Dooga Dooga

Fate was my 3rd favorite album in 2008, but I hadn’t been able to catch up with Dr.Dog live until last night at the High Noon Saloon — Luckily they didn’t let a little trouble on the road stop them from getting up here to Wisconsin for this sold out show.

The band wasn’t overly talkative on stage, instead playing a ton of great music — Many of the crowd favorites from Fate (listen on LaLa), while also giving some sneak peaks at Shame Shame (due in April).  I’m really looking forward to that new disc after hearing those tracks live last night – sounded like some really strong stuff and it’ll be interesting to see if they keep a similar overall recording vibe to Fate with the recording.  I’d have to imagine they’d stay in that vein after having that much success.

Here’s one of the new ones, played the night before we saw them in Milwaukee:

uploaded by dephot, found via Muzzle Of Bees

As with many bands these days that are depending on 2-3 levels of layered vocals – if they can execute ‘em live, it’s a great show, and if not… well… we didn’t have to worry about it: they pulled it off masterfully.  Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken have some serious chops as they alternate lead vocals on various songs and while I had assumed the two would be the primary source of backup vocals for each other, Frank McElroy actually fills that role quite often (and very well, I might add).   I suppose in hindsight, with the way those to have to completely commit to belting out those lead parts, they probably literally couldn’t sing every song every night.

Only complaint of the night: 1 song encore.  I’m not a huge encore fan anyway (just don’t really see the point of walking off the stage when everyone in the building knows you’re coming right back), but since you have to do it anyway… why not just save a couple songs for it.

… and no Dr.Dog post on this blog would be complete without a link to my alltime favorite Tiny Desk Concert