Just like the “White Balloons” they write about, SICK PUPPIES have been soaring to even greater heights with an inspiring form of off-tempo, alternative rock & their latest album TRI-POLAR (RMR/Virgin/EMI). They exploded onto the scene in 2006, with the hit “All the Same” backing the video campaign for “Free Hugs”. To date, this video has had OVER 59 MILLION views on YouTube, & the Aussie rockers continue to rediscover themselves through fresh musical interludes that ANY listener can enjoy. “Tri-Polar” is a fitting description of the comprehensiveness & multi-dimensionality of the band…comprised of Shimon Moore (vocals/lead guitar), Emma Anzai (bass), & Mark Goodwin (drums).
What started out as a “friendly battle” over the music room at Mosman High School in Sydney, Australia – has since become a three-piece army on the international stage. The trio spits out soulful ballads & triumphant rhythms, all with pelting lyrics that speak of “angst” & the essence of life. “RUR” had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with these compelling performers, while on the Nickelback – “Darkhorse World Tour 2010”. As radiating as they are talented, there was FUN to be had on that tour bus…where we discussed their powerful sound, musical roots, & independent growth over the past four years.
Boe: So, we’re with “Sick Puppies” today. What’s been the GREATEST moment on the tour, so far?
Shimon Moore: Last night was fun! (LAUGHS)
Mark Goodwin: There’ve been a lot of cool nights, good shows…cool nights.
Shimon Moore: They’re a very generous, generous band…with everybody, & last night they bought everybody dinner at a very nice Japanese steak restaurant…& then took everyone out for drinks & things. There’ve been lots of nights where people just hang out afterwards, & like…there were backstage parties & things. There’s been a lot of them.
Mark Goodwin: Yeah, it’s cool. They rent out theatres sometimes.
Shimon Moore: Oh yeah, that was really cool. They rented out a theatre, so everyone could watch “Ironman” on the week it got released…anyone who wanted to come, & there was free booze & popcorn.
Mark Goodwin: It’s pretty cool touring with a massive band.
Shimon Moore: Especially when they’re really personable…they’re not, you know…we’re going in & out of each other’s dressing rooms a bit & hanging out…not all the time, but like, they’ll just knock on our door. And the drummer let’s Mark practice…he has a full drum kit, so…Mark practices on his kit sometimes. It’s very cool.
Boe: Awesome! Well, “Band of the Decade”…I mean…what an honor to even be on this list, right? So, how has your sound evolved since “Welcome to the Real World”?
Shimon Moore: Ah…that’s an interesting question. I don’t think the sound has evolved. (MARK PIPES IN – “The sound’s evolved!”…EMMA LAUGHS)
Boe: Uh oh! (EVERYONE LAUGHS)
Mark Goodwin: In a good way.
Shimon Moore: No, no, no…but like, the sound…I think because we’ve remained a three-piece. We’ve always wanted to have big riffs, & sort of a “BIG” sound…& have really nice ballads, when we do ballads. Hopefully, I like to think, that we’re better at what we do…in terms of experience. But, the sound…we’ve always wanted to sound like “THE POWER-TRIO” – like Green Day, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine…those power-trio sort of sounds. So I think, if we’ve evolved…we’ve hopefully just gotten better at what we do through time & experience.
Boe: Okay. How do you maintain the “raw emotion” in your stage presence? Cause I hear a lot of talk about that “raw emotion” that you guys bring to the stage, & when you’re three people…it can be tough.
