Dr. Dog have been a band for over a decade now, Philadelphia-based throughout. Their hometown hasn't factored much into their sound, which throws back to the Beatles-era of the classic rock school, or their themes and lyrical schemes. That's changed with "Shadow People," the first single form the band's forthcoming, fifth LP Shame, Shame, a track they've called a "full-on West Philly diary." The sound's the same, decidedly not of their hometown in this time or even a past one, but the scenes painted by guitarist vocalist Scott McMicken are documenting his neighborhood, now, a section of Philly that can be shoddy, dangerous, and artistically vibrant, in turns but often at once. He says:
It's a weird, insular little community, and there's a lot going on and a lot of crazy, flamboyant characters and a lot of porch life and coffee shops. But for me, it was kind of overwhelming, and I had overextended myself into the lives of a lot of wacky people, because those are the type of people that I gravitate towards the most. But sometimes I bite off more than I can chew and get taken advantage of. I was exhausted with my neighborhood and I let it into me a little too much ... Philly has been such a big part of our lives, and I feel like on this record it finally took over and made its way into our music. There's a line that says, "I stole a bike from the Second Mile and saw a band play in the basement." The Second Mile is this thrift around the corner from my house, and there's so many basement shows in West Philly, like noisy, artsy bands. I wanted to write something about the people and places around me.
It's here:
Dr. Dog's Shame, Shame is out 4/6 via Anti-. MMJ's Jim James turns up for some vocals on this record, so keep ears out. As far as tours go, Dr. Dog's in for Bonnaroo, and a lot of other dates, too:
02/09 - Rock Island, IL @ Rock Island Brewing Co. #
02/10 - Cleveland, OH # @ Case Western University #
02/11 - Bloomington, IN @ Video Saloon #
02/12 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall #
02/13 - State College, PA @ State Theatre #
04/14 - Toronto, Ont. @ Lee's Place
04/15 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
04/16 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
04/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
04/19 - Aspen, CO @ Belly Up
04/20 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
04/22 - Boise, ID @ Neuolux
04/23 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
04/24 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
04/25 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
04/27 - Los Angeles, CA@ Henry Fonda *
04/29 - Santa Fe, NM@ Santa Fe Brewing Company *
04/30 - Dallas, TX @The Loft *
05/01 - Austin, TX @ Emo's Outside *
05/02 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Studio *
05/03 - Fayetteville, AR @ Majestic *
05/05 - Birmingham, AL @ Workplay *
05/06 - Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom *
05/07 - Louisville, KY @ Headliners *
05/11-12 - Boston, MA @ Paradise *
05/13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
05/14 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club *
05/15 - New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *
05/23 - Berlin, Germany @ Magnet
05/24 - Koln, Germany @ Blue Shell
05/25 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
05/26 - London, England @ Tabernacle
05/27 - Paris, France @ Nouveau Casino
05/29 - Barcelona, Spain (Primavera Sound)
06/11-13 Manchester, TN (Bonnaroo)
# w/ The Growlers
* w/ Deertick
