Working like Dr. Dog

Philly group on their own studio, covers and of course, the ’60s

INTERVIEW. Bands have been doing the ‘60s fetish thing since before the ‘60s even ended. So why does it continue to surprise us every time a band like Dr. Dog arrives fresh from the rock ‘n’ roll time machine? The Philadelphia band's acclaimed new record, “We All Belong” is a loopy, psyched out collection of off kilter melodies, kitchen sink instrumentation, and beautiful, yet fractured harmonies whose roots in the distant past make the songs seem all the more timeless. Metro spoke to guitarist and vocalist Scott McMicken on the phone outside the band's recording studio.

You’re in the studio right now. Are you rehearsing or writing new songs?
We're practicing an insane amount of cover songs right now. Over the years we've played a few weddings for friends and families and it's always been a blast. But somehow word got out and some stranger from New York called and asked if we'd play his wedding. We said, "no, we're not a wedding band." But then he threw out some insane amount of money, and since we're all in debt big time… But they actually have good taste, we're learning T Rex and Velvet Underground songs, so it's been a lot of fun.

I interviewed the band in 2005 and you guys were just starting to get noticed. What's changed the most since then?
A lot has changed, but the major thing is our studio situation. We got this big warehouse space in North Philly. It's like in an industrial wasteland. The last record we made was our first with any kind of budget from a record label, so we bought a piano and a new console, and now we have 24-hour studio access. Back then we were getting lots of great opening slots, but we weren't able to headline. Now in the past six to eight months we've been able to go out on our own. Those two things are major avenues of ambition for me. We want to grow as a touring band, so that means being able to play longer sets.

What is it about the sort of ‘60s affectations that remain timeless. Is it because people are still so in love with bands that formulated this sound?
Any kind of great band or artist would strive to achieve timelessness. For us, there are a lot of things that go into that. I do believe there was a higher standard for pop music 30 years ago. There were greater expectations for soul and harmony and melody in a song. I don't think with us it's trying to rehash anything, just to maintain a part of what we listen to. Also, logistically, when you make crackly lo-fi recordings it's going to sound old. That was all we ever had the means to do. We've always been a band that's not ashamed for our output to be lo-fi and homespun. If Dr. Dog took its sensibilities and songs to a big producer in a modern studio, we wouldn't sound ‘60s-like.

Is it the recording process you admire?
You average record from 1972, I think sounds so much better than 2007. We try to please our ears and have the music come back to us in ways that sound appropriate to what we like. Analog has this warmth to it. And we've never had the opportunity to use digital technology. We're way too invested in what we do now. It would take years for us to have to learn how to do that.

Your vocals sound fragile and casual, like they could veer off the tracks any minute, and yet the harmonies all hit. How do you get that off kilter balance with something that has to be so precise?
I guess it comes from playing together for so long. You rely on your band members to keep you in line. We've been singing together for so long we know how to use the differences in our voices. When you're intent on singing harmonies, you have to set aside the true character of your own voice in order to blend.

You toured with Cold War Kids recently. For some reason I associate the two bands aesthetically very easily.
Well that's a supreme compliment. I am so amazed by that band, I don't understand how they do what they do. I wouldn't have put us in the same category, but I'm glad you do. Those guys are like professors or fine artists, so precise, and they do things with such confidence.

 So what do people like me usually get wrong when they write about the band?
I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me sometimes. But deep in my heart I know it's stupid. Sometimes I just want to say "You're just angry at the world!" Or "What is the point of this? I just read some dipsh-t tell me a joke about himself and I know nothing about the music!" But we've had mostly good reviews, and the bad ones will come along and say the same thing as the good ones, only they don't like it.


Dr. Dog With Apollo Sunshine
Tonight, 9
The Paradise
967 Comm. Ave., Boston
MBTA: Green B Line to
Pleasant St.
$14, 18+, 617-562-8800
www.thedise.com

Luke O’Neil