Sleeping Dogs are a group of four misfits with eclectic musical backgrounds. They formed back in 2009 and are based in Christchurch, New Zealand. For an aspiring super group with a BIG sound, you can’t begin from a more humble or out of the way place. It all started with Thomas Reid; a mad, classically trained pianist and self confessed Bowie addict. One day and without warning he was inspired (“compelled by the Rock Gods” he will tell you) to start a rock band.
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Hi folks, Alex the roadie checking in again!
The last week’s leg was as eventful as any of them, with our favourite bands – Sleeping Dogs and Supermodel of course – successfully pulverising the eardrums of nearby punters and dancers. It was good to be able to sample the audiences of the more out-of-the-way areas of the North Island!
Roy at the Cabana in Napier was awesome, ever helpful as usual. I think we all feel sometimes as if making it in the music industry is like winning a hard and passionately-fought battle. So, we were pounding the pavement, at the rock’n'roll coal face – winning hearts and minds – handing out flyers and getting more and more enthusiastic fans all the time. Some fans were so enthusiastic that Mark was forced to take one for the team and have a toke from what turned out to be a joint.
The day before the Napier show, the enigmatic drummer for Sleeping Dogs, Infinite, enjoyed his wine on the high seas so much that by the time he had left the Japanese restaurant in Wellington, he had to be helped back to the hotel…
So, from what we can see here, I feel it was a particularly rock-star sort of trip. I couldn’t make it to the first show as I was busy at my corporate sell-out job – so I was flown the next day direct to Palmerston North at short notice. Guy the sound engineer couldn’t make it until late in the afternoon (after sound check) as he was working on the vineyard tour in Hawke’s Bay, so, naturally, he was helicoptered into Palmerston North – a forty-minute flight, I’m told – and arrived in time to mix the show.
After the Palmy show, some of us went back to the hotel and played the classic game of “see how many mini bars we can get through”. Great stuff. Mostly we were in bed by 4am, which set us up perfectly for a nice long sleep before we got up at 7.30am sharp to drive down to Wellington and then Christchurch.
Over and out, more stories by this time next week. And if you’re in Raglan or Tauranga this weekend, come to see us!
Alex
“The trouble with quotes on the internet is that it’s difficult to discern whether or not they are genuine.” ― Abraham Lincoln
Hi folks, Alex the roadie here. It has been a while since I’ve written a blog about Live and Loud, chiefly because we had a couple of months off from the tour!
This time around we headed off to the North Island and were absolutely stoked to welcome Wellington rock stars Supermodel to headline the shows. Once again, we stuck to our tried-and-true format of going away for a weekend, having a breather, and heading back out again.
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The first leg of the North Island Tour has finished successfully, with the audience response so far being warm & enthusiastic! A big thank you to everyone who came out, you were all awesome!
Stay tuned for the lowdown of our North Island legs from roadie Alex; in his upcoming blogs…
Yours in music
Ace
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Wellington rock icons Supermodel are teaming up with Christchurch wave-makers Sleeping Dogs in an eight-date tour through the North Island this summer. In a fresh incarnation of the Live and Loud Tour – a tour which took Sleeping Dogs throughout New Zealand’s heartland for 30 memorable shows in 2011 – the newly recruited Supermodel join the musical crusade to bring rock to the people.
Supermodel are fresh off the release and promotional run for their successful debut album To The Mountains, and are a highly experienced live outfit. They have supported some of our country’s finest musical exports including Midnight Youth and Gin Wigmore, and are right at home playing to a packed out pub or to a crowd of 15,000. The focus of their music is on melody, harmony and a rocking tune; the juxtaposition of having a brother and a sister fronting the band makes for an excellent live dynamic that should not be missed.
Sleeping Dogs are currently writing their next album in Christchurch, and are keen for more adventure since concluding the 2011 leg of their tour for their most recent album, Myth Reducer; recorded with legendary producers Greg Haver and mixing guru Clint Murphy. A recent foray to the North Island whetted the interest of both themselves and their audiences, and they are now back to deliver their musical message in full. Their music has been described as “unavoidable, deep and unapologetic”, so if you are a fan of highly original rock music… you must see this band.
Supermodel and Sleeping Dogs will be wending their way through the winding roads of the North Island in 2012. Join them, and you will be entertained.
“My defenses were so great. The cocky rock and roll hero who knows all the answers was actually a terrified guy who didn’t know how to cry. Simple.” – John Lennon
Due to venue issues the “Rock n Roll 2011″ show at Dux Live, scheduled for the 3rd of December, has been cancelled.
We do have two more shows booked for the Xmas period, so if you’re lurking around the top of the South Island check out the show schedule; on the 22nd of December we’re in Murchison and then on the 23rd it’s Mapua… “Ho ho ho!”
It’s exciting times at Sleeping Dogs HQ at the mo… that’s right, we’re rehearsing new material! Fresh ideas are coming out of the woodwork, literally it seems, with the studio around us in the process of getting framed and jibbed! The rhythm section’s jamming out, Thomas is locking himself away for hours at a time musing over lyrics and tweaking chord changes and I’m even picking up the guitar again to figure some sh*t out… crikey!
On the 3rd of December some of this newly inspired rock juice will be freshly squeezed for you (pith and all) for the very first time at Christchurch’s new Dux Live! Joining us will be Von Voin Strum, The Easy Hearts and our old partners in grime House of Mountain.
Yours in music
Ace
The track Myth Reducer can now be heard within the context of the new Love Christchurch compilation; “a seismic selection of music from Christchurch”. The proceeds of this album go toward the rebuilding of Christchurch following the devastating February 2011 earthquake.
It features a diverse range of Christchurch artists, showcasing everyone from Ladi6 to The Bats! Whatever musical stylings tickle your fancy, there should be something here to float everyone’s boat. I’ve been listening to it over the last couple of days and am lovin’ it!
It kicks off with some really infectious grooves, including Salmonella Dub’s “Up & Running”, so get ready to shake that money maker! The pace changes often, going from dance grooves to acoustic feels, to electrified pop and beyond. Highlights for me include Lindon Puffin’s very hooky “Outta Reach” and The Easy Heart’s 70′s inspired and Deep Purple-esque “Leaves Me Cold”.
Get into Love Christchurch and keep an ear out for our friend Hera. Why? Because it Feels So Good!
Yours in music
Ace
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