Never (2006) and Keep Me On Your Side (2008), each reaching number five on the New Zealand Top 40 Album chart. Across these releases, Goodnight Nurse issued nine singles, maintaining a presence in New Zealand’s top 40 singles chart annually from 2004 through the 2009 release "Lay With Me".
Formation and early years
The band came together in 2001 when bassist Paul Taite answered a flyer posted by Joel Little and Jaden Parkes at Shadows, a bar located at Auckland University. Their inaugural rehearsal took place on 25 June 2001 in Parkes' garage, with Taite having only three months of bass experience at that point.
After Taite's departure in 2007, Goodnight Nurse expanded to a four-member ensemble with the addition of Rowan Crowe and Sam McCarthy.
Their first live performance occurred in early 2002 at Papa Jacks / Voodoo Lounge in Auckland. In 2004, they led the Boost Mobile NZ Schools Tour, playing at 120 venues nationwide over five months—marking the most extensive tour ever undertaken by a single band within New Zealand. Their touring history includes extensive collaborations with groups such as Steriogram, Elemeno P, 48May, and Australian band The Living End. In 2006, they embarked on a three-month tour along Australia's east coast as part of the Rock the Schools tour and appeared on the main stage at Big Day Out 07.
Always and Never (2006)
The band's first album, Always and Never, achieved gold certification from the RIANZ within one week of its release and debuted at number five on the RIANZ New Zealand Album Charts. It stayed within the Top 40 for six consecutive weeks from 30 January to 27 February. This album produced seven singles including "Loner", "Going Away", "Taking Over", "Our Song", "Death Goes to Disco", "All for You", and "My Only".
Additionally, Goodnight Nurse recorded a rock rendition of Kelis' hit "Milkshake," which appeared on the "Our Song" CD single and as an extra track on the Australian edition of Always and Never. Their track "My Only" was featured on the soundtrack for NHL 07.
Following this release, the band toured extensively. On 5 March 2007, they served as opening act for Fall Out Boy in New Zealand and supported other notable bands such as Story of the Year and HIM. In April 2007, they headlined the MTV Mile High Gig, performing aboard an aircraft flying over the Tasman Sea.
Keep Me on Your Side (2008)
On 24 September 2007, Joel Little announced that recording for their sophomore album had been completed. The sessions took place in Melbourne starting August 13, 2007, with mixing and artwork being finalized subsequently. Keep Me on Your Side was released on 7 April 2008, entering the RIANZ album charts at number five. The lead single "The Night" became available on iTunes in Australia and New Zealand on 4 February 2008, accompanied by a music video released later that month on YouTube. The song "This Is It" was used in television advertisements promoting the Push Play initiative during 2008.
In support of this album, Goodnight Nurse opened for American band OneRepublic in Auckland after Maroon 5 canceled their New Zealand tour dates. They also completed their inaugural headline tour across New Zealand titled the "I Need This Tour" in June 2008 and supported The Getaway Plan during their Australian tour in July. A performance supporting Anberlin was planned for August 2009.
Band members engaged in separate projects: Jaden Parkes formed "Like You Crazy," while Sam McCarthy leads Kids of 88, utilizing material that did not make it onto Keep Me on Your Side.
Reunion
In March 2023, the group came back together to serve as the opening act for the My Chemical Romance performance at Western Springs, Auckland.
Genre
Joel Little, the lead vocalist, characterized the ensemble as "a pop rock outfit with punk influences." Goodnight Nurse is frequently seen as New Zealand's counterpart to American pop-punk acts such as Green Day and Blink-182.
Band members
- Joel Little – lead vocals, guitar
- Jaden Parkes – drums, backing vocals
- Sam McCarthy – guitar, backing vocals
- Rowan Crowe – bass
Member changes and hiatus
Early in 2007, Paul Taite departed from Goodnight Nurse to advance his career in Europe, with his last show taking place at Auckland's Big Day Out. Following his exit, the band brought in Sam McCarthy from CapGunHero and introduced Rowan Crowe on bass, evolving into a four-member lineup officially announced by Joel Little in August 2007.
The band announced an indefinite break in February 2010, expressing gratitude to fans for nearly a decade of support. After this pause, Joel Little pursued a distinguished career as a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer, collaborating with artists like Lorde, Jarryd James, and Broods. Meanwhile, guitarist Sam McCarthy partnered with former "Incursa" member Jordan Arts to create the New Wave duo known as Kids of 88.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Always and Never
|
5 | Gold |
| 2008 | Keep Me on Your Side
|
5 | — |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Loner" | 19 | Always and Never |
| 2004 | "Taking Over" | 19 | |
| 2004 | "Going Away" | — | |
| 2005 | "Our Song" | 15 | |
| 2006 | "My Only" | 21 | |
| 2006 | "Death Goes to Disco" | — | |
| 2007 | "All for You" | 29 | |
| 2008 | "The Night" | 24 | Keep Me on Your Side |
| 2008 | "I Need This" | — | |
| 2008 | "This Is It" | — | |
| 2009 | "Lay With Me" | — |