Sarah Hansell |
Imagine a bunch of white guys donning bright, primary-colored beanies and a couple of pairs of sunglasses, and a crowd of sweaty, hat and/or bandana-wearing fans with lots of big glasses making various hair statements (picture scruffy beards, dreads and overgrown surfer dude styles). Now add electrifying neon lighting that makes you feel like you’re in an under-the-sea psychedelia and the vague smell of marijuana, and you have Dr. Dog’s March 3 show at the Crystal Ballroom.
Amidst the sunshiny harmony, surfer hair and bro-tanks, I felt like I’d been transported to California and was watching a modern-day version of the Beach Boys, sped up and hipster-ified.
The best thing about the show was that I didn’t have to know any of the songs to feel like part of the energy of the manic fans in front of me hopping and head-bobbing with purpose and the entwined couples behind me nodding gently in time with the beat.
Most of Dr. Dog’s set was their new stuff, and the best of it came with their more soulful songs like “Lonesome” and the crowd’s vigorous refrain of “Nothing at all!” as they sang along with the band.
Dr. Dog isn’t my new favorite band, but they put on a fun show. Between disappearing into the crowd for a song to jumping all around the stage, the band kept the energy high, especially for a Monday night.
