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Auckland five-piece The Checks featured as the Guardian’s New Band of the Day for August 22. Music critic Paul Lester: “These five New Zealanders may be teenagers, but they sound as old as the hills that garage bands have been slowly climbing in their rusty Transit vans since time immemorial. They play primal riff’n’roll influenced by early Beatles, Who, Led Zep, Free, Van Morrison and Rolling Stones, and they arrive clutching glowing testimonials from impressed, impressive fans.” Based in London, The Checks have opened for REM, Oasis and The Hives and have received rave reviews in both NME and Rolling Stone.