Shimon Moore: Audience has a lot to do with it & it can come from different places. Sometimes…if you have a couple of days off, you’re stuck in a bus, & you get out on stage…you just let it rip naturally. Sometimes, if you’ve done ten shows in a row & you’re waning on your energy, you call on the audience a little more…not like actually call on them, but you’ll focus on their energy…because maybe you’re a little tired. But, there’s always energy to be drawn…from somewhere, so there’s never really an excuse to not…you know…put it in there. And, ah…sometimes the audience will be really energetic, & it’ll just be like full-steam ahead, & sometimes you’ve gotta’ work for it a little more…&, you know, you can draw energy from that…being like, “Alright, I’ve gotta’ give…I’ve sorta’ gotta’ pull it outta’ them.” So, you have to focus a little more. There’s always places to get it from. It’s like a, sort of a…I don’t know…there’s a “craft” to putting on a show sometimes – because you have to work with each individual audience. Like this audience…
Mark Goodwin: Different crowds…different work.
Shimon Moore: Tonight’s gonna’ be interesting, cause I’m gonna’ have to say, “Hi, guys…we’re Sick Puppies…thanks, for comin’ out to see us early.” & be an introduction. It’s different to headline a show. So, there’s lots of little different things you have to do. The songs always remain the same, & the energy within the songs is the same, but the energy within the crowd is always different. So, it’s about trying to get the balance right.
Boe: That’s right, for sure. So, you’re songwriting encompasses a lot of different themes & moods. Where does the inspiration come from & how does the songwriting process usually work?
Shimon Moore: Once again, the audience is a big deal. Um…they tell us what works & what doesn’t work…just straight up, either if you ask them, or if you play a song & it doesn’t get a very good reaction. So that makes a big difference, when you’re writing…& what we tried to do on this record is, we made a point of going onto sickpuppiesworldcrew.net (which is our dedicated fansite), & it’s now become MUCH MORE than just a “Sick Puppies” site…there’s lots of other elements. It’s become like a little “mini” MySpace…which would be cool, if we could talk about…you can become an ambassador, & so far we have not as many ambassadors in Canada as we do in The States, because we haven’t spent as much time up here. BUT…you can actually go online, fill out some paperwork, & become an ambassador – & you promote the band, & let people know about the band, & prep shows that we’re comin’ to do…& we give you backstage passes, & free MP3s, & you know…we gave out guitars, like Epiphone guitars, to people that had done really well that year. So, there’s lots of rewards for people who help us out! And we talk to them a lot & said, you know, “What do you think? What’s a common theme with you guys…that you’re finding in our music? What are you guys going through? What do you resonate within the band?” And we took that, & we found whatever they said that we had in common…we found a common ground…& then we would write based on that common ground.
Boe: That’s good. It’s good to have that interaction. Do you tend to write music while you’re on the road?
Shimon Moore: Not as much.
Boe: It’s pretty hard.
Emma Anzai: Sometimes…just little bits & pieces, I guess. But…not, like, whole ideas or anything.
Shimon Moore: Usually riffs. “Odd One”…the bass for “Odd One” was being jammed on for a long time before we went to the studio…& little riffs here & there. I don’t think…none of mine made it in. I didn’t have any good ones off the road, but she writes really good ones on the road. Usually lyrical ideas, like lines & phrases & things you remember…you try to put them in, like “I Hate You” was one that I’ve been throwin’ around for awhile. Like, “I know you think you hate me, but I’ll always hate you more.” – like, really, “ERRR”…tainted sorta’ sh*t. I’ve been carrying that one in my brain, & I got a chance to put that one in when we were doin’ Tri-Polar. So there’s things you carry around, but it’s usually better to get off the road & really focus on it.
Boe: Some people get very inspired, you know, by being out on the road. Lots of musicians, they’ve done a lot of their best work while being out on the road. So, you were considered “The Most Dynamic Band” in Australia. What prompted the move to L.A.?
Shimon Moore: Ah…we wanted to be a big deal.
Boe: You wanted the “Record Deal”? Was that the case?
Emma Anzai: We just wanted to be more successful. The thing is…in Australia, the music scene’s very “dancy”…it’s very like, you know…cause it’s sunny up there all the time, so everyone wants to have a good time. Beaches, margaritas, blah, blah, blah…
Boe: (LOOKS OUT AT THE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR) Sounds good, let’s go! (EVERYBODY LAUGHS)
Emma Anzai: Our sort of music didn’t really “jive” with that. Like, the hard rock scene…there is no… (SHAKES HEAD) There was only so big that we could get, & we wanted to be bigger than that…& it wasn’t that big at all, like you can’t make a living off it.
