Dr. Dog @ 9:30 Club - 8/10/16
There’s something interesting about going to a Dr. Dog show. It’s not just the music that makes it worthwhile, it’s the fans as well. You can see it in the multitude of Dr. Dog beanies in the faithful crowd, with a local fanbase that supports annual shows and sold-out nights at the 9:30 Club. Their fans are some of the most dedicated around, and watching them perform on night one of two at 9:30 Club this go-around, you can see how they elevate a performance to an experience.
Part of the appeal is the playfulness that the band exudes whenever they perform – they clearly love giving the crowd a good show, and the crowd adores them for it. Bassist Toby Leaman practically levitates on stage, standing on his toes and passionately belting his lungs out on every song. Scott McMicken, on the guitar and sharing lead vocal duties, teeters between the lip of the stage and the lip of his amp when he’s pulling off an intricate guitar lick. Rhythm guitarist Frank McElroy brought a few chuckles by showing up on stage in sunglasses and a Dr. Dog shirt (a long-running gag for fans who’ve attended shows for years). And while drummer Eric Slick doesn’t share in the vocal duties, his drumming brings a level of intensity to the live show that goes beyond what their recorded outings offer. The band shines brightest during their well-loved four-piece harmonies, and their connection and response to fans was apparent in the encore – rather than sticking to a setlist, Dr. Dog ended their night with not one, but four song requests from the crowd. “Okay, what do you want to hear next?”
Dr. Dog performing at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC - 8/10/16 (photo by Mauricio Castro / @themauricio)
The band’s catalog is eight LPs strong now, and every time they come to D.C., they bring new songs and old favorites with enough sing-along harmonies and frenetic energy to satisfy every beanie-ensconsed fan in the very back of the house. Fan favorites like “Lonesome” and “Heart It Races” are given new life when played live, with the crowd adding another layer of energy. Maybe the reason fans love them so much is because they are very much a blue-collar band, constantly touring, releasing new music, and giving older songs a breath of fresh air. So next time you go, grab a Dr. Dog beanie - you’ll want to be properly dressed for the second, third, and ninth time you see them.
Boston indie rock band Palehound opened the show, and the NPR Tiny Desk Concert veterans combined rock and roll, blues, and garage rock into a unique sound that is slowly but surely finding an audience. Singer and guitarist Ellen Kempner lamented the soon-to-be loss of her dog, adding an extra layer of emotion to her songs of loss. But she kept the stage banter positive, humorously dedicating a song to a fan’s now-likely ex, Jed. Their debut album, “Dry Food”, is available for streaming and purchase through Exploding in Sound Records.
