Photo by MARY LYNN DOMINGUEZ
Last night Philly natives Dr. Dog threw down an epic, no-holds-barred, all-stops-pulled tour de force sold-out show that served as a fitting finale to the band’s two-night homecoming stand at the Electric Factory. Decked out in their trademark Skittles-colored beanies and cheap sunglasses, the Dog played a seemingly endless 18-song set, followed by a six-song encore, that took long pulls from their newish album B-Room, with smaller sips from their older vintages stretching all the way back to their 2002 debut, Toothbrush. The beard-y six-piece seemed to be having the proverbial time of their lives cranking out one cheery-sounding folk-rocker after another all dressed up in sunburst harmonies, psychedelic twists and assorted magic jingly noise makers. While still-as-water singer-songwriter-guitarist Scott McMicken carried the vocal lead for the majority of the show, it was the ants-in-his-pants theatrics of singer-songwriter-bassist Toby Leaman that kept the crowd’s energy up. At one point after “The Beach,” Dr. Dog stepped away from the microphones, kicked back on the stage and played a few minutes of what could only be described as an interlude of elevator music. Obviously comfortable with the all-ages capacity crowd, similarly attired in ski caps and flannel shirts, Leaman then jumped down from the stage to crowd-surf, and later McMicken sang “Twilight” while dramatically lying flat on his back on the stage. It was all fun and games and sweet sounds until the encore when Dr. Dog was joined onstage by the Phillies’ Phanatic and the crowd went ballistic as the green furry one twerked along to what was left of the band’s stoner-friendly songbook. Didn’t see that one coming. Undoubtedly, the Phanatic’s appearance dovetailed nicely with the palpable Philly pride that was buzzing through the air at the Electric Factory last night as the band closed with a triumphant “The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer,” leaving the audience sweaty, slanted and enchanted. — MARY LYNN DOMINGUEZ
SET LIST
The Truth
These Days
That Old Black Hole
Broken Heart
Ain’t it Strange
The Beach
Say Ahhh
Long Way Down
Rock & Roll
Heavy Light
Cuckoo
Twilight
Heart it Races
Oh Me Oh My
Too Weak To Ramble
The Worst Trip
Shadow People
Lonesome
ENCORE
Oh No
Nellie
Easy Beat
Die, Die, Die
Jackie Wants a Black Eye
The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer