Australian band to take stage
Published Sept. 28, 2007
Sick Puppies have fled Australia's sunny terrain and landed in the open arms of Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno. Singer and guitarist Shimon Moore, while sitting in the back of his tour bus, freaked out because a virus attacked his computer and afraid his new lyrics would be erased, proves that life isn't perfect for the famous.
These Aussies made it big when they posted a video for their song "All the Same" on YouTube.com that featured a man holding a sign and offering free hugs. Since then, people all across the globe participate in "Free Hug Day," when they hold posters and offer to embrace people at no cost.
"When it went on YouTube, it exploded and took over," Moore said. "It became a catalyst. It's a wonderful thing and is larger than the band or the song. It's great and humbling to be part of something so monumental."
Moore said the Internet makes it harder for new musicians to ascribe to the belief that rock is about sex and drugs.
"It's easy to make a video for free and put it on the Internet," he said. "Most people that choose that route don't have money to spend on drugs. We're not about that, though. Learning to play music was like figuring out how to breathe. We've toured with bands that are pissing their money away on drugs, but it's a waste of time. It takes energy to communicate with the world, so we focus on new songs, and it's a gift to be able to do that."
Emma Anzai on bass and Mark Goodwin on the drums round out the group. Anzai was recently named as one of the hottest women in metal by Revolver magazine.
Moore said it's not a big deal that Anzai is recognized as a sex symbol. He said the media only make a point of it because she's a rare female bassist.
"I don't really think about it," he said. "I mean, I grew up with her. I'm just glad that I've got a great bass player."
Moore and Anzai formed the band when they were in high school, before they could even play any instruments.
Moore's parents, who work in creative industries, supported his dream. They also wanted him to have a back-up plan, but that didn't happen.
"They understood that I needed to scratch the itch that I had," he said. "They also wanted me to pursue this because of the lack of success that they had."
Sick Puppies have opened for Finger Eleven, Puddle of Mudd, Sum 41, Fuel and other famous bands. Once, Finger Eleven had to pull out of an event, but the show had to go on, so Sick Puppies stepped up and still performed. The band was pleased to find that the majority of concertgoers still came.
But Monday, the band will be the headlining act. It's the Sick Puppies first scheduled headlining gig, and Moore said he is excited.
"I'm hoping that we get people there," he said. "We always have a good time and put in the same amount of energy regardless."
Moore said he's also excited to come to Columbia.
"We're hitting everywhere in the U.S.," he said. "We'll play where anyone will have us."