Dr. Dog have a knack for immersing themselves in a world of warm and breezy California summers. Every minute of the band’s easygoing ’60s surf-pop is like a walk on the beach. Sugary harmonies stretch through the air, and the rhythms chug along at a pace perfect for sipping tall, cool lemonades. As the weather grows colder and wetter in Cleveland, we’ll be dreaming of this scenario, especially when the Philadelphia-based band (apparently you don’t have to be from warm climates to create sunny music) brings its sunny psychedelia to town tonight. Dr. Dog’s most recent album, Fate, is full of inspired songs like “The Old Days” (an infectious piano pounder with a catchy-as-hell repeated chorus) and “The Beach,” which laments rain and floods with old blues chords. With four other albums of material to choose from, it could be a long night of balmy tunes. Jeffrey Lewis opens the show with folk rock and picture books — he draws and sings about them — at 9 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom (15711 Waterloo Rd., 216.383.1124, beachlandballroom.com). Tickets: $12 advance, $14 day of show. — Danielle Sills
This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2009.
very nice and accurate review of Dr. dog. They are so fun to see Live.. Great, nice, laid back/”easy beat” guys that love their fans and love performing live.. They work hard and have been touring relentlessly and recording a new cd at the same time.. They just had a major label sign them (Anti-Records) and they had their song, “My Friend” from the FATE cd. on the TV movie trailer for the movie, “Funny People” with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen.. rumor is that Jonas Hill wears a Dr. Dog tee shirt in the movie!