Dr. Dog @ Mercury Lounge: Year of the Dr. Dog?

Tonight, the boys from Philly re-started that train. Destination: acceptance in the music community. Heck, maybe they can finally quit their day jobs and not go back to their old ways.

For years, the guys have had the backing of such luminaries as the Strokes, CYHSY, Wilco, Jack White, New Pornographers and My Morning Jacket -- touting them as band that will blow your mind. Hey, I don't need those bands to tell me what their deal is.

The band road tested new material from their third properly released album, Fate, which will be out on Park the Van records on July 22. As the band acknowledged and said, "We recorded some new material. In the process, we've forgotten how to play our old stuff." No way, these guys are just going to knock some socks off this year. The new material had people cheering, screaming and wondering what the new songs are called. It began with a spacey, psych jam called "Ark" (I think) which sounds like some music Glenn Frye use to score for Miami Vice, very blues-like and mellow with high-pitched guitar notes. The five-piece spent the first song pacing the stage and building momentum.

Other tracks had some big time pop melodies very much in line with the Dr. Dog sound. Somewhere between Brian Wilson, The Band, Neil Young and Philly doo-wop lies Dr. Dog's ramshackle sound. Of course, the old material from We All Belong and Easy Beat still resonates with fun grooves and foot-stomping jams.

As leaders of the new Philly music scene, Dr. Dog is poised for some stardom I think. Maybe Fate will do to the Dog as Z did for My Morning Jacket. Nothing but good can come from it. I count down the days until it arrives in my hand.

Previously:

• Dr. Dog at 2007's Siren Festival
• The guys meet the Philly Phantic
• The new Philly music scene

As a funny note, the Park the Van label were giving away old Teeth CDs at the merch table. Tee hee

Comments

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these guys are THE best!! must still listen to their old stuff.... MUST see them LIVE to appreciate them...