Zach Stephenson has come a long way since he was playing AC/DC covers in Wollongong, New South Wales. Though he still lives in the Australian coastal town, the singer and guitarist has been able to perform all over the world as a member of Hockey Dad. Since his garage rock band’s formation in 2013, Stephenson and his longtime bandmate and friend Billy Fleming have released two albums (both of which have climbed the Australian charts), put out a well-received EP, achieved notoriety in their home country, and have also found an audience in other continents.
Back in December, while headlining a brief North American tour, Hockey Dad stopped in Milwaukee to perform at The Back Room @ Colectivo. There, Stephenson took some time before the show to meet My First Band host Tyler Maas in the green room for a quick run-through of Hockey Dad’s current happenings, the band’s formation, and his other early musical efforts. Along the way, they talked about Stephenson’s stint in Abstract Classic, Hockey Dad’s Simpsons-related name, and much more in the relatively tight pre-show window.
My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. Music used in this show comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Hockey Dad (“I Missed Out”). If you wish to help the countless animals that have been injured and displaced by Australia’s recent wildfires, please consider sending a donation to WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue.