Sleeping Dogs

About the Artist

Sleeping Dogs are a group of four misfits with eclectic musical backgrounds.

Sleeping Dogs are a group of four misfits with eclectic musical backgrounds. The present line up was conceived in 2009, in the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand. For an aspiring super group with a BIG sound, you can’t begin from a more humble or out of the way place. It started with Thomas Reid, a mad, classically trained pianist and self confessed Bowie addict. One day and without warning he was inspired (“compelled by the Rock Gods” he will tell you) to start a rock band.

The first to jump on board this rock n roll odyssey was percussionist turned bassist, Rocky. Rocky has had considerable performing and recording experience, but likes to maintain an air of mystery. You’re likely to see him running around on stage like his sneakers are on fire. He’s often the group’s lighter relief and an ideal balance in an industry that attracts deeply brooding artistic types, i.e. guitarists. He is according to Thomas “the only bass guitarist in the history of Rock that refuses to play the tonic”.

Helping Rocky stoke the Dogs’ rhythmic rock n roll burner is drummer Rick Harvie. Rick is a free spirited stick twirling groovesmith, possibly from Mars. If he’s not driving the group’s feel on stage, he’s editing the reel, conceptualising and shooting the band’s videos and cover art. At this point the band has a video, video song and a short behind the scenes making of the video available to view on Youtube. There are also two more videos in the pipeline to accompany their debut album, “Myth Reducer”.

The last component to join this hard hitting rock n roll unit is guitarist Ace Palenski. His is a story similar to the phoenix rising from the ashes, having been kidnapped by a group of fanatical jazz musicians straight out of High School. He was suspended in a time warp (not unlike Buck Rogers) for the whole of the 90’s emerging “uninfluenced and unscathed by the unskilled garage band movement” of the era. As a workforce escapee he has assumed his place as “da mean axeman” beside his fellow Dogs.

In April and May of 2010 they all travelled to Modern World studios in the UK, thwarting the Icelandic volcano’s attempts to shut Europe down, to complete their first album. There they employed the expertise of in house and widely sought after producer Greg Haver, mixing guru Clint Murphy and session string group, the Vulcan String Quartet. All have a long list of credits including having recorded & performed with NZ pop group Opshop and the internationally successful Manic Street Preachers. On the cusp of the album’s release, Thomas has already commenced writing on and booked studio time for the second album.

Sleeping Dogs are Thomas Reid; a sincerely inspired and seriously talented songwriter, pianist and vocalist, Rocky; a melodic and soulful bass player and arranger, Rick Harvie; an innovative, experimental and multitalented drummer and video director, and Ace Palenski; a skilled and emotionally charged guitarist. Their songs have been described as “unavoidable, deep and unapologetic”. Their sound and style has been likened to Muse and Queen, described as “extravagant, big, epic and over-the-top, with long, long instrumental parts”.

Sleeping Dogs; their story is just beginning…