When most people think of promoters they conjure up the image of a scheming Don King, with outrageous hair and weighed down by his hand jewelry. Alas Glenn from Zombie Dog is bucking that trend, he’s a promoter with a heart, dedicated to local music.
After forming Caringbah Bizzos in 1991, which became a musical rose in a proverbial thorn bush, Zombie Dog began booking bands like it was no ones business. However time chipped away at his dream and fast forward to the present and Glenn was toiling on a building site, working as a contractor. Then the sound of one band reignited his passion for promoting and he’s back where he started, rocking out like it’s 1991.
“I am finally doing what I love again. After sitting down to listen to a friends new band, Life Adjustment Disorder I got so excited that I decided I would try to get them some gigs. As you know it’s hard getting a new band on the scene a show, so I booked out venues and put on my own nights. This is how Zombie Dog was born.”
Part of the Zombie Dog goal is to break through the tough Sydney music scene, booking different genres on different nights, trying to cater to lots of fans rather then exclusively to hardcore lovers.
“Zombie Dog Entertainment is about putting on diverse shows. Hearing three Stoner – Punk bands, in a row can be a little boring, after a while they all start to sound the same. That’s why I like to mix it up a little. Who said you have to have three hardcore bands together?”
Despite the lofty ambitions held by Zombie Dog he has been experiencing some resistance. The Sydney scene is known for its exclusivity, more segregated then a New Orleans bus in the sixties.
“There is too much segregation in the Sydney band scene. Scenes become pathetic, small circles of friends which is pretty damn pretentious really. Maybe that’s why most bands don’t survive more than 3 or 4 years. This is why I try to mix up the bands I put on my bills.”
One band that has been consistently on Zombies’ bill are Life Adjustment Disorder. Rising from the ashes of two former bands, these hardcore bandits have been making waves, and exciting punters with their high tempo shows and monosyllabic name.
“These guys know how to pack a punch. Songs that vary from punk, country, Greek wedding songs to a little ballad with Kazoo’s. You never know what you are going to get with a live set from L.A.D.”
The birth of the digital age, and something called the “Recession” (which is nothing like Recess) could’ve spelt disaster for the live music scene. But Zombie Dog has placed his faith in the fans, and believes the magic of the live experience is better then any You Tube clip, Guitar Hero battle or headphone session.
“The day that there is an iPod that makes you sweat, spills beer on you, gives you a bleeding nose, or even sets you up with a gorgeous rock chick, I will quit, for these are the reasons that people go to see gigs and leave us with (very blurry) memories for life. You will never take away the live experience.”
As if becoming a promoter, reviving some old hardcore bands and legally taking the name Zombie Dog wasn’t enough, Glenn will also be holding a charity gig called Monster Sessions to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers.
“Monster Session is the vision of Zombie Dog Entertainment and OutbackRnR to create a festival event to raise money and awareness for MS as there is no known cure. It was first talked about last year after a gig where I saw Jo from the Blitz Babiez. Jo remembered that my mum had MS back in the day, she came up and told me that she had been diagnosed 7 years ago.
Well that’s all it took. We decided to try to get all these old school bands out of retirement to try to raise some awareness and money for MS AUSTRALIA.”
The charity gig is a great excuse to drink heavily and not feel bad about yourself. An added bonus will be the long list of bands lending their services to this feel good concert, which all equates to a messy but fun night. Just the way we like it.
For more info about Monster Sessions and Zombie Dog visit
http://www.myspace.com/monstersession
TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH MOSHTIX
