by Ally Arens
Originally formed in 1991, rock band Dogstar - consisting of vocalist/lead guitarist Bret Domrose, drummer Rob Mailhouse, and bassist Keanu Reeves - released two albums before initially disbanding in 2002. In 2020, during the industry shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the trio began jamming together once again, officially announcing their return in 2022 and making their return to the stage in early 2023 for the first time in over 20 years. They also released their comeback studio album in October of that year, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.
Currently, the band is in the midst of their Summer Vacation tour in support of Power Lines and Palm Trees, bringing their live set to theaters across the United States with support from fellow rockers Sons of Silver. August concluded with the tour making a pair of stops in Oklahoma, finishing with an August 31 show at Norman’s Showplace Theatre inside Riverwind Casino to a packed house for a fantastic night of live music.
Dogstar by Ally Arens
First to take the stage were Sons of Silver, a “neo-classic rock” band hailing from Los Angeles, fronted by vocalist/guitarist Peter Argyropoulos. The quintet, also featuring guitarist Kevin Haaland, bassist Adam Kury, drummer Marc Slutsky, and keyboardist Brina Kabler, released their aptly-titled debut EP Doomsday Noises in 2020, and are gearing up to release their debut full-length, Runaway Emotions, later this year. The Sons put on an incredibly solid performance that was an excellent balance of heaviness and heart, and I look forward to seeing what’s next. After their tour dates with Dogstar conclude in September, the band is booked to support Myles Kennedy across the U.S. early next year; all of their upcoming shows can be found on their website.
Sons of Silver by Ally Arens
Around 9 p.m., it was time for the Dog-stars of the show to take the stage, which they did to thunderous applause as the opening notes to “Blonde” echoed throughout the venue. At times, it was clear that at least a portion of the audience was primarily there to see their famous bassist, as evidenced by the numerous “I love you Keanu” yells between songs, and even one “Wyld Stallion,” in reference to Reeves’ role in the Bill & Ted films. However, the trio had the entire venue entranced and swaying along by the end of their approximately 75-minute set, captivating them with their blend of groovy and melodic riffs and heartfelt lyrics.
Their set was, understandably, largely centered around Power Lines and Palm Trees, with a whopping 10 of the album’s 12 tracks performed (“Lily” and “Sunrise” were the only omissions). Fans were also treated to a few new, currently unreleased tracks, including one currently titled “Shallow Easy” near the end of the set. The trio sounded absolutely amazing together, and it was very evident that they have been thoroughly enjoying being out on the road and performing together once again. The setlist was crafted in such a way that each member was given opportunities to shine individually, such as Mailhouse’s drum/harmonica solo in “Dillon Street” and Reeves’ multiple bass solos, while also allowing them to truly shine as a unit. Another fun highlight was the crowd and band wishing Reeves an early “happy birthday” on stage ahead of his actual birthday on September 2.
Though Dogstar’s sound is a bit of a sonic departure from the heavier, more metal-oriented rock shows I usually find myself at, I can say with full confidence that this tour is not one to be missed for anyone who considers themselves a fan of live music - Domrose, Mailhouse, and Reeves have an on-stage chemistry that is truly a delight to behold.
The Summer Vacation tour resumes on September 3 in Salt Lake City, UT, continuing along the West Coast throughout the month, concluding with an appearance at California’s Ohana Fest on September 27. All of their upcoming tour dates can be found on the band’s website.
All photos of Dogstar and Sons of Silver by Ally Arens
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