Hacking it in the music industry is a hit or miss venture, just ask Al Macdonald, drummer of local band Moon Dawg.
“Not many people can get to where we are right now,” Macdonald said. “Bands almost always fall short.”
Moon Dawg began in some form about five years ago. The ensemble was complete last year, when Macdonald joined the band, replacing the groups first drummer who decided to take his career in a different direction.
With three self-produced, self-released CDs and over 100 shows under their belts, Macdonald has every right to boast.
“Moon Dawg is a limited liability company,” he said. “We take care of marketing and everything.”
The drive that he saw in the band was what ultimately persuaded him to join.
“The fact that they had two CDs before I joined made me know they were really serious,” Macdonald said.
Three of the four members of Moon Dawg, including Macdonald, are Winona State University alumni, and Macdonald’s father is Dr. R. Richard Macdonald, the jazz director at Winona State. Because of this, Macdonald said he has been immersed in music his entire life.
He recalled a time when he was younger and received his first CD player from his father, with a Led Zeppelin CD included.
“My biggest influence is my dad, no question,” Macdonald said.
Other influences he listed were Jimi Hendrix’s drummer Mitch Mitchell, Tool drummer Danny Carey, Dave Matthews Band drummer Carter Beauford, as well as jazz greats like Buddy Rich and Max Roach.
For the past eight months, Moon Dawg has been recording, prepping, creating artwork for and pressing their new CD.
All funds used to release the CD came from the 50+ shows the band played in 2007.
The CD was recorded from May to July at Two Fish Studios in Mankato, Minn.
As of right now, Moon Dawg is not shopping for a label.
“There is not very much a label can do for us at this point,” said Macdonald. “Our CD is paid for.”
They are, however, looking for a publicist and/or booking agent.
They begin touring in March, with eight shows planned over a period of a week and a half located at different places between here and Austin, Texas. Dates are still being booked, and a professional booking agent could help them.
“Show promoters change so often,” Macdonald said. “Once you get an in with one, the venue hires a new one.”
They hosted a CD release party Saturday at the Draught Haus in Winona, Minn. which the band spent four months planning, according to Macdonald.