tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69462140651670827942024-03-13T09:20:50.105-07:00Zombie Dog Official Band BlogThe official blog (and webpage because we're lazy) of the band Zombie Dog. Check back frequently for updates on the "Screw it! We're going on tour." tour.ZombieDoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597491063437368087noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-57365064604437977062011-10-29T17:30:00.000-07:002011-10-29T17:40:16.939-07:00Hey, look what I found!We're not dead yet!<br /><br />Ok. Yes we are. Zombie Dog was always meant to be a one-time thing, so don't hold your breath for a reunion tour anytime soon. (And if you have been holding your breath for the last two years, congratulations. You're some kind of awesome for pulling that off!)<br /><br />Anyway, here's some other stuff that we recorded in or around that summer:<br /><br />We visited my buddy Gregory Tanacea at Into the Hill Studios in Dubuque, IA. (Now also defunct.) We recorded a sweet high-def video of us rocking a couple of our songs. But since it was a free thing, and ItH studios was already just about to close up shop anyway, the videos never got edited.<br /><br />Eventually, I got Gregory to send me the raw audio recordings. I turned them into these mp3s!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/IntoTheHill/adventures.mp3">Adventures of Crisobal Pt. 2</a> - I forgot how much I hate typing that!<br /><a href="http://www.llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/IntoTheHill/happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - My current <a href="http://www.regdarandthefighters.com">nerd punk band</a> doesn't play that one. I kind of miss it!<br /><a href="http://www.llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/IntoTheHill/good-minimal.mp3">It's a Good Thing - Minimalist Mix</a> - We did two takes, so I did two mixes.<br /><a href="http://www.llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/IntoTheHill/good-maximal.mp3">It's a Good Thing - Maximal Mix</a> - I layered the two takes together to try to get a more-full sound.<br /><br />There's also <a href="http://www.llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/How I spent my summer vacation.mp3">this thing</a> that I made shortly after the summer finished.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-71237641893087409182009-10-01T08:40:00.000-07:002009-10-01T08:49:58.821-07:00What? New content now?That's right, suckas! One last post from Steve.<br /><br />During the middle of the tour, we paused to record some demos. We frantically laid down tracks for 5 songs over the course of about a day. We then spent three months mixing and mastering the tracks. (Mostly 'cause we're lazy.)<br /><br />But we finally finished them! Now you can enjoy all your favorite ZD songs in crisp, studio-quality (...ish we were a little rushed for time during the actual recording) demo EP format!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/TakesCassville/it%27s%20a%20good%20thing.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/TakesCassville/The%20Adventures%20of%20Cristobal%20Pt.%202.mp3">The Adventures of Cristobal Pt. 2</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/TakesCassville/Fat%20Kid%20Emo%20Pants.mp3">Fat Kid Emo Pants</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/TakesCassville/Happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - By the time we reached this part of the recording process, the bass had slipped out of tune. I (Steve) couldn't get it to sound good with both bass and guitar, so there are two versions.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/TakesCassville/Happiness2.mp3">Happiness with bass</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/TakesCassville/Carpedium.mp3">Carpedium</a> - And with that exhortation of our greatness, I now take my leave.<br /><br />Until next time, Zombie Dog out!ZombieDoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597491063437368087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-82224616930175736112009-08-10T08:12:00.001-07:002009-08-10T08:17:15.829-07:00One Last Quote PostHey folks, I'm more or less through my backlog of blog posts, so I think this will be my last. Sad!<br /><br />The music stops. A car passes us on the right.<br />Me: What do you think?<br />Steve: I think that guy's kids had better be on fire.<br />Me: Mind if I just pick something?<br />Steve: Sure, just as long as it doesn't suck.<br /><br />Gene: Here, in case you want to keep in contact with your fiddle player. (he hands me a flier for her band)<br />Laura: Don't do it! She won't shut up!<br />Me: She was a talker, wasn't she.<br />Laura: Jesus, I could have stolen her identity!<br /><br />Me: I think Amelia likes me.<br />awkward silence.<br />Me: I think you like me.<br />Steve: Your mom likes you.<br /><br />Steve: That's why I hate you.<br />Me: Haha! Wait... are you serious?<br />Steve: No, you're just high, and it's fun to mess with you.<br /><br />Steve: They say you lose most of your heat through your head. Specifically, on a strip down the middle, more-so in the back.<br /><br />Steve: You'd think it's a lot of fun visiting new cities and meeting people, but mostly it's just being irritable, lost, and smelly.<br /><br />Steve: Please don't download porn onto my minivan.<br /><br />We enter Idaho. 5 minutes later:<br />Gene: They're just tearing away at that mountain. I wonder what's in there?<br />Steve: Precious potatoes. My grandpappy worked in a potato mine until it closed.<br />Gene: Until he died from spud-lung, right?<br /><br />Steve: Sometimes I wake up in the morning and say to myself 'where the fuck am I?!?' Then I'm pleasantly surprised to find out that it's a couch instead of the van.