The sun sets and the dust settles on the final Austin City Limits Festival Friday of the year. At the Lady Bird Stage, Philadelphia-based indie rock group Dr. Dog held audiences captive with their mellow yet powerful sound.
Opening with “The Ark,” off their 2008 album, Fate, Dr. Dog’s sweet harmonies and nostalgic sound establish the perfect festival vibe, ranging from danceable guitar licks to meditative lyrical moments. Diving into their most popular track, Dr. Dog leaves fans asking, “Where’d All The Time Go?” as their one-hour set proves entirely too short.
“Somebody sinks and is gone in the blink of an eye,” cried the crowd, along with lead guitarist and singer, Scott McMicken, as the song came to a close.
A vampiric organ solo bled into the next track, Fate. Red lights added mystique as a rattling tambourine and chirpy organ set the stage for yet another lyrical reflection on the passing of time.
“Starin’ out the window, where did all the time go?” bassist Toby Leaman sang.
Swapping contemplation for celebration, the 2013 track, Nellie, provided the perfect sing-along through an earnest chorus, with the crowd booming out in a shared chant of, Oh Nellie, oh Nellie, oh Nellie. From the audience to the three backup singers, dancing took over in waves. Dr. Dog’s persistent percussion and rhythmic strumming from not one, not two, but three acoustic guitars provided ample sonic structure for grooving.
Unity manifested through singing as the crowd passed out friendship bracelets, drawn together by a shared love for Dr. Dog.
“We’d like to thank our newest band members back here,” interjected McMicken, “They joined us relatively recently, and it’s been amazing.”
Referring to the three back-up vocalists, Alyse Baca, Becca Nichols and Dulci Ellenberger, McMicken’s introduction preceded a beautiful rendition of Coming Out Of The Darkness. Each of the backup vocalists performed a solo before ending with a blend of beautiful harmonies across the whole band.
While the expertly crafted sounds continued to envelop the audience, behind the band, rotating images provided the perfect quirky backdrop for Dr. Dog’s performance. An image of a vintage red truck with a flat tire floated on screen, later switching to a neon illuminated exit sign. While the visuals may seem strange, their odd, homey quality matched Dr. Dog’s sonic originality, defined by a vintage-inspired signature sound that pulls from the past while creating fresh arrangements and poignant lyrics fit for the modern age.
Closing out an evening of buttery vocals and whining guitar, Dr. Dog left Army of Ancients as their closing sentiments, rounding the set with a beautiful anthemic track. Swelling instrumentation and wailing vocals proved the perfect ending, with McMicken pleading, “I don’t wanna wake up / I don’t wanna move / I’ll skip the sermon and stick to the booze / I’m sorry / But I’ll take what I want in the dawn’s early light.”
