Dali's Llama

Dali’s Llama is an American desert rock band formed in 1993 by Zach Huskey and his wife Erica. The Huskeys started their own record label called Dali's Llama Records. Featured in the music documentary "Lo Sound Desert" by Joerg Steineck, Zach Huskey is one of the original desert rock musicians from the 1980s desert scene (along with Scott Reeder, Mario Lalli, Alfredo Hernandez, Sean Wheeler, Herb Lineau, etc.). Primarily a desert rock / stoner rock band, Dali's Llama's music has shown influences of doom, punk rock, experimental, and garage rock over the last 23 years and 12 albums.

They were also credited and thanked in the film Such Hawks, Such Hounds by John Srebalus in 2008. They were also mentioned in Coachella Valley Weekly by Eleni P. Austin, in which she said, "If someone were to erect a shrine to the founders of the Desert Rock scene, an imposing Mount Rushmore-style monument, the four faces would have to be Mario Lalli, Herb Lineau, Sean Wheeler and Zach Huskey. Other Desert musicians have received more recognition and achieved more notoriety, but these guys were the originators, the pioneers…" - Eleni P. Austin, Coachella Valley Weekly[1] They were also mentioned in Racer X: “Husband and wife team Zach and Erica Huskey are the epitome of do-it-yourself rock and rollers. Pounding out a monstrous, riff-heavy mound of desert sludge...”- Racer X, RippleMusic.blogspot.com[2]

Pre-Dali's Llama

Zach Huskey's early bands were: The Sciotics (with Sean Wheeler), Blue Sunday, Cloudy Daze and The Next (all featuring Tony Brown from Unsound on drums). Following his high school graduation in 1986, Huskey moved to Los Angeles (L.A.) and formed the band Long, Dead and Gone, who performed mostly in L.A. with some notable punk and metal bands. They occasionally travelled back to the desert to play a club or a generator party. After Long, Dead and Gone, Huskey started the very heavy de-tuned rock band My Pain. My Pain played with Wool, White Zombie, Rage Against The Machine and The Obsessed, to name a few. The Huskeys then moved back to the desert and started Dali’s Llama.

Biography

Dali’s Llama was started by Zach and Erica Huskey in the Southern California desert in 1993. The Huskeys also started Dali’s Llama Records and self-released the band’s first CD, “Pre Post Now,” in 1993. Bruce Fessier of The Desert Sun said, "Zach Huskey has been an integral player on the desert rock scene since the days of the generator parties in the late 1980s and early '90s. His tuned-down guitar sounds epitomize desert rock as surely as the music of Kyuss, Fatso Jetson and House of Broken Promises. You can hear Huskey's hard rock sound on the many Dali's Llama albums he's produced on his own independent label..." - Bruce Fessier, The Desert Sun[3]

In 1994, Dali's Llama released their second CD “Creative Space," which was a more aggressive CD. The song “Listen” was later featured in the 2010 movie “I’m Not Like That No More” starring Paul Rodriguez and Felipe Esparanza. The lineup for both of these early CDs was Zach Huskey (songwriter/vocals/guitar), Erica Huskey (bass) and Johnnie Moreno (drums).

The band frequently played at numerous venues in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the desert area, including the famous Rhythm and Brews club (owned by Mario and Larry Lalli). Dali's Llama played with many bands, including Unsound, Well Strung to Hang, Solarfeast, Super Fun Happy Slide, Polyphemus and Sort of Quartet, as well as opening for artists, such as Robin Trower, etc.

In 1994, drummer Ian Dye replaced Moreno, and in 1995, the band released their third CD “Being." Both “Creative Space” and “Being” were produced by Steve Kravac and were recorded at West Beach Recorders (Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz’s studio) in Los Angeles.

“Be This Moment” impressed from the first 10 seconds, as being a serious yet catchy rock tune....” - Sophia Possidon, FLIPSIDE[4]

After “Being,” Zach Huskey took the band in a different direction. He wrote songs using elements of avant-garde music pieces that he was working on at the time. With new drummer George Rubacava and the addition of a second guitar player, Eric Overton, the band recorded Huskey’s experimental improvisational pieces. Although the songs were recorded live at a rehearsal in 1995, they were not released until 2001 on “The Color Of Apples” CD.