<br /><br />Backstory: We're at a grocery store with a fellow couch surfer trying to purchase beer for the pants party in Bismark.<br />Surfer: This'll be debit.<br />Cashier: We only do credit. Want me to charge credit on your debit card?<br />Surfer: Why don't I just use my credit card?<br />Cashier: Well, you might want to use your debit card for the interest rate. Plus it comes out immediately.<br />Surfer: ...<br />Me: I don't see what's so difficult about this. I use my debit card pin with my credit card to make debit purchases on my credit card for tax purposes. Obviously.<br /><br />Everyone but the cashier thought it was funny.Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-6164816448310864342009-08-07T13:24:00.000-07:002009-08-07T13:34:54.511-07:00Last showSo we played our last show on the first. It was a show at the Quays, and we did a shoddy version of recording it, thus the band has come full circle!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/01commotion.mp3">Commotion</a> - This was Gene's set, so you can still kind of hear the vocals.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/02company.mp3">Company</a> - <br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/03bean.mp3">Bean and Joe</a> - Gene and I keep getting each other's songs in each other's heads. What jerks.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/04blues.mp3">Some Blues Song</a> - I have no idea what this song is called.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/05chelsea.mp3">Chelsea Hotel</a> - actually played in New York. Whoo!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/06carpedium.mp3">Carpedium</a> - And now you can't hear lyrics...<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/07good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - If I'd put the mic in the right place, it might be a good thing.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/08eclipse.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - Turn around one last time, bright eyes.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/09karate.mp3">Karate</a> - And finally, we are most <i>certainly</i> not Jackie Chang in that movie where he pretends to be Jackie Chan and teams up with a Bruce Lee look-alike.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/10the32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (19), so we didn't quite hit 32.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/11happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - we were pretty happy to be playing this show.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/12adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - This was the worst possible song on the tour to break a bass string. So of course, we did.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/8-01/13fat.mp3">Fat Kid Emo Pants</a> - Woah, indeed.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-44188923506649618202009-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:002009-08-07T09:27:42.467-07:00We Talk To a Racist Cop<p>Steve posted about the great Philladelphia open mic. Well, the adventure continued.</p><p>Back outside, a white cop pulls up behind the van parked just outside the venue. Good naturedly, he says, "Texas huh? You guys are lost! You are REALLY LOST!" We have Texas plates you see, as that's where Steve came from. Gene starts chatting with him and explains, "We're in a band on tour."<br /></p>"Oh? What kind of music?"<br />"Rock."<br />"Rock music in the ghetto! I guess this place is coming up."<br />This amuses me as the area felt like Brooklyn in the sense that it could once have been dangerous, but now it was exactly the kind of place I'd want to spend a Saturday night.<br /><br />"My niece is on an air force base in Te..."<br />He stops dead, mid-sentence, turns, and oggles a pair of black girls walking by.<br />"You know, rookie cops say, 'I could never get into that,' but I guess after you're out here for a while you develop a taste."<br /><br />"Alright, well, uh, I guess we're going to get going." Gene had caught word of a dance party at another place. We get directions from the officer and head out.<br /><br />I lost my shoes earlier in the tour, and the place had a no-flip-flops dress code, so we ended up just going out to get a couple of drinks and calling it a night.<br /><br />In the morning, Gene gets up to feed the meter. We head downstairs to meet him, and I start bitching about something or another, as I often do when I'm hungry. He starts to take off. Steve starts yelling, "whoah whoah whoah!" I look over and see that Steve's only half in the van. I chime in, "Whoah whoah whoah! You're running over Steve!" Nobody was hurt, so I can say in retrospect that Steve had the funniest terrified expression on his face. We picked up a couple of cheesesteaks to make it all good. On the way, Steve was navigating.<br /><br />Steve: Turn right here on Syndor.<br />Gene: It's pronounced Snydor.<br />Steve: Ah, well, you say potato, I say fuck you.<br />Me: (Laughing for 5 minutes)Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-44220170456658229782009-08-06T09:56:00.000-07:002009-08-06T10:04:54.990-07:00Cleveland and Pittsburgh<p>Day 2 in Cleveland represented for me everything that's great about this tour. I woke up at noon in the Akron house, and spent the next six hours hanging out on the porch with everyone and their dogs drinking coffee and beer. Gene made a great dinner for everyone, and we all hit on the cute girl. We rocked extra hard at a really fun open mic night in Cleveland, and stayed pretty late. Finally we headed home, unwound, and called it a night around 4.