Walking up to the Mercury lounge, I am taken aback by the line of more then forty people waiting to get in on a mild Friday night. Having seen countless shows at this NYC venue over the years I can’t recall a lineup outside like this before. Surely this was a testament to the drawing power of West Philly’s own Dr. Dog, who were conducting their first Northeast headlining tour. For those reading this across the pond who might be checking out the Clap Hands Say Yeah! Tour in the coming month, my advice to you is, get in early, you do not want to miss the opportunity to see Dr. Dog in the opening role, they just might steal the show.
Looking like Mike Nesmith’s fan club, this five piece hit the stage just before midnight in silly wool hats, but the sweltering club had already served to warm them up. They collided into the music sans introduction, if there was any doubt about the energy and excitement in the room, it was obliterated under the first notes of the majestic show opener “Say Something.” The band who goes by their coded names are: TAXI: guitar, vocals, TABLES: bass, vocals, TEXT: keyboards, guitar and vocals, TURBO: trapset, vocals, THANKS: guitars, vocals.
Their most recent studio album, Easy Beat, with it’s sparse recording, plays like a work in progress and bit of a downer at that, but once on stage the Dr. Doggers are just the opposite, percolating with passion and harmony. The singing is cohesive and honest with different members taking turns on the stick. Lyrically, they approach topics like isolationism and summer BBQ’s with the same revelry, shooting unique vocal flares at all of their targets, hitting and burning with their tone and words. For those who haven’t checked in with the Doctor live, think of an ossified version of White Album era Beatles, with pinches of Queen arena rock, Steely Dan cool, and a side order of 50’s surf style. Big comparisons sure, but the Dog deserves them.
They had the crowd stoked with tunes such as “Fools Life” which cackles (while copping a bass line from “Can’t Turn You Loose”) and “The World May Never Know” which floats on a belly full of tequila in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Dog perpetuate a democratic group sound that bounces along, at times falling into angular breakdowns, with a screech of a Gibson, or a descending twinkle of keys.
The show held many highlights; one being the multi-part acidscape called “Oh No” complete with “ba-daba-dum”’s and “La-la-La”’s. Another was the set-closing, beer stein swinging sing-along, “Wake Up,” which was a perfect sentiment, for extending a night that was on its way to the next morning. The only drawback at this concert was the low piano in the house mix, which at times was lost amongst the numerous crescendos. Overall though, Dr. Dog’s first NYC headlining show was a raging success and these Phd’ers should be around to fill the ‘scripts of eager crowds for years.
