REVIEW: Dr. Dog @ The Mann Center
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WRITTEN BY: Alana Beltran
After about three years, the Philadelphia native band, Dr. Dog, returned to the Mann Center for a night of indie rock and nostalgia.
In June of 2021, the group announced that they were retiring from touring after their fall tour titled: “Last Tour”. The band wrote via Instagram: “Done touring for good! … it’s important to us that you understand that this is not a break up or anything like that. We don’t know what Dr. Dog will do, we just know it won’t include going on tour, except for this tour we’re announcing now, which is going to rule.”
But, three years after this post, Dr. Dog announced they were ready to go on tour again. Unsurprisingly, the Pavillion was packed in 90-degree weather with over 10,000 fans, a group of multigenerational people for the group reunion on Saturday, July 13th.
The veteran indie band opened with their most popular and unforgettable song “Where’d All The Time Go?” which resonates with new and longtime fans. This song brings a feeling of wistfulness and looking back, evoking the sentimental melodies’ bittersweet feelings and memories of what was left behind. Their voices shimmered across the audience marking the beginning of an unforgettable set.
The hypnotizing guitar pattern followed this feeling in “Survive” from the comfort album, Abandoned Mansion released in 2017. Song after song, lead guitarist Scott McMicken, and bassist Toby Leaman shared their vocal brilliance and harmonized beautifully. The band’s intricate studio work and dense vocal layers were brought to life onstage by Asheville singers Alyse Baca, Dulci Ellenberger, and Becca Nicholson in a way that had never been seen before and brought warmth to the ears.
Fans were levitated not just by the vocals, but during McMickens and Frank McElroy guitar solos. Specifically entrancing was the the live performance of “Abandoned Mansion” from their album, Abandoned Mansion. As well as “Say Something” from their 2005 album Easy Beat.
On Dr. Dogs’ upcoming album, drummer Erick Slick gives his very first vocal performance with the group. He gave the audience a taste of it live with the heartfelt tune “Tell Your Friends.” The drummer with a newfound voice reminisced about growing up in Fairmount and visiting the Mann Center at the age of 2; 35 years ago to see his first concert, Ringo Starr & his All-Star Band in 1988.
Their twelfth self-titled album is available on July 19th. Fans could buy the vinyl a few days early at the concert, and if patrons arrived early to the venue, they were lucky enough to hear the record played over the PA.
Honestly, I was a bit skeptical before listening to it. I was unsure if it would compare to their previous records. The group has released so many songs that owned their recognizable sound it made me wonder if they could do it again for a 12th time. But this album is without a doubt, beautiful. It follows the group’s already folk-alternative sound and mixes it with cool, groovy, and almost psychedelic melodies. This new album has a little bit of everything on it for everyone.
If you are familiar with Dr. Dogs’ discography, you are aware of how far they have come as artists, not just as a group, but individually. This show was significant to the fact that they have been playing and performing for over two decades, making their way through bigger venues and gaining more revenue.
As a longtime fan, I truly hope we do not need to wait another three years to hear from Dr. Dog. I believe that everyone needs to experience this group live at least once.
Setlist:
Where’d All The Time Go?
Survive
Ain’t It Strange
Abandoned Mansion
Listening In
These Days
The Breeze
Talk is Cheap
Say Something
The Beach
How Long Must I Wait?
Nellie
Tell Your Friends
Shadow People
Broken Heart
Go Out Fighting
Buzzing In The Light
Jim Song
Can She Dance
That Old Black Hole
Army Of Ancients
The Rabbit, The Bat, and The Reindeer
Encore:
The Truth
Shame, Shame
Heart It Races
Jackie Wants A Black Eye
Lonesome