Shimon Moore: And we put in a good amount of effort…we had a record deal, & we did touring, & we had a full album, & we worked our asses off, & pushed it for about a year as hard as we could…& we really had nothing to show for it at the end, just because there wasn’t much to take from it. So, we thought…“Well, we’re putting all our energy into this & getting this much out…we could put the same amount of energy into the U.S. – which has a hundred million times more people & venues.”
Boe: And contacts.
Shimon Moore: And contacts, & everything! So…we saved up for three years, & wrote songs, & practiced, & eventually took the plunge & moved over…& went broke, & made money back…& went broke again, & made money back…& then got out on tour, & we’ve been out on tour for four years & are still doin’ it.
Boe: Well, look at ya’ now! I mean, if you don’t take those risks, & you don’t have belief in what you’re doing…no one else’ll believe it. So, it was a good move for you guys. What do love most about North America?
Shimon Moore: The shows…being able to play shows to LOTS of people that really care. It’s not that Australia doesn’t care, that’s probably the wrong way to put it…they get more inspired, they get more energetic at the shows, they have less inhibitions (speaking of North American audiences). I think, because Australia is kinda’ laid back…in that mentality that Emma was talking about…when they actually go to a show, they kinda’ chill. They don’t, like…they’re a little more inhibited. Whereas here, apart from certain clubs in L.A. & New York where people are naturally kinda’…you know, reserved…pretty much everywhere else you go – they’ll go ape-sh*t. And the same thing with Canada. Yeah…that’s the main difference & the main reason we wanted to come over here.
Boe: That’s interesting that you said that. I just interviewed a thrash group, from the UK, & they were saying that English fans differ from other fans. They were just over in Japan…& were saying how the shows were absolutely CRAZY because the audience…like…they’re just nuts!
Shimon Moore: Okay, then I wanna’ go there.
Boe: Yeah. I’ve heard it’s like one of the BEST places to play. So, Emma…I’m gonna’ ask you…what’s it like being the only girl? You probably get this a lot.
Emma Anzai: I do, & I guess it sorta’ makes sense, because it’s like…as you can see, we’re on a bus…living with a bunch of guys & stuff. It’s okay, because I’ve actually…we’ve been doing this for awhile now, close to ten years, so you sort of get used to certain things…& your boundaries & all that kind of stuff. So, it’s not so bad.
Boe: Do you make them tow the line…make them clean the bus?
Emma Anzai: (GIGGLES) Ah, no…our manager does that. (BOTH LAUGH) He tells everyone to clean the bus.
Boe: Okay, I’m also gonna’ ask you…& you have a lot of unique qualities in your bass playing…how would you describe your techniques that you use?
Emma Anzai: Um…I don’t know. I guess, my influences…I guess, that’s the best way I can describe where I got that from. Probably “Flea” from Chili Peppers…the way he (like) combined rhythm & melody, & the way he made it sing. I guess, I wanted to do that, & I wanted to be like that…I’m sorta’ striving to be like that. So…I guess, Flea. And also, um…Les Claypool from “Primus”. He’s got a slapping style that I kinda’ use. So those two combined…yeah.
Boe: Very interesting. Mark…who are some of your influences?
Mark Goodwin: Ah…a lot of modern bands that I grew up listening to…we all kinda’ grew up listening to – (like) Incubus, & Foo Fighters, & Rage Against the Machine, & all the drummers from them. Um…yeah, a lot of older drummers…like Led Zeppelin.
Shimon Moore: Would you say you’re more influenced by technical drummers or drummers with “feel”?
Mark Goodwin: Ah, way more…more of them with, like…“feel” drummers. I like it…we’re on tour right now with really technical, more technical style drummers…& it’s cool. I learn from them, & I learn to…you know…how to incorporate a little bit into my style too. I think that’s what we all can do, we can all learn from…taking technical things from everyone.
