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Friday Sept. 21 One thing we can say about young bands these days is there is no shortage of those eager to provide ongoing waves of uplift. Consider Dr. Dog high up on that list.
The Philadelphia-based band, co-led by singer guitarist Scott McMickenc and singer-bassist Toby Lea man played to a packed Paradise club, the first of two soldout shows. They return to town, at Royale Friday Sept. 21. It might not be fair to say Dr. Dog fears minor keys or downbeat twists, but the bouncy bunch is certainly happy to make sure everyone else is happy, too.
The quintet, aided by a touring percussionist/Dictaphone player Dimitri Manos, kept it pumping from the opening notes of “Stranger” to the closing songs, including “Shame, Shame” and “Jackie Wants a Black Eye.” In the latter they harmonized, “We’re all in it together now as we all fall apart.”
No doubt they meant it as group bonding. But fall apart? How? In the song – and throughout the 90-minute set – they made only nodding passes to songs that weren’t written in the key of grandeur.
That said, Dr. Dog, as is oft noted, incorporates some of the best elements of the three Bs, the Beatles, Beach Boys and the Band. Their harmony vocals are particularly sharp and they ably juxtapose sections within songs. In that sense, their material is both catchy and vaguely neo-psychedelic. A brightly colored collage, a swirl of sound reminiscent of the Flaming Lips most accessible side.
But for all the quirks, Dr. Dog ultimately played it straight down the middle. Half of the 22-song set came from the just-released “Shame, Shame,” their fourth proper CD and most-produced to date. The conflict or quasi-ennui of “Later,” “Someday” and “Station” was buried under the glossy layers of vocals, guitars, drums and keyboards. They were like MGMT, but without the no-safety-net sense of adventure or edge.
Effervescence can take you a ways, but there reaches a point when all the primary colors run together and take on the same shiny hue.
Tix: $20. Show starts at 7. Cotton Jones opens at Royale. 279 Tremont St., 617-896-8922 www.royaleboston.com |