</p><p>Well, there was a bit of a misadventure. Gene is a tortured sleeper, so between two nights of no sleep, a couple of beers, and a couple of joints, he passed out in the van on the way home. I take a sleeping-dogs-lie approach to that dude when he finally gets some sleep, so we just left him in the van. Around 3:30 our friend George got up to go to work, came back in, and said, "Gene's sleeping in the street." I thought that meant he grabbed a sleeping bag and was sleeping in the grass beside the van or something, but nope. He'd left the door open, walked around the van, and passed out in the street. Luckily he woke up enough that he could walk himself back to the house as he's a very large man. Nobody got hurt, so now it's hilarious.<br /></p>Day 2 in Pittsburg was fun in a laid back way. We slept in, got the local famous sandwich, checked out a museum, Gene cooked dinner, and we hung out with our couch surfing hostess. She's into roller derby, and she and her friend were describing how they don't bruise any more, super hero style. We played an open mic at a bar with a great vibe, except for the longest time we were the only non-employees there. Gene and I joined the host for a while on some of his songs. He's a pretty soulful dude, and I'm a hack rock drummer. I was cracking him up. It was fun and ridiculous.Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-68393935114179485602009-08-03T20:46:00.000-07:002009-08-03T20:48:52.233-07:00Super Secret Practice SessionJuly 31, a day of rest and practice before our final show on August 1.<br /><br />Here's some stuff we recorded while jamming:<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-31/1inbetween.mp3">Something in Between</a> - Where do you get off calling Gene a crazy super-villain, huh?<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-31/catchme.mp3">Catch Me</a> - Complete with Steve trying to frantically play along with his computerized synths.<br /><br />More to come.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-77656829474593035292009-08-03T19:07:00.000-07:002009-08-03T19:23:38.692-07:00Philly "Jus Words"We stopped in Philadelphia again on the way back to NYC and found ourselves another open mic.<br /><br />We called them up, and they said they were happy to have our band play. When we got there, we discovered it was more of an open forum/poetry jam called "Jus Words." There was even a house band providing backing music for a few spoken word and sung pieces.<br /><br />When we got there, the host was discussing race relations and the recent arrest of a Harvard professor with the the audience (a huge crowd by the way, over 100 people there).<br /><br />Also, it turned out we were three of the maybe six white people in the room. We felt somewhat out of our element. Gene began panicking, insisting that we would not be welcome and that even if we were allowed to play we'd be booed off the stage.<br /><br />The bartender assured us that they'd love us and that this open mic was all about doing your own thing and being accepted for that. In our case, our own thing is weird rock music, so we'd be accepted for that. (I later talked to a few other people there who expressed their happiness at seeing a rock band there. One said that he much preferred punk to the normal hip hop and R&B normally played at that event.) Others came over and told us that we were welcome to play rock and expressed great interest in hearing us play.<br /><br />Still, Gene needed a drink to steel his nerves. Dave ordered the bartenders specialty. She told him it was called "a piece of ass." She then poured two shots of 151 rum, another shot of hard liquor (I forget what), and some sour mix into a glass and passed it to Gene.<br /><br />We eventually hauled our equipment up to the stage (they had a band, but no guitar) and set up.<br /><br />We then received the <a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-30/intro.mp3">best intro we've ever gotten</a> and went on to play:<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-30/adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - It was quite well received.<br />We were only allotted two songs, so I passed the mic to a still-nervous Gene, who cracked <a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-30/genesjoke.mp3">this joke</a> to loosen up the crowd. If you listen closely, you'll notice two people laughing. That would be Dave and myself. Awkward...<br />We then played:<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-30/the32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - Holy carp! This is the most enthusiastic crowd ever!<br /><br />Two more days worth of bootlegs are forthcoming. I'll post them when I finish them.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-40826420857859305742009-07-30T10:20:00.000-07:002009-07-30T10:40:18.680-07:00Pittsburg: Phoning it in Since 1758We played another open mic in Pittsburg, PA last night. It seems that this is a really bad city to play music in during the summer. The students are all gone, and as Gene (who used to go to school here) said, the market is flooded with venues.<br /><br />So we played a whole bunch of songs to no one except the bartender, sound guy, and MC, and I put together the most half-assed bootlegs yet.<br /><br /><h3>First, Gene</h3><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/01th32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (17)<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/02company.mp3">Company</a> - Soothing you in improperly balanced stereo since 2009.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/03guitar.mp3">If I Gave You a Guitar</a> - If we ever install a poll plugin to the blog, the first question will have to be "If I gave you a guitar, would you write me a song?" Followed, of course, by "Do you like me? Circle one: Yes/No"<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/04chelsea.mp3">Chelsea Hotel</a> - Dave likes this song, but he missed it. Sucker!