“Most jam sessions are far more fun to play than to hear. This is an exception. This collective improvisation (i.e. spontaneous composition) really works. What sets it apart is a sense of swing and dynamics. Something special was created out of a void that day in ́95. There is substance here. Pay close attention. This difficult music is quite rewarding. How much you hear in it depends on your attention span. Happy accidents abound. There is a refreshing lack of nihilistic overkill. (Still, mello it ain ́t.) Hey, call it No Wave blues (with a smile). Give it the good hard listen it deserves - it will never happen again.” - Phil Liebert, MUSICIAN/COMPOSER

Pursuing side projects (including Primordial Blues) and solo projects, Dali’s Llama did not release their next CD until 2005. New drummer Robin Clewell and second guitarist Josh Roell joined Zach and Erica Huskey on their fifth CD, “Chordata.” This album drew on Zach Huskey's influences of The Stooges, X, The Cult, MC5, and early 70s Who, and he generated some musical comparisons to the heavy rock sound of Wolfmother and lyrical content akin to Bad Religion.

“Way before Kyuss or Queens of the Stone Age, Dali’s Llama frontman Zach Huskey was a musician to be reckoned with. Today’s Dali’s Llama are punchy, powerful and to the point. Dali’s Llama is one of the best desert rock bands today and the best live desert rock band around!” - Alfredo Hernandez (Kyuss, QOTSA, Brant Bjork and the Bros, Yawning Man, etc.)

Returning to a three piece format in 2006, Zach Huskey started writing more tuned-down songs that sounded heavy, slow, and sludgy. The Huskeys and Robin Clewell headed into The Sanctuary recording studio with producer Scott Reeder to record their sixth CD, “Sweet Sludge.”

“They were out here a few weeks ago - tracked and mixed it in only four days! It was good to hang out again with my old pal Zach Huskey, who’s been a stalwart of the desert music scene since our high school days together. Along with his wife/bassist Erica and drummer Robin, Dali’s Llama have been working hard - hardcore DIY, and in it for all the right reasons - for the pure joy of making music. Zach’s always-thought-inspiring lyrics, coupled with epic song structures, are tossed off as if it’s no big deal. After a few listens, a deep appreciation develops for the love that goes into what they do together.” - Scott Reeder (Kyuss, The Obsessed, Goatsnake, etc.)

The band began playing a lot of shows again with bands such as Fatso Jetson, Dixie Witch, Sasquatch, House of Broken Promises, SuperGiant, Floating Goat, Putanesca (Joe Baiza’s band), and at festivals, such as SHoD VIII - the Stoner Hands of Doom Festival in Mesa, Arizona.

With heavier, thicker, and faster songs than on “Sweet Sludge," their next CD, “Full On Dunes,” blended their desert punk and heavy rock roots. With new drummer Jeff Howe, Dali’s Llama was joined by some old high school friends who made it out to the studio to make a guest appearance on this CD. Mario Lalli (from Fatso Jetson, Yawning Man and Desert Sessions), Sean Wheeler (Throw Rag, Sun Trash and Charley Horse), Joe Dillon (from Hot Beat Pussy Fiend) and last but not least Scott Reeder (producer, and bassist for Kyuss, The Obsessed, Goatsnake).

“...In a world where Stoner Rock seems to be getting a little stale, it is refreshing to hear a band play with such heart. Listen to the powerhouse of “King Platypus” you will see this band has the riffs and the groove that so many other desert rockers are lacking at the moment...This is a great album which begs the question: why isn't this band already Stoner, Desert Rock legends, I think in time this will happen. Buy it....” - Earthdog, HellrideMusicForums.com[5]

"Here is another album full of top-notch stoner/desert rock from this great band. This is some of the best of this style in a decade!…" - Mike Frame, Razorcake[6]

“Raw Is Real” returned to the core band with Zach, Erica and Jeff being joined by the band’s new second guitarist Joe Dillon and recorded once again at The Sanctuary with Scott Reeder. This cd took on a darker, heavier, angrier sound.

“... Raw is Real definitely lives up to its name, more ideologically than sonically. It sounds clean but there is a cynical bite to the lyrics of songs like “Theocracy” and the punkish “Grump” that, political or not, adds thematic heft to the proceedings and stands the album out among its predecessors. Dali’s Llama aren't the first to politicize stoner music to the extent they do so, but within the context of their work and in particular this record, there is a refreshing amount of honesty and forthrightness com- ing out in these songs. Hey, raw is real, right?... There's nothing inaccessible or off-putting at play with Dali’s Llama. They're just passionate about what they do - which is fortunate, because it means they'll hopefully be doing it for a long time to come. - H.P. Taskmaster, TheObelisk.net[7]

After releasing such a heavy CD, both sonically and emotionally, the Huskeys were ready for some fun. “Howl Do You Do?” in 2010 was just that - a lighthearted detour from the band’s current direction. Dali’s Llama showed its garage side (with a big heap of raw blues), combining hints of The Sonics, Music Machine, Nuggets, and The Yardbirds, with a more contemporary Fuzztones and The Damned influence. The Huskeys and Joe were joined by new drummer Craig Brown and a guest appearance by the album’s producer (and their old friend), Mikael Jacobson, on organ. Recorded at Audio Grande Studios, the live unpolished sixties psychedelia sound had Zach Huskey returning to his high school roots of the 80s.

