Zed go Hollywood

Young New Zealand band Zed are on the international campaign trail. YVETTE ADAMS reports from Los Angeles.

They're choice, eh?" says a young woman with the tell-tale I'm-a-Kiwi fish-hook bone-carving around her neck.

"We drove all the way down from Santa Barbara to see this," she gushes.

The four Kiwi expats accompanying her nod in agreement and chug on their Budweisers. I do too - a toast to Zed's first American gig at Johnny Depp's Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood.

Being the only New Zealanders (apart from Matthew Ridge's wife, Sally, Zed's manager, Ray Columbus, model Kelly Watson and a couple of crew) in an audience of sophisticated American record-label tycoons and media, it's almost incumbent on us to cheer them on as they belt out their hits, Renegade Fighter, Driver's Side, Glorifillia.

Zed look fresh, and sound just like they do on debut album Silencer, all radio-friendly infectious pop, catchy melodies and sweet harmonies.

Watching them, you're filled with an overwhelming sense of hope - you can't help but think that these four guys in their early 20s are destined for something big.

It's hard to tell who the people from Zed's American label Interscope are in the dim light of the Viper Room. But the majority of those out front seem to like what they see and smile fondly at the band, as if they were promising nephews performing at a school rockquest.

Barbie-doll groupie types, scattered around the place, try to look alluring while swaying to music that is presumably new to their ears. The Zed boys take it all in their stride.

Earlier that the day, as they bask in the sun by the pool of their Hollywood hotel, while Bob Marley blares out of dread-locked guitarist Andy Lynch's room, they look more like Kiwi surfies in Whangamata than up-and-coming rock stars.

Despite their laidback appearance they are focused on the task ahead.

"We're basically trying to get our record label, Interscope, to be excited about Silencer," explains bassist Ben Campbell. "We want to let them know what we're all about, and prove to them we can cut it live as well as on an album, and that we have what it takes to break the US and Europe market. It's really early days yet but Interscope have to be 100 per cent behind us for us to really go forward."

As crazy as it seems, even with the backing by the same record label as Eminem, Sting and Dr Dre, and with the most popular local album in New Zealand last year, none of the boys has a bulging wallet.

"Basically we're a slave to the record company," says guitarist and lead singer Nathan King.

"I don't mean that in a bad way, but how it works is they take a royalty till we're square from all the publicity and distribution of our albums. So even though we've made money along the way, we still owe them and will continue to pay it back from doing gigs. So, if we can break the market in places where the exchange rate is more favourable, we'll be able to pay it back quicker."

Hence they are looking forward to the gig after the Viper Room showcase - London.

"Europe is as important a market to us as the US," explains Campbell. We've been given the exact same opportunity in Europe as we have in the US, a showcase gig and all that's associated with that, and in some ways it would be even nicer to crack that market. We're all really intrigued by bands who come from there and can't wait to give it a try," he says.

Even with all the hard work on tour, they've found time to act like rock stars. They bumped into Australian group, Killing Heidi, who they played with at a Big Day Out. One thing led to another.

"We invited them over to our hotel and got stuck into the mini bar," Campbell admits sheepishly. "Man, the exchange rate kills!" he laments over his generosity.

Somehow, over the course of the night, members of the band managed to unhinge the front door of their hotel room and be evicted from the hotel spa pool.

"We had to board it up [the door] with suitcases and our gear and laptops," laughs Campbell.

"And every time they asked us to get out of the spa we would get out, then as soon as they had gone, we'd get back in. I don't think they like us very much around here." The others smirk.

Whether Zed manage to break Europe or the UK, they still have good things awaiting them on their return Down Under. In August they are booked to play six shows in Australia and one in Auckland, as support to British band Coldplay. All four band members regard this opportunity as "a biggie."

"Chris Martin, the lead singer from Coldplay watched our set from back stage at Big Day Out over summer but we didn't know," says Campbell.

"Thank God we didn't," shrieks Lynch.