By Stewart Lewis and Sammie Hill

 

On Saturday, Nov. 2, Dr. Dog played a sold-out concert at Headliners Music Hall. We were somewhat familiar with the indie rock band before the concert, but we left the music hall with a new appreciation for the group.

Coming from Churchill Downs, we felt slightly out of place among a sea of plaid. However, the amiable atmosphere of Headliners made us feel comfortable and excited for the upcoming show.

The opening band entered the stage around 9 p.m., energizing the crowd. Benny Yurco and the Revealers proved to be a unique and refreshing act, with an intriguing sound and colorful band members.

A fusion of reggae and Sergeant Pepper-esque psychedelic sound, the Revealers’ music can best be described as slightly trippy and wholly entertaining. We couldn’t help but tap our feet to the beat and applaud their long jam sessions reminiscent of Allman Brothers live tracks.

From the balcony of the venue, we had a great view of the stage and didn’t have to deal with the large crowd growing below us. We thought it was strange that more people weren’t taking advantage of this portion of the music hall. It was only after a trip to the restroom that we learned that we had inadvertently wandered into the VIP section, which we “inadvertently” wandered back into without so much as a second glance from the bouncer. Score.

The opening band began to conclude its set as the crowd’s enthusiasm grew, possibly in correlation to the growing number of $5 PBR tallboys consumed.

Benny Yurco and the Revealers left the stage, leaving fans to entertain themselves for what we considered an excessive 35-minute break.

The crowd erupted when Dr. Dog finally took the stage and began playing one of their more low-key songs. Dr. Dog came out with enthusiasm and energy, seizing command of the stage and mesmerizing the crowd. The guitar player sported a Mr. Rogers-type sweater, which we all can appreciate.

After opening with a somewhat mellow song, Dr. Dog rocked the rest of the night. The crowd, which at the start of the night consisted of people only half-heartedly nodding their heads to the beat, became a hot, sweaty mess of dancing bodies.

The inexpensive ticket prices and the intimacy of the venue resulted in a quality show, which felt more like a private party than a sold out concert. Well, at least from our perspective in the lofty VIP area.

We left the concert with a heavy ringing in our ears and a new appreciation for this underrated band.

For those unfamiliar with Dr. Dog, we would recommend picking up their new album, B-Room, which came out Oct. 1.

 

Photo by Stewart Lewis/The Louisville Cardinal