Spotlight – Sick Puppies – Tri-Polar

Sick Puppies are a band that have been doing the rounds for years; nigh on a decade I believe. Coming to prominence in the States over the last couple of years, they are now starting to catch on in this country, and are, at long last, getting some much deserved exposure.

They are a three piece grunge rock band, with anthemic hard rock anthems, custom built for stadiums, and for American rock radio. That is not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination, regardless of what music critics would have you believe, and I for one, am a fan.

Tasting their first drops of mainstream success with their track All The Same soundtracking some crazy “free hugs” thing in America, they have been making waves on the Billboard charts over there for the last few months. They recently came over to the UK for their first ever headline run, and I was gutted that I missed it. Playing dive venues across the country, I am sure that the next time they return, they will be playing much bigger concert halls, especially if they do get some more magazine coverage over the next few months. Some high profile support slots, as well as the inevitable festival showings would also do them some good, and get their name out there a bit more. They are certainly onto something though, and they have a great sound, clearly honed from years of plying their craft over in America.

Tri-Polar is their most recent album, and I have had it for a while, first picking up on them when they were making big waves over on the Billboard charts. I listened to the album once again today, and I am still a big lover of it. It has some brilliant tracks, and the 13 songs on display are of the highest of quality. Stand outs for me include I Hate You, Odd One, Should’ve Known Better, Don’t Walk Away, and In It For Life, but all of the tracks are excellent, and worth a listen. They hint at a real confidence, and suggest that this band could have all the tools needed to be a bigger concern than they currently are.

They might just well be one of the rock worlds best kept secrets.

Tri-Polar is a sign of things to come, prophetic even, and is a joy to listen to all the way through. Hopefully if the stars align, they will get the shot they so rightfully deserve. If they do catch on, it is a sure fire thing that dive venues, especially in this country, will be a thing of the past for them, and they may just replicate their success from across the pond if that does happen.

Ones to watch . . .