The DoGs: hypersensitive

Without a doubt, The DoGs have enjoyed one of Rock’s richest histories. 

Formed in Lansing, Michigan in the late ’60s, the group was born from the same dirty Detroit music world that spawned The MC5 and The Stooges, sharing bills with both bands as well as a young guitarist by the name of Ted Nugent. By the early ’70s, the trio found themselves in New York, sharing the stage with the likes of Television, The Stilettos (featuring a young Debbie Harry) and a pre-stardom KISS. They even got kicked out of the then-new CBGB for playing too loud! 

Fast-forward a few more years, and The DoGs turned up in sunny California, joining forces with The Motels and The Pop to create the legendary “Radio Free Hollywood” scene. In the ’80s, the trio played alongside people like Steve Marriott and Robin Trower before singer/guitarist Loren Molinare landed a deal with Geffen Records with his other band, Little Caesar. Oh, there's also a London era of The DoGs in there somewhere,and that one time Sid Vicious sang with them at the Whiskey in LA…but you get the idea. 

Starting with 2000’s Fed Up compilation on Dionysus Records, The DoGs have continued to experience a well-deserved surge in international interest. The reformed band’s second proper full-length album, hypersensitive, showcases a group still ready and able to burn after 43(!) years in the game. Tracks like “I Got Nothing” and “Punk Rock Holiday” pummel the listener with the same intensity as anything produced during the ‘90s Garage Punk Revival (Hellacopters, Candy Snatchers), while “In On The Out” and a blistering cover of The Pagans’ “Her Name Was Jane” are two of the finest Punk songs to leave an American recording studio in years. On hypersensitive, The DoGs remind us of how magical American Punk Rock ‘N’ Roll can be. 

This is as real as it gets, folks. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say this is the best American Punk album released in a decade. 


The DoGs Official Website: www.thedetroitdogs.com

READ JOEL'S BIO
PURCHASE JOEL'S BOOKS
EMAIL JOEL at gaustenbooks@gmail.com