Last night I went to the (supposedly haunted) Brookdale Lodge--about a 20-minute drive up windy, redwood-laden Highway 9 from Santa Cruz--to see Dr. Dog perform some songs.
It's been a while since I first discovered this band when MTV2's Subterranean played their video for "Fool's Life" while I was probably stoned late when evening, but, honestly, I can't say I'm that big a fan of the band.
It's actually pretty impressive, nearly every review I've read covering one of their albums starts off with a diatribe about how music critics aren't supposed to compare contemporary bands to The Beatles, but that Dr. Dog sound so alike they just can't resist making that link.
So, suffice to say I found it pretty ironic that some Beatles greatest hits record was playing in between sets.
ANYWAY, Jeffrey Lewis was on stage when I arrived, and unfortunately I didn't realize that he was as big in the indie (anti-folk, specifically) scene as I later read. However, it's hard to say that his time on stage was really anything more than a novelty act. I mean, when you can't even tune your own guitar it's hard to take you seriously as a musician.
However, just to say a nice word, the guy was clearly a clever lyricist, and apparently a pretty talented cartoonist, as well.
Despite my lukewarm feelings towards Dr. Dog, I had decided to go to this show because I had heard many times that they were a great live act. And as it turned out, that is completely true. Their set did drag a bit given that I didn't really know their song too well, and many of them have a similar tempo, but you've got to love well-executed three-part harmonies.
However, though I probably shouldn't judge bands for their fashion sense, it always bothers me when bands wear sunglasses indoors. I don't know why, but it does... particularly when you're dressed like Bob Dylan circa 1974.
ANYWAY, here is some Dr. Dog media: the video for "Fool's Life" and a live performance of "My Own Ways" on the show of some guy who committed sexual harassment:
It's been a while since I first discovered this band when MTV2's Subterranean played their video for "Fool's Life" while I was probably stoned late when evening, but, honestly, I can't say I'm that big a fan of the band.
It's actually pretty impressive, nearly every review I've read covering one of their albums starts off with a diatribe about how music critics aren't supposed to compare contemporary bands to The Beatles, but that Dr. Dog sound so alike they just can't resist making that link.
So, suffice to say I found it pretty ironic that some Beatles greatest hits record was playing in between sets.
ANYWAY, Jeffrey Lewis was on stage when I arrived, and unfortunately I didn't realize that he was as big in the indie (anti-folk, specifically) scene as I later read. However, it's hard to say that his time on stage was really anything more than a novelty act. I mean, when you can't even tune your own guitar it's hard to take you seriously as a musician.
However, just to say a nice word, the guy was clearly a clever lyricist, and apparently a pretty talented cartoonist, as well.
Despite my lukewarm feelings towards Dr. Dog, I had decided to go to this show because I had heard many times that they were a great live act. And as it turned out, that is completely true. Their set did drag a bit given that I didn't really know their song too well, and many of them have a similar tempo, but you've got to love well-executed three-part harmonies.
However, though I probably shouldn't judge bands for their fashion sense, it always bothers me when bands wear sunglasses indoors. I don't know why, but it does... particularly when you're dressed like Bob Dylan circa 1974.
ANYWAY, here is some Dr. Dog media: the video for "Fool's Life" and a live performance of "My Own Ways" on the show of some guy who committed sexual harassment:
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