The Key
For the past few albums, Philly rock and roll faves Dr. Dog have staged their hometown shows at the Electric Factory, usually selling the place out and more recently on back-to-back nights. While they&#;ve really begun to own that room and, as I observed in the winter, craft a friendly and familial atmosphere in what is pretty much a big warehouse, the question lingered in the air: when is the band going to take the next step?
Today, we got that answer: as it&#;s B-Room tour wraps around the country on another leg, Dr. Dog will headline the Skyline Stage at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, September 14th, a setting that couldn&#;t be more perfect. The capacity is just slightly bigger than the Factory, so it may not be a huge jump, but playing the Skyline is a great gateway to playing the Mann proper &#; and I can&#;t wait to see the boys rock (and pack) that house. And also, watching a show in open-air setting in the grove on a breezy late summer Saturday night with the city lights twinkling behind you and Dr. Dog in front of you could not possibly be a more Philly concert. Maybe if the Phanatic showed up again, or The Roots were there, but you get what I&#;m saying &#; this is going to be a treat.
Also a treat are the openers: Canadian impresario Mac DeMarco, who cunningly bridges the worlds of lo-fi drum-machine indie / weirdo rock (think Ariel Pink, Animal Collective) with the energy and in-yo-face attitude of mainstream party rock (Andrew W.K.), as well as Jersey&#;s The Front Bottoms, whose high energy poppy folk-punk is completely infectious and endearing (check out their new Rose EP or their recent Indie Rock Hit Parade session to see). Arrive early, stay late. UPDATE: Holy smokes the first opener is actually amazing Philly art punks Hop Along according to the flyer on Dr. Dog&#;s Twitter. Freaking out over here.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 27th, at 10 a.m. Listen to music from each of the artists below.
-