Dr. Dog
Interview with Scott McMicken (a.k.a. Taxi)
Words: Ashley Marie Sansotta (a.k.a. Telephone)
Photos: Ashley Marie Sansotta
Appearing:
June 8, 2007
Crowbar, Ybor City
June 10, 2007
Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale
Their relentless touring and promoting has completely paid off for those fun-lovin’, foot stompin’ boys of Dr. Dog. Their first headlining tour has taken them on a long and winding road all over the states; thankfully taking them back to Florida for a couple of shows before they play at the Bonnaroo Music Festival next month. The first time I met with them, we had a chance to discuss the anticipation of their new record (We All Belong), their inspirations, and their experiences with past tours. Since then, the Dr. Dog following has grown larger by the minute. With Rolling Stone, GQ Magazine, Filter, Village Voice, and – of course – REAX by their side, they can’t go wrong. This time around, Scott McMicken and I talk about their recent success since their record release, his thoughts on this tour in-particular, and those infamous Dr. Dog band handles.
REAX: The last time we talked, it was the night before the release of your new album, We All Belong. While you guys have been touring, you’ve been racking up stellar reviews – GQ Magazine has even stated that it was one of their favorite albums of the year. Do you feel that your fan-base is growing pretty rapidly at the shows you’re playing because of this?
Scott McMicken: Oh yeah, definitely. It has been an undeniable aspect of these last couple months of touring. We are consistently surprised at how many people are coming out to see us and their enthusiasm is amazing as well. Especially considering what touring for us was like in the past… it’s been a blatant improvement in the whole situation. When we play at home now our crowd is so great, and we have so many friends in the audience; but now, shows in other towns are starting to rival that hometown feeling. I guess that’s the idea, though… you tour and tour, and then every town starts feeling like it’s your hometown.
REAX: Do you feel like you have different types of fans who are now just starting to get into Dr. Dog because of the new album?
SM: One thing that is interesting to me is that a lot of people are coming to shows and all they know is We All Belong. It really kinda of caught me off guard because we were touring for Easy Beat pretty hard for over two years… but then again, I understand that people are still just finding out about us now. I guess that was a missed observation on my part. It’s in no way troubling… it’s just kind of weird to me. I just assumed that everyone knows about us now does so because of the bands we’ve opened up for before.
REAX: Are you guys in a continuous state of writing and thinking of new ideas for a new record, or do you find yourself focusing on promoting We All Belong while you’re on tour?
SM: It’s a healthy balance. I will say that the energy towards writing new material is at an all time low, but that for me was a conscious decision. It was becoming a problem… how much I was trying to think about writing new songs and how much time I needed to spend in the studio at home. I realized that it was becoming a kind of escape path for me. So, I thought that this is the best time for me to not be so neurotic about writing and recording because with the new album there is so much that we need to be doing. We don’t have a whole lot to do over the summer, so I think I will be spending some time in the studio. There are a few concepts for future albums we’ve been kicking around, so hopefully we’ll get one of them done this summer.
REAX: Personally, what are you most proud of with this tour and the new record?
SM: I guess I’m proud that the general public, and more specifically my friends and family, are excited about the band. What I’m trying to say… is that I’m proud that I sense that people are proud of the band. It’s nice to feel that kind of respect. Of course, I’m proud of the album itself, we worked really hard on it, and sometimes I forget about that. It was challenging, and I still listen to it constantly.
REAX: Why the nicknames?
SM: They are not stage names and we don’t refer to each other by them. It’s just this unifying bonding thing by setting up an artificial context that is Dr. Dog. We just try to add as much to the feeling of being in the band that has sort of nothing to do with anything else. The names are symbolic of a separate identity for ourselves that is completely within the band and the ideal world that is Dr. Dog. They’re convenient characteristics like having a logo or having matching stage outfits. It’s also good to have so that anyone that makes themselves a part of the Dr. Dog world… it’s a gesture where we can give them a Dr. Dog name. Anyone even remotely related to the band have nicknames now.
REAX: So, I guess I need a nickname now, huh? What will my nickname be?
SM: Telephone.
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