POSTED: Monday, February 14, 2011, 9:00 PM
 |
| Photo | Massimo Pulcini |
|
"We're all in this together now as we all fall apart, and we're swapping little pieces of out broken little hearts." With the crowd singing along, that was the final chorus that rang out at the end of local psychedelic rock band Dr. Dog's show last Friday night at the Electric Factory.
West Philly's Dr. Dog played to a sold out crowd, a show that was a homecoming concert for them and an opportunity to give back to the city that has supported them since their humble beginning in 1999. Touring in support of their latest record,
Shame, Shame, the band is a blend of classic psychedelic rock with folky intangibles, resulting in a truly unique sound. Bassist Toby Leaman and guitarist Scott McMicken lead the group in terms of singing and song writing, with Zach Miller (keyboards), Eric Slick (drums), and Frank McElroy (rhythm guitar) supporting with the band's trademark Beatles-esque harmonies.
 |
| Photo | Massimo Pulcini |
|
The show started in an almost cult-like environment as the stage was adorned with abstract stain glass art that emitted a strange yet awe-inspiring light. As the band entered the stage, tribal hymns were piped through the sound system and the crowd greeted them with deafening applause. I felt as though I was entering the Temple of Dr. Dog and was about to take part in a right of passage or ritual into the band's world. The opening note was the monotone ring of Miller's organ as McMicken cried out the first line of "I Only Wear Blue," one of the more memorable tracks off the new record. It only got better from that point as Dr. Dog pleased the crowd with songs off all their records. The set featured a great balance of slower songs ("I Only Wear Blue," "Shadow People," and "The Breeze") and fast jams ("The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer," "Stranger," and "Mirror Mirror") that kept the entire venue swaying and jumping the entire night. Some memorable tunes were the band's cover of Architecture in Helsinki's "Heart It Races" (complete with an interpretive dance performance by a friend of the band), "The Ark," and "The Beach." The latter two songs are two more sinister tracks from the album
Fate, and Leaman cried out every lyric with a fiery passion that filled up the entire building and ran down my spine like a serpent made of ice. At one point in the show Leaman's dad (pictured right) came out to sing a song with the group and afterward the entire Electric Factory sang "Happy Birthday" to the bassist's mother who was celebrating the next day. To close the night, the band brought their close friends and family onto the stage to sing "Jackie Wants a Black Eye." The real Jackie was present as McMicken strummed his banjo and led the building in song. He went on to say that these people were the real reasons he loves Philly.
Overall, Dr. Dog put on one of the most remarkable shows I've ever witnessed in my life. Unlike some bands who sound nothing like they do on their albums, Dr. Dog was even better live. They extended certain songs with epic psychedelic jams and solos that seemingly lasted forever and sucked the audience into a trippy haze. The group did a great job sending across their own message and brand of psychadelia to the audience and helped the crowd see the show through acid washed eyes and ears. It was the passion that the band had for their music and their fans that really drew in the audience. Though the band was playing a relatively smaller venue, they were performing in a way that was larger than life, and each group member had a special connection with the crowd that brought the hometown energy through the roof. The band was also very relatable, making the crowd feel like they were a part of the Dr. Dog family.
 |
| Photo | Massimo Pulcini |
|
