Dogstar’s North American Tour Rolls into Brooklyn
Dogstar – Music Hall of Williamsburg – December 11, 2023
The ’90s revival over the past few years has hit a wave of nostalgia for the fashion and Gen X sensibilities of yesteryear: My So-Called Life, Reality Bites, grunge aesthetics. Actors turned rock stars certainly isn’t a new concept, but its heyday was in the ’90s, from Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds to Mars to Jack Black’s Teniacious D to Johnny Depp’s short-lived band P. That brings us to the three-piece Dogstar, drummer Robert Mailhouse, guitarist Bret Domrose and bassist Keanu Reeves.
After putting out a pair of albums more than two decades ago, the trio stopped touring due to other work commitments, but they’d still find time for the occasional jam when time allowed. And then 2020 provided plenty of time to rehearse and eventually work on what became the band’s third album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, released this past October. Finishing up a string of dates to support the new LP, Dogstar graced a sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg on Monday night.
They opened with the shimmery “Blonde” and phones were immediately held aloft to capture the famed actor in his other role as bassist. Singer Domrose did almost all of the (brief) chatting, which consisted of a nod to the hospitality and food they’d enjoyed in Brooklyn and a quick band roll call. Reeves let his instrument do the talking, especially on the intro basslines for “How the Story Ends” and “Overhang.”
While some shouted, “We love John Wick,” Reeves didn’t let it distract him from focusing on the music, barely acknowledging the catcalls. Although largely pulling from their latest record, they played an old favorite, “Flowers,” and encored with “Halo,” from 2000’s Happy Ending. While Dogstar can still reclaim the glory of their youth, the new, unreleased songs, “This Is What Math Is For” and “Lava Lamp,” signaled to fans that they have more material to keep them from another extended hiatus. —Sharlene Chiu | @Shar0ck
Photos courtesy of Adela Loconte | www.adelaloconte.com