Shimon Moore: We’ve all been noticing, over the last year, that we’ve been evolving all of our own individual styles…because of that…because of touring with people like, you know, Brent from Shinedown. I got up & sang a song with Brent that was very difficult to sing…& because it was out of my range, I had to figure out how to do it, & I became a better singer for it. You know…you evolve in watching people do their thing, & just asking them questions, & having jam sessions here & there, & all the bits & pieces that you’re lucky enough to come up with on tour…they make you a better band. They’re not gonna’ make you worse, unless you’re just…you know, NO PRACTICE, you get worse. But we, pretty much…keep playin’ all the time.
Boe: Yeah, absolutely. Eat, live, & breathe it…right? So, what’s the origin of the name “Sick Puppies”?
Shimon Moore: Um, well…we were in our rehearsal room in Australia, jammin’…& ah…it was in a garage (our guitar player – his parents’ garage) & friends had come around to just hang out while we were jammin’…& we’d play covers & write songs. And these parents’ dog came in one day, & looked really sick…& he’d come in, sit down, & whatever – but he came in, vomited, & walked straight out again…& the guitarist’s girlfriend said, “That’s one sick puppy.” Everyone kinda’ clicked, we we’re thinkin’ of names at the time…
Mark Goodwin: It’s kinda’ like a saying, you know, too.
Boe: That’s right.
Shimon Moore: …which is why we thought it was a good idea, cause we were tryin’ to think of band names that were, you know, that were kind of…that had that “phrase” to it. Something that you would say every once in a while, but you’d be like…when you call a band by it, you’re like…you remember it. (SNAPS FINGERS) So, we had it after that. We didn’t actually like it at first…straight away. It had to grow on us, because we wanted to be…you know, we were influenced by Silverchair & bands that sounded mature…& “Sick Puppies” sounded kinda’ really punky & like – “Blink 182ish”. We were really into time changes, & “Tool”, & kind of bein’ all progressive & mature sounding…&, at the time, “Sick Puppies” wasn’t conducive with that. So, we had to get used to it. But, it turned out really well…cause everyone seems to like it.
Boe: I think it’s gonna’…it would draw that younger generation, you know? You’re in a store, & you’re looking…& it’s just something they would gravitate towards.
Shimon Moore: I think so, yeah.
Boe: So, what’s the funniest moment that you guys have had in your touring history?
Shimon Moore/Mark Goodwin: (LOOKING AT EACH OTHER…IN UNISON) Funniest moment?
EVERYONE PAUSES…
Shimon Moore: (CHUCKLES) I don’t know how many funny moments we have. I mean, it was funny when I went crowd surfing & they dropped me. That was pretty funny.
Boe: OH!
Mark Goodwin: Yeah.
Shimon Moore: Well, they didn’t drop me…they just didn’t keep me up.
Mark Goodwin: I think the funniest moments on tour…are like “Spinal Tap” moments. Have you seen the movie “Spinal Tap”?
Shimon Moore: There are a lot of those. There’s more of those on tour, than you probably think. Like, little haunts…it happens every day.
Emma Anzai: Like…I can’t find the stage, & I don’t know where to go…that kinda’ stuff.
Mark Goodwin: Remember, when you fell backwards? (LAUGHS)
Emma Anzai: Oh, yeah…falling down on stage. I almost did it the other night…freaked me out! Like, this stage…it’s like…it’s got wings, & it goes up…& it’s like a fair fall…like, if you fall off.
Mark Goodwin: It’s like ten feet.
Emma Anzai: And I hit my foot on something, while I was coming down off it, & it almost gave me a heart attack…cause, yeah…if I hit it…yeah, I coulda’ gone down.
Boe: How do you respond when something like that happens?
