DR. DOG plays The Observatory/North Park Feb. 20
Imagine driving down a long, empty road in the night as you stare out the window at the stars and hear the very subtle sound of your radio turned way down. That head-bobbing, comforting feeling of being alone but not lonely as you grab the volume knob and crank it way up to hear your favorite part of the song. That’s the exact serene and oh-so-perfect feeling you get when listening to Dr. Dog.
The six-piece, Philly-based band has an almost-folk, pseudo-futuristic twang that many indie bands aspire to. Dr. Dog will be reaching the Observatory/Santa Ana on Jan. 29 and Observatory/North Park Feb. 20, bringing along their electric vibes that dance through those who listen.
The band’s members Toby Leaman, Scott McMicken, Frank McElroy, Zach Miller, Eric Slick and Dimitri Manos play a diverse array of instruments, such as the banjo and omnichord, that each song has such a distinct style to itself. Dr. Dog can’t be contained by one genre, but rather touches base in all, from folk to pop to psychedelic to indie.
Although most bands use new material to move forward, Dr. Dog will be re-releasing their first album The Psychedelic Swamp on Feb. 5 with an updated and more enticing live-performance sound.
Dr. Dog is a band you get lost listening to, the kind of band that, somehow, you manage to never want to skip a song. Their most recent album, B-Room, follows the psychedelic trend and gives listeners that old Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club vibe with the ahead-of-their-time sounds that can’t quite be pinpointed as a specific instrument.
The song “The Truth” from B-Room is the starting point to a great album, giving a strong (and pretty immediate) feeling of nostalgia for absolutely no reason. Be warned, when you listen to this band you no longer have control over yourself, you will be swaying back and forth feeling like you’ve somehow known their music your whole life.
Along with beautiful songs, Dr. Dog’s music videos for B-Room, released through ANTI- Records, perfectly match the already-nostalgic feel by having a 90’s-home video look to it. Dr. Dog has gone from album-to-album capturing a distinct feeling that always pulls in their broadening fanbase.
Keep an eye out for the new/old album and definitely be ready for a live performance that not only keeps your attention with unmistakable Dr. Dog-sound, but gives you a sense of unity with the rest of the crowd.