There aren't many bands like Dr. Dog these days. While most bands embrace stardom, Dr. Dog couldn't seem to care less about it. They give off a mysterious appearance that speaks of rambling adventures and whiskey soaked engagements. Do they sling their guitars over their shoulder and hop a train on their way to the next dive bar where they'll earn another honest days living? Imagery of vagabond profits and down and out boxers fill their songs like stories from a John Steinbeck novel. It's music that harks back to a simpler time when a man made his living in the mills or on the fat of the land. This idea isn't entirely originally. Musician from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen have propelled their entire careers on this whole blue-collar-middle-man schtick. Dr. Dog has taken this approach and brought it into the 21st century for every Pabst Blue Ribbon drinking hippie, hipster, and beatnik from New York to say, Seattle, where they just so happened to be playing Tuesday night.

The stage setup added to allure of the common place with a group of lamps and fake furniture that morphed the stage into some stereotypical lounge space. Right around 9:30 the band gingerly walked out to cheers and applause, strapped on their guitars and jumped right into their set with a new tune titled "That Old Black Hole". As the song progressed so did the stage set up. A drape was pulled down from behind the band revealing a bedroom wall complete with fake posters, a fake window, and a white door that added to the illusion of a show that was taking place somewhere on our own level, in our own environment. Dr. Dog doesn't play on a stage above you. They play on a stage that looks like your own bedroom and invite you to sing with them. 

The band chugged away at songs that everyone in attendance seem to know every lyric to . One of the band's strongest assets is their ability to capitalize on a unique brand of gritty smoke infused vocals. Lead guitarist Scott McMicken and bassist Toby Leaman share vocal duties while the rest of the band, and pretty much the entire Dr. Dog fanbase, sing background vocals. True to this nature almost every song included some type of harmonization. This was especially true during the songs "Stranger" and "The Breeze" with their ever present layers of 'ohhs' and 'ahhhs'.  Perhaps the most powerful moment of the night came during the group's song "Lonesome". The trash can smashin' drums and southern twang of the slide guitar mix into the perfect drinking anthem that goes down best while your slaushing a beer above your head and swaying back and forth with the guy next to you.

In all honestly it wasn't the best show I've ever seen. There have been better stage props, more interesting guitar solos and more enduring lyrics. But after a tough day at the office it was nice to be reminded of the simpler things in life. Things like cheap beer and great tunes on a Tuesday night.