Mark Goodwin: You just try to cover it up, as best as possible. (CHUCKLES)
Emma Anzai: You can’t cover that one up. If you fall off/on stage…I mean, that’s bound to happen at some point.
Shimon Moore: Depending on the severity of it, sometimes you just have to make fun of yourself. I f*ck up the words, every once in awhile, & everyone’ll know…usually it’s at headlining shows, cause it’s songs that we haven’t played as often. So when we do our full set, I’ll f*ck ‘em up, & people will be there singin’ the words…& that’ll be what reminds me – THAT’S THE LYRICS…that’s what I’m supposed to be singing! And they’ll know…as soon as I f*ck it up, they’ll be like (IN A CONDESCENDING TONE), “YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR WORDS.” And I just have to giggle, I just have to laugh…& at the end of the song I’ll say, “Whoops.” You know, you just gotta’ work it.
Mark Goodwin: I’ll try to be cool & throw up my drumstick, but I only catch it like “half” the time. (EVERYONE LAUGHS)
Boe: Lisa, you should’ve brought him your bouquet of drumsticks.
Lisa: I should have.
Boe: Lisa’s got a bouquet of drumsticks at home from different drummers that she knows.
Lisa: I don’t collect flowers…I like, just have…drumsticks. (EVERYBODY LAUGHS)
Boe: Okay. So, you talk a lot about “angst” from being on the road. What is the most frustrating thing about this lifestyle, & how do you unwind from it?
Shimon Moore: I don’t know. What do you guys think?
Emma Anzai: Probably, ah…lack of space, cause like…this is actually a bit of a luxury, cause this pops out. But this bus usually comes up to here (defining a space of about two feet)…& most buses that we’ve had are like that. And just like, living with a lot of people…that’s probably the most frustrating, cause you can’t sort of, like…ever just relax – because there’s always something going on. You’ve always gotta’ move yourself, or move your foot, or go & do this, or go & get something…that kinda’ stuff. And you don’t realize how much it’s like that, until you get home & you don’t have to do that. You just sit there, & the bathroom’s there at all times…&, you know, it’s like the simple things I think.
Boe: Right. How do you get away from that? Can you get away from that at all?
Emma Anzai: Not really. I mean, you get a dressing room…but here, you just try & do something that makes you feel a little normal.
Shimon Moore: I think, one of the ways that you actually can cope with it, is to do the opposite & become more insolate…like, put yourself in headphones & sit in front of a computer…& so, you know you can only live with this much space, but you can block out the distractions. So, if someone does walk in or whatever, it doesn’t affect you as much…because you don’t have the space…you’ve gotta’ work with what you get. So…it’s kinda’ like sleeping in the bunks, & people are walking up & down sometimes, cause we sleep at different hours…crew gets up earlier than we do, & you know…all those little things, you forget. So you wear earplugs & a beanie, or something like that…you figure it out.
Boe: Are people still talking as much about the “Free Hugs” campaign?
Shimon Moore: No…don’t bring it up. (LAUGHS)
Boe: Are you sick of hearing about it?
Shimon Moore: No, no…not at all…no, no, no! It’s just…it got to the point, that it was the focus of every interview that we did for awhile, rather than our band. And, ah…but we were lucky because we knew exactly what we were getting into when it happened. Well, not when it was being made, but like once it became successful. We were like, “Alright, we’ve been working for years, & years, & years…” & basically the key for us, when we were working towards becoming successful was, “We’re just gonna’ be the best band we can be at all times & get consistently better, & at some point we’re gonna’ get a shot…& we have to be ready.” So when we get the shot, we’ll be ready…& our shot happened to be this “Free Hugs” clip. So…we were like, “Alright, this is our shot!” This is what we got given, so we worked it…& we just said, “We’re the FREE HUGS BAND at the moment, cause that’s all anyone knows.” & for about six months it was a big deal. Then every time we talked we’d say, “Yep, this’s how the ‘Free Hugs’ clip happened…blah, blah, blah…& we’re gonna’ be on tour with these guys, & here’s the Sick Puppies website, & here’s what’s goin’ on with Sick Puppies…” & Sick Puppies this, Sick Puppies that. And eventually…we just released a few more singles, & did a lot of touring, & three years later we were able to actually…you know…move forward from it.