“...Nothing wrong with a little trip to the chemistry lab! "Howl do you do?" is an experiment that works. Not as much of a departure from the band’s sound as I expected (riffs are still the trail boss on this wagon train), but the quicker, catchier song structures, heavy organ interplay, and the more jammed-out feel of the material sure do show another side to Dali’s Llama. This is a great rock n’ roll record. No two ways about it. It touches on the garage elements promised for damn sure, but also jacks up the free form, unpolluted classic rock elements to astronomical levels. As Deep Purple as it is the Damned, as The Doors as it is the Pixies, as Man’s Ruin as it is the Murder City Devils, and so on... On "Howl do you do?" Dali’s Llama rule the land where riffs are king, the blues are queen, and psychedelic bliss makes up the majority of the royal court. A record that any fan of good, incisive rock n’ roll (be it garage, classic, stoner, psych) should be able to get into! The legendary Skillet, also provides electrifying artistic imagery for you to sink your retinas into.” - Jay Snyder, HellrideMusic.com[8]]

After steadily releasing a Dali’s Llama album each year for five years, Dali’s Llama Records released a side project of Zach Huskey's - a band called OGRESSA. Huskey was joined by Trent Ramseyer (vocals) from Whores of Tijuana, Ian Dye (drums), from Ape Has Killed Ape, Mike Jacobson (bass) from Hot Beat Pussy Fiend, Scott Reeder (bass) from Kyuss, Goatsnake, The Obsessed, and on second guitar on a few tracks Joe Dillon - founder of Hot Beat Pussy Fiend. The Ogressa CD was named “Warts And All.” This is a very heavy-sounding album.

In 2012, Dali’s Llama released the album “Autumn Woods.” This album introduced new member Joe Wangler on 2nd guitar. “Autumn Woods” is still desert rock but with a heavy “doom metal” influence. This album was recorded in two and a half days at Dali’s Llama’s favorite studio, The Sanctuary, with Scott Reeder again engineering and producing the album.

"...After so many years together and with so much music recorded already, it is remarkable that Dali's Llama have still yet to make a wrong turn in their recording career. There is NO other stoner-ish band with this much consistently good music under their belts…" Ed & Sally, Doomantia[9]

At the Coachella Valley Music Awards in 2014: "...Special Trailblazer Awards were presented to two bands that came out of the generator scene and remain relevant. Zach and Erica Huskey of Dali’s Llama have self-recorded 20 albums. Unsound recently packed Schmidy’s Tavern despite a rare-for-this-desert $15 cover charge..." - Bruce Fessier, The Desert Sun[10]

Discography

Full Albums

Compilations

Filmography

Music Documentaries

Movie Soundtracks

Internet Series

Festivals

Awards

Line-Up

Current

Former Members

Guest Appearance

References

  1. ↑ Austin, Eleni P. "Dali's Llama Twenty Years Underground". Coachella Valley Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ “D.I.Y. Ethic Lives On - A Bountiful Bevy of Brilliant Basement Booty” Racer X, 2008-11-07
  3. ↑ Fessier, Bruce (June 30, 2014). "Zach Huskey offering variety show of desert sound". The Desert Sun.
  4. ↑ Sophia Possidon, FLIPSIDE
  5. ↑ “Dali’s Llama - Full On Dunes” Earthdog, Hellride.com 2009-03-15
  6. ↑ "Dali's Llama, Full On Dunes" Mike Frame, Razorcake
  7. ↑ “Dali’s Llama Keep it Raw,Also Real” The Obelisk 2009-11-24
  8. ↑ "Dali’s Llama – Howl Do You Do?" Jay Snyder, HELLRIDEMUSIC.COM 2010-8-22
  9. ↑ "Dali's Llama - "Autumn Woods" Ed & Sally, Doomantia December 19, 2012
  10. ↑ Fessier, Bruce (May 19, 2014). "Awards celebrate desert's music scene". The Desert Sun.
  11. ↑ Morgan, Lisa (May 15, 2014). "Zach and Erica Huskey - 2014 Trailblazers". Coachella Valley Weekly.
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