Dr. Dog welcomed back to the Bay Area with open arms

West Grove, Pennsylvania-based sextet Dr. Dog’s bona fide sound has permeated the ears and hearts of countless adoring fans for years. The band have been a mainstay of the American indie rock scene for more than a decade now and they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. With the recent release of new album The Psychedelic Swamp (2016) and announcement of an extensive North American tour, Dr. Dog push forward in their quest to create genuine and unpretentious rock music.

With a long list of cross-country performances ahead of them, Dr. Dog arrived at the Fox Theater Oakland last weekend backlit by a rainbow. The group brought their lo-fi rock to life onstage by opening with “How Long Must I Wait” and a myriad of voices serving as harmonious accompaniment for vocalists Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman.

Critics have long harped at Dr. Dog’s steadfast attachment to their signature late ’60s and early ’70s inspired sound. But it was clear, as the audience bounced up and down along with the steady riffs coming from McMicken’s oversized amplifier, that fans have not joined in on the complaints, unyieldingly dedicated to and solid in the genre and sound they know so well.