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 While plenty of ink has been spilled for the who’da-thunk-it reunion of
Iggy and the Stooges, here’s hoping a bit of scribble juice will be
saved for fellow Motor City street fighters The Dogs, who’ve just
released their first album of new material in over twenty years. The Dogs
cut their teeth on the Detroit club scene circa 1970 and soaked up the
40-weight metallic groove of fellow travelers like the MC5 and the
Amboy Dukes before heading to New York and later LA, where their muscle
shirt rock didn’t quite blend with the punk scene; the band called it quits
in 79. Frontman/guitarist Loren Molinaire moved on to the
much-maligned Little Caesar (and is currently also part of another
Dionysus outfit, the ‘Lectric Chairs), while bassist Mary Kay served
time in Kanary. Now they’ve reunited with drummer Ron Wood for
Suburban Nightmare, and the platter proves they’ve lost none
of their need for a good scrap. Molinarie and ‘Lectric Chair
Marsh Gooch handle the majority of the lyrics, which place a handful
of suburban nightmares—battling the social climate (“GST 483”),
unchecked consumerism (“I Want”), and reclaiming one’s soul in the
face of three decades of corporate disdain (“I’m Alive", “Class of
1970”)—in a strongarm headlock and wrestle it into the dirt with style
and grit. The Dogs sell Detroit punk soul, pure and simple, and if that’s
what you’re looking for, check Suburban Nightmare first.
Dionysus (bless their black hearts) have also released a “Class of 1970”
with their 1971 single “Rebel Rock” on the flipside, and also reissued a
best-of, Fed Up, both of which are worth your time and
hard-earned ducats.
www.thedogsrock.com
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