Dr. Dog

Dr. Dog is a Philadelphia rock band that forms in 1999 and remains active. The group is based in West Grove, United States, and its core membership includes Toby Leaman, Scott McMicken, Zach Miller and Eric Slick. The band’s lineup also includes Frank McElroy in the detailed band history given for its recordings and performances.

Style and sound

Dr. Dog’s music combines indie rock with folk, blues, soul and bluegrass elements, alongside close three-part harmonies. Its broader sound is also associated with baroque pop, indie folk, neo-psychedelia, psychedelic rock and indie pop. The band uses a standard setup of two guitars, bass, drums and keyboards, with vocals shared across the group.

Formation and early recordings

The band forms around 1999 and works in several different incarnations over its early years. One of its earliest projects is The Psychedelic Swamp, a concept album recorded in a flooded basement with waterlogged guitars and a digital delay pedal. That release is self-produced and self-recorded as a low-fi four-track recording. Another early collection, Toothbrush, gathers fourth-generation eight-track recordings from earlier sessions.

Albums and releases

Easy Beat is the band’s first proper album. It is followed by the Takers and Leavers EP in 2006, then the albums We All Belong in 2006 and Fate in 2008. In 2010, the band releases Shame, Shame.

Members and collaborators

The band’s current members are Toby Leaman, Scott McMicken, Zach Miller and Eric Slick. Earlier lineup details also name Frank McElroy on guitar. The group is described as having as many as 20 honorary members who assist in various capacities over the years.

Related bands and influences

Before and alongside Dr. Dog, Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken play together in several other bands, including Raccoon, Unleash the Bastards and Beard. Andrew also plays bass in Raccoon and manages The Teeth. Zach Miller also plays with Bradford Trojan and Traffic Jam and studies jazz guitar. The band cites the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Neil Young, Pavement, Palace Brothers, R. Stevie Moore and Roy Wood as influences.