Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

on sale fri, may 11 @ 10am

Even if you don’t know Sydney, Australia modern rock trio Sick Puppies, you’ve probably seen their groundbreaking ‘Free Hugs’ video, which has garnered more than 11 million views on YouTube.com since last year. The heartwarming clip chronicles the true life adventures of a man who walks around holding a billboard that reads ‘Free Hugs,’ the police who ban his humanitarian crusade, and the petition that earned him back the right to provide hugs to citizens in need. The ‘Free Hugs’ video featured the band’s song “All The Same”, and the exposure propelled “All the Same” into a top-requested single at commercial radio stations across North America. But while the ‘Free Hugs’ video helped spread the music and message of Sick Puppies, the band is anything but an overnight success. Years before YouTube, Sick Puppies were winning prestigious commendations, including “Best Song” from Triple J Unearthed, and “Best Live Performance” from the Australian Live Music Awards.

Their debut album, Welcome to the Real World came out in 1999. After numerous tours across Australia, the band went on hiatus for a while so they could achieve their goal to record their North American debut.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, they signed a new recording contract with indie label RMR Music Group. The tremendous success of the video piqued the interest of numerous record distributors, including Virgin Records, which signed Sick Puppies to a deal in 2006, right as their new album neared completion. The band’s North American debut, Dressed Up As Life, validates the praise with a heartfelt collection of exultant rhythms, propulsive beats and choruses that span miles. It’s the kind of record that captures the beauty, pain and endless possibilities of life. With infectious tunes, a jaw-dropping stage show and equal doses of hits and hugs, Sick Puppies are striking a blow against the horde of faceless modern rock bands that are virtually all the same.