The Union Transfer in Philadelphia was packed on August 12 as Dogstar brought their All In Now Tour to town, giving fans a chance to see the band in a much more intimate setting than the larger venues they have played in recent years. With The Backfires opening the night, the crowd got a full evening of straight-ahead rock and roll.
The Backfires got things started with a short but energetic set. The New York band played with plenty of confidence and had the room warmed up quickly. Their set included “Stardust,” “Super 8,” “What If?,” “Grow,” “Heaven’s Sold Out,” “Blindsided,” and “I Want You.” They have a sound that feels familiar without being stuck in the past, and their tight performance made them a good fit for the tour.
When Dogstar took the stage, the reaction from the Philadelphia crowd was immediate. The band has always had a laid-back quality to their music, but live, the songs have a little more punch. Keanu Reeves handled bass duties while Bret Domrose took care of vocals and guitar, with Gregg Arreguin on drums.
The set leaned heavily on the band’s new material, while still giving longtime fans plenty to enjoy. The show followed the setlist the band had been using on the tour, opening with “Siren” and moving through songs including “Lust,” “How the Story Ends,” “Everything Turns Around,” “Joy,” “Wing,” “This Sphere,” “Blonde,” “Glimmer,” “Math,” “The Whisper,” “Shards of Rain,” “Exalted,” “Runway,” “What Is,” “Marmalade,” and “All in Now.” The encore featured “Punch the Sky,” “Shallow Easy,” and “Breach.”
What made the night work was the connection between the band and the crowd. Reeves isn’t the kind of performer who spends the entire night trying to be the center of attention, and that actually fits Dogstar’s music. He looked like he was having a great time playing with his bandmates, while Domrose handled the frontman duties and kept things moving.
The smaller size of Union Transfer also worked in Dogstar’s favor. The band didn’t need a huge production to make an impact. The music did most of the work, and the crowd was more than happy to sing along and enjoy the performance.
By the end of the night, Dogstar had delivered exactly what the Philadelphia crowd came for. It was a relaxed, honest rock show with three musicians who clearly enjoy being onstage together. The Backfires got the night moving, and Dogstar finished it off with a solid set that left the crowd wanting more.
Dogstar
