Dr. Dog
Photos by Chris Kocher
I can’t attest to being a Dr. Dog diehard. But my appreciation for them, however casually, began over a decade ago due to their cover of an obscure track called “Heart it Races” by the now defunct band Architecture in Helsinki. I had more recently been drawn to them by their latest LP, Critical Equation, which dropped back in 2018. I don’t quite recall the circumstances surrounding that release, but for whatever reason the record didn’t hold my attention; I digested it quickly and immediately sought my next feast. I find that to be a shame really - all too often great records are slid under the rug because there just isn’t enough limelight for everyone. I say this, to illustrate and admit just how out of touch I was regarding this group - and perhaps remind myself to stop and smell the flowers more often.
Surrounding this sold out four night run at The Independent, the fervor for tickets to these shows began to percolate to the surface. I suppose I wasn’t alone in underestimating this band, because a fair amount of people didn't anticipate this run to sell out - Remarkably, the band promised a unique set each evening. With no repeats the incentive was high to attend more than one night if not all four. There was a line up the block before doors opened.
Upon entering the venue, you couldn’t help but feel at home; a certain familiarity washed over the entire crowd, like hanging out with a group of old friends and falling right back in with them effortlessly. Many members of the audience were already proudly rocking merch from previous nights. By the time the opening band came on, the room was more than half full.
The audience was still settling in and chatting, but almost immediately quieted down to accommodate Michael Nau and his band - who opened the evening boldly with a quiet acoustic tune. Despite hitting the stage with nervous energy, the band hit it's stride rather quickly and delivered a great opening performance. The proper vibes were set, and the crowd was primed for the third night of Dr. Dog.
The band emerged from the green room and immediately got to work - opening with "Living a Dream" from 2015's Takers and Leavers. I was immediately enamored with the dynamic of the band - Toby Leaman plays bass, and Scott McMicken lead guitar - both trade off on frontman/ vocal duties almost every song. The rest of the band contributed to vocal harmonies. The true back bone of the band however was, the man in the back - whose name seems to elude my social media sleuthing - he alternated between guitar, bass, keys and slide guitar as the evening demanded it and never disappointed!
I was taken aback by how adept the entire band was at adapting a setlist they hadn't played the night before - "no repeats" is no small feat for a band, but Dr. Dog took it in stride. Over the course of four nights at The Independent, Dr. Dog played over 70 tracks from a catalogue that span more than a decade. Its no wonder they have amassed a dedicated fanbase.
They ended up playing "Heart It Races" night two - so my dreams to hear the track live were dashed before I even arrived. Im stoked to say however, that it didn't even matter. Dr. Dog and their crowd had the ability to make every moment feel special. It's tough to stand out as a touring act these days with so much demanding your attention and energy; Dr. Dog's stint at The Independent was the perfect reminder to stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and enjoy life for what it is.