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/05ilikes.mp3">I Likes</a> - Me talk good!<br /><br /><h3>Then, all of us</h3><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/06good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - Zombie Dog phoning it in, Whoo! Actually, we played alright, I'm just too lazy to make the bootlegs sound good.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/07eclipse.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - I have nothing to say about this that wouldn't be a potentially offensive joke about our ritard in the second verse.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/08adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - Ok. I'm trimming something out of this beast.<br /><br /><h3>Finally, all of us but with Gene singing</h3><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/09the32nd.mp3">thE32nd (full band)</a> (18)<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/10commotion.mp3">Commotion</a> - I wish I knew if having my own room in Hell was standard or if it's actually a perk...<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/11catchme.mp3">Catch Me</a> - Barring any unusual capitalization, I'm pretty sure I got the name right.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/12supervillain.mpe">Something In Between</a> - Gene's told me that name something like three times, but I keep calling it Supervillain. I'm "that guy" in the band.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-29/13karate.mp3">Karate</a> - For the last time, we're like Jackie Chan in that movie where he was his own twin and not the one where he teamed up with Jet Li in feudal China.<br /><br /><br />Share and enjoyVomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-16805836365630075252009-07-29T14:09:00.001-07:002009-07-29T14:16:23.242-07:00Pittsburg, for real this time.We finally made it to Pittsburg on this tour. Last night we played an open mic at PD's Pub. The audience was pretty apathetic, but their equipment was very nice.<br /><br />Theoretically, there was a live feed of the show somewhere, but I haven't been able to find an archive of it yet. Perhaps on their <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pdspub">MySpace</a>?<br /><br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-28/1good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - Nothing really exceptional or funny here.<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-28/2eclipse.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - This is the catchiest drum beat the computer has ever picked for this song.<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-28/3adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - No time for banter! Next song! Next song!<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-28/4happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - This was the happiest those bar patrons have ever been.<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-28/5fat.mp3">Fat Kid Emo Pants</a> - Those woahs are painful, ain't they!Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-16254583239449805142009-07-28T16:40:00.000-07:002009-07-28T16:44:21.331-07:00More ClevelandWe played the Kobalt in Cleveland again.<br /><br />No time for banter!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/1good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/2eclipse.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/3adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/4silly.mp3">Silly Dreams</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/5black.mp3">Black Girlfriend</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/6company.mp3">Company</a><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-27/7the32nd.mp3">thE32n'd</a> - (16) half way there!Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-63329421468997259932009-07-28T10:07:00.000-07:002009-07-28T10:09:15.734-07:00Cleveland acoustic setWe played an open mic hosted by <a href="http://www.luvmutha.com/">The Uncanny XeLa</a> outside of Cleveland. Our band were about the only musicians who showed up, so we each did sets.<br /><br />Dave - rawking the house since 1983!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/11christmas.mp3">Christmas Eve</a> - A ghost story by Dave. How sweet!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/12pills.mp3">Must've been the pills I took</a> - Dave's favorite Hank Williams the Eighty-Seventh cover<br /><br />Gene - Singer/songwritering your faces off!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/21black.mp3">Black Girlfriend</a> - Gene busts out the Porno for Pyros. (Hi mom!) Complete with Xe La discussing how this open mic usually goes and hecklers demanding drums.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/22summer.mp3">Summer, a Year Ago</a> - A new Gene original. <br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/23bearsaw.mp3">Bearsaw</a> - This is another Gene original that I don't know the name of. However, you can't really hear it over the discussions of the bear loose on campus and the movie <i>Saw II</i> (warning: spoilers!), so I decided Bearsaw is a good name. (Gene says it's "Catch Me", but I'm sticking with "Bearsaw").<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/24bermuda.mp3">Bermuda Highway</a> - Seriously! This is like <i>New Gene Song Extravaganza '09</i> around here... Oh wait... He tells me this is a My Morning Jacket song. Cancel the <i>Extravaganza</i><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/25commotion.mp3">Commotion</a> - How can you not get up and dance to this upbeat number?