Sick Puppies

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How a band settles on a name can be a convoluted process - often with multiple explanations. Over time one of the following as been given as the origin of the Sick Puppies moniker:
	a) Shimon Moore thought of the name himself, and then came home to find his father Max reading the book Sick Puppy (a great read) by Carl Hiaasen.
	b) A neighbor's sick dog entered the garage during the band's rehearsal and vomited on their equipment.
	c) An early "groupie" made the comment, "That's one sick puppy" and the name stuck.

Most bands record an album, tour and so forth before anyone thinks of filming them. Sick Puppies took a short-cut. Music photographer and filmmaker Robert Knight set out to find the world's best guitarist and help an up and coming band for the documentary Rock Prophecies. Knight visited Jeff Beck, Slash, Carlos Santana and Steve Vai while moving Sick Puppies' career forward. The film made its debut in '09 and a year later was broadcast on PBS before coming out on DVD.

"He documented when we did the first album, the first show, all that kind of stuff," said Anzai. "It was really cool. He wanted a new band to�develop." Sick Puppies involvement with this project and Knight's endorsement led to their U.S. record deal with RMR/Virgin/EMI.

The Australian band Sick Puppies began in '97 with the line-up of Shimon Moore (vocals/guitar), Emma Anzai (bass) and Mark Goodwin (drums). The Sydney based group issued their debut EP "Dog's Breakfast" which was followed by the full-length '01 effort "Welcome To The Real World." Success in their native land and Knight's prodding convinced the group to re-locate to L.A. Unfortunately, Mileski was unable to leave Australia so he was replaced by Mark Goodwin, who responded to an ad in Craigslist the band had posted.

Several years later, '07, Sick Puppies issued their sophomore set, "Dressed Up As Life." The album contained the Modern Rock hit "All The Same" (#8) and "My World" which just cracked the Top 20.

"Tri-Polar" landed two years later. It yielded three singles; "You're Going Down" (#2 on the Modern Rock chart), "Odd One" and "Maybe" (both peaked at #15 on the Alternative Songs and Active Rock charts).

Sick Puppies' songs were heard in TV shows (including "You're Going Down" for WWE's pay-per-view event and "That Time Of Year"on "NCIS: The Official Soundtrack - Vol. 2").

The EP "Live & Unplugged" rolled out in '10. Three tracks were studio efforts while a fourth came from a Chicago radio interview.

Sick Puppies Discography

� Welcome To The Real World (2001)
� Dressed Up As Life (2007)
� Tri-Polar (2009)

A cursory listen to "Dressed Up As Life" and it's easy to draw comparisons to Green Day. And like Green Day's "(Good Riddance) Time Of Your Life," Sick Puppies scored with an acoustic ballad, "All The Same." "Too Many Words" travels down a similar road - though not as well. There are also Punk/power pop shots in "My World," "Pitiful," with spitting vocals and guitar, and "Cancer." "Deliverance" is the big drama track but is more impassioned than overblown.

"Tri-Polar" incorporates Metal shots in "War," the rough and tumble "You're Going Down" (a good choice for pro-wrestling), "Should've Known Better" and "Master Of The Universe." The Punk element, which is still Sick Puppies strength, drives "Riptide" and "Survive."

Countering the Metal is the melodic power pop of "Maybe" and "Don't Walk Away." "Odd One" starts like another take on "All The Same" before cranking it up.

From the "NCIS" soundtrack "That Time Of Year" is a moody yet nondescript mid-tempo ballad that's perfect for TV.

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