What better way to welcome Dr. Dog to Southern California than with a sold out show at the Santa Ana’s Observatory? With an all ages crowd, the venue was packed to watch opening acts Shake It and the Babylon Sisters. Each band successfully accomplished getting the crowd to dance and get on the same weird level. Nevertheless, it was Dr. Dog who wrangled up everyone once they stepped on stage in support of their seventh studio album, B-Room. Both veteran and new fans of the Philadelphia based band inched closer as the time ticked closer for Dr. Dog to begin. The stage crew released a tarp, revealing the background visuals: a rainbow like visual with silver streamers.
Without missing a beat, psychedelic lights flooded the stage and entered all six band members. Bassist-vocalist Toby Leaman welcomed the crowd as they hollered back at him as the rest of the band opened with “These Days.” The indie rockers put on quite a show as their fans were adamant in crowd surfing, regardless of the signs from the venue warning against it. The mood took a turn for a blast from the past as “The Truth” took everyone within the Observatory travel back to the 1960s with a strong Motown influence. Those who were not bopping their heads to the beat had it all wrong. Dr. Dog kept their nostalgic sound with “Jackie Wants A Black Eye” from their album Shame, Shame. Nevertheless, it was back to those folk rock roots. At one point during “Lonesome,” Leaman stomped to the edge of the stage before diving into the crowd himself.
A little vintage florescent sign stage left of the band dimmed for what seemed to be a goodbye. However it lit right back up as Dr. Dog returned for an encore. One thing you can always count on Dr. Dog is their ability to put on a high energy show based on both new and old tracks from their records – leaving their fans with unsurpassed satisfaction.
Set List:
These Days
Love
Broken Heart
Ain’t It Strange
The Beach
Shadow People
Worst Trip
Heavy Light
Too Weak To Ramble
The Truth
That Old Black Hole
Cuckoo
Jackie Wants A Black Eye
Heart It Races (Architecture in Helsinki cover)
The Rabbit, The Bar and the Reindeer
Lonesome
Encore:
How Long Must I Wait
Nellie
Oh No
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