Boe: It was very compelling, & a lot of people are gonna’ wanna’ ask about it, cause it’s just this idea that came outta’ nowhere…& look at what it propelled. So, it’s awesome…it’s a very good campaign.
Shimon Moore: Thank you.
Boe: Um, what product lines are you guys really proud to be using that distinguishes you from other artists?
Shimon Moore: Like gear equipment…musical equipment?
Boe: Umhmm…anything specific?
Shimon Moore: No…I think we’re kinda’ lucky. We all use the, ah…what?
Emma Anzai: We like to use the “Shake Weights”. (LAUGHS)
Mark Goodwin: Oh yeah, I got some “Shake Weights” from next door.
Emma Anzai: They’re somewhere…sitting around here.
Shimon Moore: They’re right over there, actually. Have you seen the “Shake Weights”?
Mark Goodwin: It’s endorsed…yeah.
Emma Anzai: Brian will demonstrate, actually. (EMMA LAUGHS)
Boe: Okay. (WITH CURIOSITY THAT’S ABOUT TO “KILL THE CAT”)
TOUR MANAGER (BRIAN NOONAN) GOOD-HEARTEDLY DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF THE “SHAKE WEIGHTS” & THE ENTIRE BUS BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER!!! For fun of your own, just look up “Shake Weights” on YouTube!
Mark Goodwin: It’s a really good exercise.
Boe: Yes, absolutely! (LAUGHING) I just had to laugh, cause…Lisa’s face.
Mark Goodwin: You guys have seen the commercial, right?
Boe: No.
Emma Anzai: You’ve gotta’ go see the commercial.
Shimon Moore: Yeah, it’s a heavily advertised thing.
Mark Goodwin: No, seriously, it’s a really good workout…it’s awesome!
Shimon Moore: It’s effective, too.
Emma Anzai: Builds & tones the arms, you know?
Boe: Yes. (STILL BLUSHING & LAUGHING) Alright!
Shimon Moore: (IN A FUN-LOVING, SMART-ALECK TONE) Sorry, what was the question???
Lisa: Forget it!
EVERYONE’S STILL LAUGHING…
Boe: Well, about “equipment”…& gear, & things of that nature…that distinguish you from other artists.
Shimon Moore: Ah, yeah. (SMILES) I don’t think there’s anything that we play that distinguishes us. I think, we’re lucky to play good gear & be supported by good brands.
Mark Goodwin: It’s just basic drums, bass guitar…like, it’s just very simple.
Boe: Very simple…simple’s good, though.
Shimon Moore: Yeah. We don’t use a lot of pedals or effects, or…you know, Mark’s got a…doesn’t have a massive kit. He knows how to use “what he uses” well. I’ve gone through lots of pedals & stuff, & it doesn’t sound as good. I pretty much took the “Tom Morello” out, cause he’s got like five pedals & makes some of the best sounds in the world, so he can do it…I’m gonna’ just stick to that. So, usually, simple is best.
Boe: Okay. Is there anybody else that you’d like to acknowledge, while we’re here with you?
Shimon Moore: One of the “BIG” people would be a guy called Robert Knight…who, um…is a photographer, & there’s a film that is gonna’ be…there’s negotiations with…what is it? PBS???
Emma Anzai: Yeah.