<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/26company.mp3">Company</a> - I suppose we could call it <i>Old Gene Song Extravaganza '09</i>...<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/27summer.mp3">Summer, Before Last</a> - Ok. That's probably not the name, but I'm too lazy to find Gene for the real name again.<br /><br />Zombie Dog - These songs sound awful acoustic!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/31acousticgrindcore.mp3">Acoustic Grindcore</a> - well that ended predicably!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/32good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - Actually, that went pretty well.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/33adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - Meh...<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/34happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - Theoretically, this one should work pretty well acoustically, right?<br /><br />Steve - Too nerdy to rock, huh? Well I'll show you!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/41nerdrock.mp3">Nerd Rock</a> - Not really rock with just an acoustic, but whatever.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-26/42teenage.mp3">Teenage Girlfriend</a> - A brand new one! Never before heard by anyone but me.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-30138366929243071192009-07-25T10:56:00.000-07:002009-07-25T11:03:49.800-07:00Pickup show in ToledoWe randomly played in a bar run by one of Gene's friends in Toledo. Some other acts were playing that evening, and we loaned them some equipment. In a fit of gratitude, they let us clear the bar out with our loud-ass music.<br /><br />It was an interesting setup because the house PA wasn't your standard "two big speakers next to a stage" array. They had an assortment of different sizes of speakers throughout the bar to play the radio through, so depending on where you were, different parts of the music were FAR more pronounced than others and blah blah blah to the nerdy nerd nerd.<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/1good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - The DR-1 was really close to the vocalist, so somehow the vocals actually come through ok.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/2total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - In case you can't tell, our rhythm section was a little stoned that night. We also played the song at 240 bpm, which was an adventure.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/3adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - and then the wheels fell off...<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/4happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - Why is the song getting slower as we go?!?<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/6summertime.mp3">Summertime Roll</a> - I give up! We're not even using the microphones anymore!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/7the32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (15)<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/8company.mp3">Company</a> - I'm done! It's all you Gene. *leaves in a huff*<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-23/9bean.mp3">Bean and Joe</a> - By popular demand. (Seriously, there were death threats if Gene didn't play this.)Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-71234639523780844812009-07-25T10:25:00.000-07:002009-07-25T10:39:34.856-07:00The girl running the open mic in Chicago who kept yelling, "Sexy beast!" at Gene while he played bought us a round and had this toast for us:<br /><br />To all of you and your enormous dicks.<br /><br />I couldn't stop laughing.<br /><br />Then, the legitimate show we played the day after in Chicago was great. There were tons of people who were getting into it, my sister and brother in law were there, we played well, and the banter was good. Now, I yell, "Zombie Dog!" after roughly two thirds of the songs we play. Then,<br /><br />Girl: My brother runs this place. I loved your set, BUT! WHAT IS YOUR BAND CALLED?!<br />Me: Uh... Zombie Dog.<br />Girl: Oh, huh.<br /><br />Now we're hanging out in Toledo for a couple of days. We played a surprise show two nights ago, went dancing last night, and are about to hit up a sweat lodge which is some sort of insane sauna that's frankly quite scary.Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-41466968865237572682009-07-24T10:47:00.000-07:002009-07-24T17:23:45.847-07:00Chicago... Let's call it a "cool down" show?We played at the "Friends and Co." bar. Once again, we felt bad for crushing the hopes and dreams of a local musician.<br /><br />The guy who organizes shows hooked us up with a guy named Ken who did acoustic covers of punk ballads. He was super excited to rock out with a serious band from New York. Then we let him know how "serious" this band really is. He seemed sad. :(<br /><br />Either way, we played these songs:<br />(Note, the file transfer is going slowly, so not all of the songs may be available immediately)<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/1HonestMan.mp3">Honest Man</a> - Gene rocks the My Morning Jacket.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/2company.mp3">Company</a> - I still want one of those books about parachutes.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/3bean.mp3">Bean and Joe</a> - As plagiarized by Paul Simon.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/4theBreathing.mp3">The Breathing</a> - I can't remember who this is a cover of. So I'm gonna guess... Disturbed? That sounds like the name of a Disturbed song, right?<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/5good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - Chicago's a good thing.