This post is from Out the Other's 2010 Bonnaroo Artist Previews, where I will be posting previews of all the musical acts playing the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Please check out and subscribe to the full site to learn more about all of this year's performers.
I'm trying to restrict myself to only listening to Bonnaroo acts these days, just to keep me on track with this previewing business, which means when I'm out of the range of my laptop, I keep turning on the new Dr. Dog album. I can't help it - Shame, Shame is proving to be one of the most repeat listen-friendly records of 2010, and it's even joining the ranks of 2007's We All Belong in my mind. Which is, you know, saying a lot, cause that album was my introduction to the band and I'm freaking in love with it.
Let's do a Dr. Dog primer, cause this is mostly what these preview posts are supposed to be about. Formed around 1999/2000, the Philadelphia band is currently a five-piece, consisting of Toby Leaman (bass), Scott McMicken (lead guitar), Frank McElroy (rhythm guitar), Zach Miller (keyboard) and Eric Slick (drums); a handful of other members have come and gone. The span of their six-album career reflects a slight transition from the lo-fi experimental side of things to the more richly produced straightforward pop, but overall they play the kind of shambling, be-hatted and sunglass-ed, harmony-laden, '60's-influenced Baroque psychedelic indie pop that the kids go crazy for these days. And I would argue that they do it best.
The band's been going strong these days - their first album on Anti-, the aforementioned Shame, Shame, charted at #44 earlier this year, which is pretty impressive for a band that damn near no one knew about a few years ago. Fortunately for us, increased popularity means pretty steady touring, and after you make a point to see Dr. Dog at this year's Bonnaroo, you can probably catch them in your hometown again sometime soon.
"Shadow People"
"Jackie Wants a Black Eye"
Dr. Dog will play the Other Tent on Friday from 4-5:15 p.m.
I strongly encourage you to have a listen to Frank Turner. He's amazing if you're at Bonnaroo, you need to go see him perform. He's at his very best live.
Posted by: katt | Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 09:03 AM
Just a note/correction. The drummer for the past ten years and on all of the Dr. Dog albums including "Shame, Shame" and pictured above in the front of the photo is Juston Stens. Eric Slick just joined the band after "Shame, Shame" was recorded.
Posted by: phil phans | Friday, June 18, 2010 at 08:34 AM