Shimon Moore: So it’s looking like, hopefully, it’s gonna’ come out on television. It’s a documentary about a rock‘n’roll photographer who’s been doin’ it for forty years…I’ve done this bit a few times, so it takes a minute to get through…cause there’s a lot of information in it. He photographed Zeppelin, & Hendrix, & Cream, & everybody at the beginning…& after a long, long time doing that…he (ah) sorta’ made it a personal hobby, or mission of his, to find new bands…because he had, like you were saying before, “contacts”…he had all the contacts. He had been doin’ it since rock‘n’roll became rock‘n’roll…&, ah…he knew he could get backstage…& he knew everyone from every brand, every record label, from every store, from everything! He was in Australia, at a dinner party with our manager…heard our CD, thought we were really cool…“You guys wanna’ come over to The States next weekend, & I’ll introduce you to everybody.” And so, our manager went over…& then we went over a little while later, & he introduced us to a lot of the people who became pivotal in…you know…breaking the band. And while we were making our first record, he was making a documentary about his life…because he had been involved in so many great, amazing artists’ careers at different times…& so he said, “I want Sick Puppies to be in the documentary.” So he came & filmed us, every three months he’d go through different installments, & ah…caught us on the way up through our career, up to where we were playing arenas with Evanescence. And it’s really cool, it’s called “ROCK PROPHECIES”…the trailer is at rockprophecies.com – & yeah, at the moment…they’re trying to work out the release for it. But he was a big, probably the BIGGEST, initial connection that got us…you know…into The States.
Boe: WOW! That’s awesome. So what’s the future plans of the group, once all of this touring is done?
Shimon Moore: I think, a little break after this. Like, I mean, we’re probably gonna’ be out for another year…ah…we’re gonna’ release “Maybe” as the next single…&, you know, we’re gonna’ do the third single “ballad/cross-over” thing. We’re gonna’ try & get that crossed over to pop-radio & onto…what do you call it? “AC” radio & things like that, because…um…you know, we’ve been workin’ a long time & wanna’ try & make…eventually get to makin’ that move.
Mark Goodwin: Try & sell some records.
Shimon Moore: And then if we get lucky, & it works out really well, we might do another single after that…which means we’ll be touring for longer. So, we’ll probably be on tour for at least another year. And, um…that’s the plan. That’s about as far as you look, cause usually…on the first tour – I think we were focusing on very long, long term & it kinda’ can drive you crazy. So eventually, like Emma was saying, your space is so…it becomes so insolate that it usually winds up being a bit better viewpoint to just look at the “day to day”. Look at what you’re achieving each day, so you can stay motivated.
Boe: Yep, absolutely. Okay, this is just a fun question. What’s the MEANEST prank you’ve pulled on a fellow band member? And we want the truth…we don’t want any covering up!
Shimon Moore: Like a fellow band member, or another band?
Boe: ANYBODY! Just…we want a good story.
Shimon Moore: I’m tryin’ to think about…none of them are mean.
Mark Goodwin: We prank bands on stage sometimes.
Shimon Moore: Yeah, we prank the bands on stage…& none of them are “MEAN”, usually because there’s an etiquette with pranking bands on stage, where you can’t f*ck up their show – even though it’s totally fine for other bands, that we’re supporting, to come on & remove every element of Mark’s drum kit…so he has nothing left to play. But, that doesn’t f*ck up our show at all though. (BOE LAUGHS) But, um…Saving Abel, when they played…what it was effectively, & we didn’t realize, a showcase to a lot of people from (you know) publishers & labels & stuff…we took them shots in between every single song, because it was their last show on tour.
Mark Goodwin: It was their first tour. We took them out on one of our albums.
Shimon Moore: (SAYS TO MARK) I wonder if we’re to blame for their problems now?
Mark Goodwin: Nah. We took about, like, six or seven shots throughout the whole set.
Shimon Moore: And it got to the point where their manager was like, “You have to stop. You know, this is an important show!” & we’re like, “Sorry…sorry, no…can’t stop.”
Boe: “It’s our tour, we do what we want!” (LAUGHS)
Shimon Moore: And the funny thing is…they sounded just as good f*cked up, as when they were sober. So, some bands can do it. There’s lots of cool pranks like that. And the one that we did with Shinedown was probably our favorite, which was at the end of the Shinedown tour. Do you like Shinedown?
