PHOTO GALLERY

Meet man’s new best friend, Dr. Dog.  They are not really dogs (or doctors for that matter), instead these Philadelphia gentlemen are everything you want from a '60s revivalist band --

1) they’re sincere

2) they’re sweaty

3) they’re fuzzy (in appearance and sound)

4) they don’t act like a 60s revivalist band

What you get is not flashback cabaret, rather, a relevant musical offering that reeks of good taste.  Their muggy, psychedelic rockfest comes complete with graveled, sunlit harmonies for your happy times and enough melancholy to keep you company should you dive down the rabbit hole.

The 2007 release, We All Belong, made the list of LA.COM’s Best Records of 2007 and on Tuesday night, the Hotel Café was treated to a sneak peek of their upcoming concept album, Fate (July 22/Park The Van). 

In this intimate space, the loud sound of an east coast winter was heard beneath the sunny jangle, and once again these vinyl enthusiasts/time machine owners have come strong and come weird with music that seems to be channeled from the best of the cosmic jukeboxes.

Next up was Willoughby.  I can say with comfortable conviction that it’s just a matter of time until someone makes a sharp, James Bond type of spy film set to the lo-fi sounds of this band.  The title track off their debut record, I Know What You’re Up To, is the sexiest, most understated, “wink wink I’m so going to steal your microfiche” song I’ve ever heard.

Tuesday night’s Hotel Café performance marked the start of their 2008 West Coast Tour, though the band has been playing regularly since we spied them last October through a sea of stuffed animals. 

Helmed by the coveted Gus Seyffert (Sia, Bird & The Bee, Inara George, Flight of the Concords), Willoughby’s gentle pep and wistful moodiness goes beyond simply Beatles love or Wilco wishes.  He’s assembled a tight band and they are up to something else.  Something intriguing.

Local lass Priscilla Ahn joined the boys on stage for a sweet and expressionless number, and they also performed a mellowed version of a track co-written for (and with) Junkie XL.

May 26: Willoughby wiles the Viper Room [TICKETS]
August 8: Dr. Dog does the El Rey [TICKETS]

Support live music before you’re dead.

PHOTO GALLERY - Dr. Dog, Willoughby @ Hotel Cafe, 5/13/08