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/6total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - I decided to try out adding curse word(s) to this song. I'm still unsure as to if it's awesome enough to be worth the cursing.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/7adventures.mp3">The Adventures of Cristobal Pt. 2</a> - I was planning to make meaningful eye contact with one of the cuter girls in the bar on the word "baby" (You know, as a flirty stage presence thing.) But she took that exact moment to go to the bathroom.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/8fat.mp3">Fat Kid Emo Pants</a> - As requested by Tricia our sister.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/9happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - No time for banter, we're leaving in 5!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/10carpedium.mp3">Carpedium</a> - One day, we'll play this song well, and it will rock!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-22/11karate.mp3">Karate</a> - So many f bombs! Good thing it's a bar, and there's no kids around. (Also, we are definitely not like Jackie Chan in that one movie I hear he did early in his career which was actually an adult film and not a kung fu flick at all!)Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-52645201166056306472009-07-22T11:39:00.000-07:002009-07-22T11:47:41.027-07:00Chicago. Let's call it a "warm up" show.We played an open mic in Chicago last night. Our sister Patricia came along.<br /><br />At one point in the evening, she asked if all open mics are as much of sausage fests as this one.<br />I said, "yeah, they're usually a lot like this."<br />"Though in this case, it might be more due to the 1950's era pornography they're showing on all the TVs."<br /><br />Yeah... That was weird.<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/1company.mp3">Company</a> - Gene returns with this popular classic.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/2chelsea.mp3">Chelsea Hotel</a> - Dave loves this song. I'm pretty sure I don't know how to spell it.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/3the32nd.mp3">thE32nd (just Gene)</a> - (13)<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/4good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - The sound system was pretty awful, and we didn't do a sound check. Long story short, the guitar is very quiet, and we sound remarkably good!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/5total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - It's still epic, even if we played it 50 beats per minute too slow.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/6adventures.mp3">TAoCP2</a> - Old song, new abbreviation.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/7happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - By executive decision of Dave. I think Gene and I both wanted to sing Karate.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-21/8the32nd.mp3">thE32nd ('full' band)</a> - This place had the worst boom mic I've ever used, so no backup vocals. Also (14)Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-62827980215404646972009-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:002009-07-22T08:55:45.750-07:00Amusing stories we've been meaning to post<b>Gene finds a new sleep aid</b><br /><br />Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you have trouble sleeping through the night? Do you wish you could just have a good night's sleep? Well now there's hope.<br /><br />From the makers of the antidepressant "Beer" comes "Tequila." Tequila's mono-medicinal treatment has two stages. Alcohol helps you fall asleep, and alcohol helps you stay asleep. Finally, you can have the deep, restful sleep you deserve.<br /><br />Tequila.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Side effects of tequila include decreased motor skills, poor judgment, and sudden emotional swings. Make sure you can dedicate at least seven hours to sleep and/or partying before taking tequila. Do not operate heavy machinery while using tequila. Pregnant or nursing women should double their dosage as they are drinking for two.</span><br /><br /><br /><b>Magic guitar pick day</b><br /><br />About two years ago, I (Steve) had backstage passes to see Eric Clapton in concert. Clapton himself leaves immediately after the show to call his family and sleep, so I didn't get to meet him. However, I did get two guitar picks stamped with info about the tour. ("Eric Clapton USA tour 2008" etc.) They're pretty nice picks so I've been using them on tour.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I lost one of them early in the tour. My set of picks was incomplete. *sad face composed primarily of punctuation*<br />Then, in Seattle, I saw a red guitar pick on the ground. I said to myself, "Sweet! Free guitar pick." I picked it up and started reading the text on it: "EC WORLD TOUR '06/'07"<br /><br />Wait a minute... "EC"? I had just found the same pick I had lost, but from the previous year's tour!<br /><br />And that's how I saved ChristmasVomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-49818288201103289682009-07-21T09:13:00.000-07:002009-07-21T09:30:26.722-07:00When a Band Loves a GirlMost of the time it's us three dudes hanging out with each other, getting on each others' nerves, and punching each other in the arm. So when we get to a party or show or something with cute girls, or even just one cute girl, we start hitting on everyone pretty much. The funny thing is that a good percentage of the time, we all pick the same girl to flirt with.