Boe: (REFERRING TO LISA) She just interviewed Barry on Tuesday night.
Shimon Moore: Yeah, Barry…that band is probably one of our favorite bands to tour with. Like…Nickelback has been really generous to us, & Shinedown was generous to us as well, but before we REALLY KNEW how good you could be to each other as bands…on the last show…Gawd, what did we do? Came out in a bunny suit & danced around everything to “Happy Tree Friends”, first…& then Emma started bringing them shots in a little (like) bartender’s outfit…you know, on tray…& then, ah…I got up & sang a song (the song that I was talking to you about) in the bunny suit. Um…Mark & I got up, & had a “Shot Competition” in the middle of one of their songs – both in bunny suits…& then everyone came out, at the end of that song, & danced around with masks & bunny suits on.
Mark Goodwin: It was near Halloween, so there was like all the Halloween stores around. So, we just got a sh*tload of masks & stuff.
Lisa: I was gonna’ say, “Any bunny suits, tonight?” (LAUGHS)
Mark Goodwin: You can only do it at the end of the very last show.
Shimon Moore: And then, I played drums on “Second Chance” with…um…dreadlocks, like Barry. And…I think that was it, but that was A LOT! That was like…the most we’d ever done, & they did one thing to us.
Mark Goodwin: Remember, they got bouncy balls & sh*t too?
Shimon Moore: Yeah, they got the bouncy balls. They started throwin’ bouncy balls during our set, & then they came out & (like) sat on the drum-riser, & had a beer during one of our songs…just to f*ck with us. And then, at the end, they did the entire section of “Stonehenge” from Spinal Tap. They built a Stonehenge…“to scale” replica & had it lowered down from the ceiling, while the song from the movie was playing. Then, ironically enough, it actually got stuck half-way down…legitimately. They had to yank it, & then eventually it fell & landed on the drum kit. (LISA & BOE ARE NOW SNICKERING) Then, they got the kids from…the promoter’s kids to come out as elves (whatever they’re called) & dance around to the…“The Little People”. It was very elaborate…& that’s what happens, man…when you have a lot of love for each other in bands – you put in that effort. And it got to the point where…sometimes you can’t “PRANK UP” to bands…& they said to us, “If you don’t prank us, we’re gonna’ be insulted. Like…you don’t like us? You don’t give a f*ck enough to prank us???” So, we were like…we went ALL OUT! Like something every second song, we did something huge…during their whole set.
Boe: Very cool!
Shimon Moore: And, in between, Emma was takin’ them shots.
The audience at Credit Union Centre (Saskatoon) was gripped by the rigid strength that this young group had to offer in a brief twenty-minute set. Sick Puppies successfully combined elements of punk, grunge, & hard rock with a palpable spirit to the songwriting. Shim’s killer guitar crunch resounds brilliantly with the slapping sensations from Emma Anzai’s bass, & drummer Mark Goodwin was absolutely intoxicating to watch. Although this band has been sometimes shunned for their cliché lyrics or “passive-aggressive” style, I think the intention is to create a VIVID MIXTURE of collaboration…which is exactly what fans heard. They must be doing something right, cause the entrance was JAM-PACKED at both CD signing sessions…& the group’s sales have always been in the six-figure mark. Tri-Polar (itself) debuted at #31 on the “Billboard Top 200”, & the music has been receiving extensive support from WWE & other sources.
Robert M. Knight not only had a clever eye through his camera, but also a seasoned ear for what creates a sonic impression on stage…& SICK PUPPIES IS THAT!!! Make sure to catch part of the band’s elated journey on “ROCK PROPECHIES”, premiering on PBS this September. Rock‘n’roll never discriminates, & these power-rockers have created a new palette based upon the influence they receive from their fans & their lives. They cast a colorful array of sounds, emotions, & moments which we ALL connect to…establishing “truth” in a musical world that is all too often very misleading.
For more information on SICK PUPPIES, please visit:
BPatoine – June, 2010
