Dr. Dog

Lost: Peace, Love and Happiness in Rock and Roll music. Found: Dr. Dog.

Ok, the idea that Peace, Love and Happiness is lost in rock music today is clearly a wrong and exaggerated statement, but Dr. Dog pours everything out of themselves to make sure you feel that after seeing them live.


Last weekend D Man and I thoroughly enjoyed back-to-back nights of the Dog, reveling in great harmonies, sing-alongs, and epic musicianship. They were one of the bands (like Phoenix) that I wanted to see the past couple years but somehow always couldn't go when they came to town. Seeing the Philly-based group live only confirmed what so many people already know. I took many pictures, and hopefully I can post them soon but for now here is a clip of their tour kick off from this past weekend:


I heard from many friends that Dr. Dog plays to a very intimate setting (some occasions giving out free pizza, and during a special recording for 100 people they waited for a kid to go to the bathroom before they resumed their encore).

If there is one knock I have, it really isn't a knock. I just wonder where they could possibly go from here! After the second set, I left questioning how they couldn't reach larger audiences (not that bands need to), but they are a band that everyone could enjoy, IF they heard them. They have such a loyal following, and I think that adds to the appeal of the band. All of the free loving extends to everyone in the crowd, and yes, I know that sounds like a hippie, but who cares? Walking through the crowd, I met some really nice people, and everyone was pleasant to each other. Whether you were lost in the moment signing and jumping with the band, or standing quietly with a significant other, everyone got along. Too many times a show is ruined by that one drunk kid, or people barging into each other to cut into the line, but not this show.

I also thought, in the same regard of reaching large audiences, that if Kings of Leon has such a mainstream following, that Dr. Dog, are in some sense, very similar. D Man remarked that they don't have the stadium sound of Kings of Leon, but I would argue that a few of their songs (The Ark and The Beach to name two) definitely has that classic rock epic-ness (not a word, I know) to a huge crowd, reminding me a little of King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man.

They have too many good songs, and they use their two singers very very well. Toby, the bassist, goes out of his way to try to break his vocal chords matching the passion and spirit in the guitar riffing (he sometimes leads into song as a preacher, which evoked to me a combination J. Giles and old school soul singers) while Scott counters with his beautiful melodies wielding the soft nature of the music.

The Dcist has a good review of the show this past weekend, and references the Beatles-esque attributes of the band, which might come off as too much, but honestly, if you listen to a few of the albums it really does make sense.

Without posting about 10 or more links below of my favorite songs (not many bands can do that on a consistent basis on many of their albums - Pearl Jam anyone?), and I have gone back and forth on which album I like better (still can't choose), so I've got this groove shark playlist below combining the three albums.


Click here to listen. Warning: You might fall in love with this band.