<br /><br />That's right, if we're coming to your town, you may be the lucky girl to get a van full of rock stars/weirdos flirting with you all night. It's funny too because there's this tension where we all root for each other, but at the same time want the girl to like ME. Hence, we get pretty mixed results as wing men.<br /><br />We have various styles and approaches. Apparently I use a different voice, and Gene knows instantly when I'm hitting on someone without even looking. Steve goes for an I-don't-care approach and cracks dumb jokes, which works really well, confusingly to me, as I usually just punch him in the arm when he starts cracking dumb jokes (you know, <a href="http://zombiedogband.blogspot.com/2009/07/hanging-out-with-my-bro.html">unless the rhythm section got stoned earlier</a>). Gene plays it cool because he's cool I guess. It helps that I'm the good looking one, though I am the drummer and married and all.<br /><br />We're ridiculous. Me in particular. Rock and Roll!Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-59752236015943287802009-07-20T16:42:00.000-07:002009-07-20T16:57:39.941-07:00Dickin' AroundWe tend to blog about the more adventuresome parts of the trip, but I thought I'd dedicate a post to the activity that takes up, oh I don't know, 60% of our time.<br /><br />We spend a lot of time driving around fairly lost, leaving messages at venues that never really call us back, waiting for someone to finish packing up so we can go already, waiting for the show in a couple of hours without much to do in the meantime, waiting for the first five acts to wrap up, standing around outside after the show trying to flirt and schmooze a floor to sleep on, waiting for the friend you just met to call his friend and see about the party, and so on and so on.<br /><br />We are master dicking arounders. Our favorite ways to kill time include<br /><ol><li>Chucking a frisbee around.</li><li>Picking on Steve.</li><li>Flirting with the same girl (more on that later).</li><li>Calling Mara.</li><li>Drinking, much more so if the beer is free.<br /></li></ol>Rock and Roll!Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-91402313258839589572009-07-17T16:08:00.000-07:002009-07-17T16:17:28.257-07:00Madison then... silence.We're taking a few days off to visit family, so don't expect too many posts for a bit.<br /><br />Yesterday, we played on the campus library mall at Madison. It was pretty rawkin!<br /><br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/1good1.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - Despite being our sound check (again), we sounded pretty good on this one!<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/2birthday.mp3">Happy Birthday</a> - Technically, the copyright infringement entailed by playing this song is among the least illegal aspects of the show... Happy birthday, Nathan Hotdog!<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/3total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - So. Damn. Epic!<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/4adventures.mp3">The Adventures of Cristobal Pt. 2</a> - People have told me that I don't sound particularly concerned as I sing "Look out! Giant booger, baby." I showed them last night. Listen to the concern in that last chorus! I am concerned, my friends. Concerned!<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/5happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - We're gonna say that that's "concern" you hear in my voice and not "angst."<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/6fat.mp3">Fat</a> - Ok. That is angst you hear there, but it's ironic angst.<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/7the32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (12)<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/8company.mp3">Company</a> - You can't hear it, but Dave and I danced around and looked really cool during this one.<br /><a href="Http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-17/9good2.mp3">It's a Good Thing (Reprise)</a> - It's not just repeating a song from earlier if we call it a reprise.<br /><br />We should be back to posting by TuesdayVomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-20468790517656355162009-07-14T22:23:00.000-07:002009-07-14T22:32:08.901-07:00MinneapolisYesterday's show was an open mic in Minneapolis, MN.<br /><br />It was pretty fun. Then Dave and I drank a bunch and got in an argument. Good times!<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-13/1good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - yup.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-13/2total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - indeed<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-13/3adventures.mp3">The Adventures of Cristobal Pt. 2</a> - fer sure<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-13/4the32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (11)<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-13/5company.mp3">Company</a> - yes<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-13/6chelsea.mp3">Chelsea Hotel</a> - OK.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-23894188311117030242009-07-14T13:07:00.000-07:002009-07-14T13:15:58.272-07:00Steve Decides Not To Pick Up a HookerAfter the last Fargo show we went to grab a beer. I went outside to call Mara, and came back in to grab a slice of pizza. Steve and Gene made a friend! Only later did I piece together bits and pieces of the conversation from talking with Steve and Gene. I wish I had been there.<br /><br />Girl: I've got a mixed kid so you know I like creamy guys.<br />Steve: Um... That's cool.<br /><br />Girl: I used to strip.<br />Gene: How long ago was that?<br />Girl: Two years ago. I still do for the right people. I do other work too.<br />Gene: I bet you do.<br /><br />Girl: I'm going to find some company.