The closest you can get to the sound of '60s rock and roll without buying a DVD of "The Ed Sullivan Show" is the Philadelphia-based band Dr. Dog, which will rock the stage with psychedelic sounds and retro beats today at the Pub.
WBOR concert director Micah McKay '09 described the band's sound as "retro-rootsy, psychedelic pop rock."
"They are definitely in tune with their roots," he said, "and have elements of The Beatles, The Band, and The Beach Boys."
"They're just an amazingly awesome mix of sounds," said Matt Pincus '10.
Dr. Dog is visiting Bowdoin as part of their extensive 2007 tour, which has included appearances at musical festivals such as Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits. The musicians have performed on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." Since 2003, the band has toured with Wilco, The Raconteurs, and The Strokes, to name just a few.
"Dr. Dog bridges a nice gap between genres," said McKay. "Some people tend to be turned off by any music labeled as indie, but I think Dr. Dog extends beyond this categorization."
The band has received accolades from Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and The New York Times. The future looks bright, according to McKay.
"I think they are about to get even bigger. I think it's great that we're able to bring them to Bowdoin before they do," he said.
Since 1999, Dr. Dog has produced four albums, including "Toothbrush," "Easy Beat," and "Takers and Leavers." They released their latest album, "We All Belong," in 2007.
"There hasn't been a song of theirs I don't like," said Pincus. "Especially on their new album, there's no filler."
What sets Dr. Dog apart from other bands that visit Bowdoin is its on-stage presence.
"They put on a really good live show with really high energy," said Pincus, who attended one of their shows in Portland last spring. "They get everyone dancing and having a good time."
WBOR, along with the Inter-House Council, the Campus Activities Board, and various social houses, are bringing Dr. Dog to campus in order to expose Bowdoin students to new music that wouldn't usually be heard in the pub.
"We're trying to introduce the campus to new sounds and music outside of the Top 40 radio realm and outside of what one might hear at the pub every Thursday night," said WBOR music director Peter McLaughlin '10.
Over the past two years, WBOR has brought bands such as The Sterns, Suburban Kids with Biblical Names, and The Hold Steady to campus.
"We mainly try to provide Bowdoin students with an alternative source for live music," said McKay. "We like to try to bring in bands who are up and coming in the world of independent music, but maybe who your average Bowdoin student has not heard of yet."
After The Hold Steady stopped at Bowdoin in 2005, their album "Boys and Girls in America" was on most critics' top-10 lists in 2006.
"I think Dr. Dog is headed in the same direction," said McKay.
The Hold Steady concert was such a success, both for the audience and the band, that the lyrics in their song "Chillout Tent" were changed to include a reference to Bowdoin. Today's performance is expected to produce the same kind of enthusiasm.
"Bowdoin students should expect the best concert they've seen at the Pub and a packed house, so get there early!" said McKay.
Dr. Dog will perform today at the pub starting at 11 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.