<br />Steve: Good luck.<br />Girl: What, you don't think I can do it?<br /><br />Other guy: I thought I gave you five dollars to call a cab.Dave Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14564409068205075624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-56129050293051982302009-07-14T00:04:00.000-07:002009-07-21T08:05:14.394-07:00Steve's Birthday and a Few Other Things...1. I am the sweetest pool player in this tribe.<br /><br />2. Dave MAY or MAY NOT take his love for Santagold a little too personally.<br /><br />3. The fact that I am an ex-addict has so far had NO immediate barring on my ability to seem more "mysterious" and/or "interesting", despite certain rumors.<br /><br />4. This entire experience has absolutely hindered my ability to have an intelligent conversation or seem at all interested in a potentially-intelligent conversation.<br /><br />5. There is yet another contest to find out who will kill another band mate first.<br /><br />6. "Ruling out no possibilities at all times" also means that sometimes I have to enjoy when and where I'm at, even if its just driving (and we all know how much driving can be a pain-in-the-ass).<br /><br />7. Loneliness is harder the FURTHER you are from home.<br /><br />8. There is no time for hesitation now...<br /><br />9. I am beat beyond belief and there is no end in sight.<br /><br />10. Dreams of peril for men of peril. Everything else is a lure to your definite end. Besides, if I didnt suffer from nightmares, I would sleep all the way through the living madness. THANKS NIGHTMARES!<br /><br />12. "You too" is NOT a proper response to a sentiment like "Sweet Dreams" or "Nice to meet you" or anything of that caliber..U2 is a band, not a response.<br /><br />(heart) GeneGeneJrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09472488185087666637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-59769833883440806032009-07-13T16:00:00.001-07:002009-07-13T16:16:01.075-07:00Happy Birthday to me!It's my birthday, so here's some bootlegs from the show we did in Fargo yesterday. (4 people showed up; it was awesome!)<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/1carpedium.mp3">Carpedium</a> - This is a way better choice for our sound check than our hit song!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/2summertime.mp3">Summertime Roll</a> - We figured out how to get the delay pedal working again, so we can play this song again.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/3good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - And yet... we still haven't gotten our sound issues ironed out. Dammit!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/4adventures.mp3">The Adventures of Cristobal Pt. 2</a> - Too little, too late, sound system.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/5total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - Once upon a time <i>I</i> was falling in love; then I was only falling apart.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/6happiness.mp3">Happiness</a> - Whoo! We kept the beat on the bridge!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/7fat.mp3">Fat Kid Emo Pants</a> - Sing-alongs work best when only 4 people show!<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/8the32.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (10)<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-12/9company.mp3">Company</a> - My books mention parachutes. I don't know what Gene's problem is.Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946214065167082794.post-22930191702535237862009-07-12T12:29:00.000-07:002009-07-12T12:40:41.507-07:002-fer except not really.It's been two shows since I last posted bootlegs, so theoretically, there should be two sets of bootlegs. Unfortunately, yesterday's show was at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/xprojectnoisex">Project Noise</a> in Bismark, ND (a very cool venue. Check it out), and somehow we are unable to record successfully there. The first time we played, the recordings didn't turn out. This time, we forgot to make the recordings in the first place...<br /><br />Anyway, Missoula! We played a sweet show with a bunch of experimental and hardcore bands including Moms, Fag Rag, and Filth Mattress. (Kind of like Rush with two drummers and no Geddy vocals, weird deerhoof-esque experimentation and squealing, and melodic hardcore but with a punk drummer and vocalist respectively).<br /><br />We played this stuff:<br /><br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/1good.mp3">It's a Good Thing</a> - I have nothing witty to say.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/2total.mp3">Total Eclipse of the Heart</a> - We're starting to get solid enough with this material that I have not quippy witticisms for you.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/3adventures.mp3">Adventures of Cristobal Pt. 2</a> - "This song is about giant snot monsters attacking Russia. It's dedicated to the ladies!"<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/4Happiness.mp3">happiness</a> - "This is our ballad, but we dedicated the last song to the ladies already... SO this one's for the dudes!"<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/5fat.mp3">Fat Kid Emo Pants</a> - Drawing a blank on funny things to say again...<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/6Karate.mp3">Karate</a> - Once more, the movie where Jackie Chan was his own twin, not the one where he conducted a police investigation completely straight without doing anything funny at all.<br /><a href="http://llamamallrecords.com/zombiedog/7-10/7the32nd.mp3">thE32nd</a> - (9)Vomit Hat Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361033769083314445noreply@blogger.com2