Dogstar’s story began with a twist of fate when Keanu Reeves bumped into Robert Mailhouse in a supermarket in 1991. Sporting a Detroit Red Wings hockey sweater, Mailhouse caught the eye of Reeves, an avid hockey fan. The two quickly struck up a conversation and soon found themselves jamming together in a garage, leading them to form a band. After experimenting with names like Small Fecal Matter and BFS, they finally settled on Dogstar, inspired by a book by Henry Miller.
With Gregg Miller joining as the original lead guitarist and singer in 1992, Dogstar started to take shape. By ’94/’95, Bret Domrose had come on board, and Miller left the group in 1995, adding his vocals and guitar skills to the mix. The band quickly made a name for itself, opening for legends like David Bowie and Bon Jovi. Their first EP, Quattro Formaggi, dropped in 1996, followed by their debut album Our Little Visionary, which, despite their growing global fanbase, was only released in Japan.
Dogstar’s energy and talent saw them performing at iconic events like the Zwemdokrock Festival in Belgium and the Glastonbury Festival in England. Their second album, Happy Ending, released in 1999, displayed a shift towards a more “pop-aggressive” sound. However, by 2002, after a final performance in Japan, the band went their separate ways. Domrose pursued a solo career and started writing music for film and television, while Reeves and Mailhouse continued their musical journey with a new band called “becky.”
In 2020, the pandemic brought the original Dogstar members back together for jam sessions that reignited their creative spark, leading to eight-hour rehearsals and a flood of new songs. By July 2022, Dogstar officially announced their comeback on Instagram, much to the delight of fans.
In May 2023, Dogstar made their grand return at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival, performing songs from their earlier albums alongside fresh tracks from their third album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees. After touring in North America and Japan, the group announced a European tour, including a London date. Originally set to perform at Electric Ballroom, Dogstar’s show was moved to O2 Forum Kentish Town due to high demand, resulting in a sold-out event and making it their first show in over 20 years in the UK.
Opening the evening was Lancerock, a Nashville duo whose 30-minute acoustic set set the stage nicely with their power-pop rock. When Dogstar finally took centre stage, led by Bret and Keanu on guitars and Robert on drums, Bret’s vocals soared as a feature of the show, delivering each song perfectly.
The setlist for the evening was a journey through Dogstar’s catalogue, featuring songs primarily from their latest album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Pine Trees. From Blonde to the intense emotions of Lust, and the reflective tones of How the Story Ends, each song was delivered with passion and precision. The tracklist also included Everything Turns Around, Out Of, Glimmer, Dillon Street, Math, Shards of Rain, and the unreleased Shallow Easy.
While I have always enjoyed Dogstar’s music, the new album impressed me a lot. With Lust being one of my favourite songs, the band delivered it beautifully. The song itself is a great track that depicts themes of desire and contemplation. They also performed the aforementioned Out Of, the first single from Dogstar’s new album Somewhere Between The Palm Trees And Power Lines, the follow-up to their 2000 album Happy Ending.
The band added The Cure’s classic hit Just Like Heaven to their setlist as well; a fitting tribute that further emphasised Dogstar’s reverence for iconic rock influences. Throughout the performance, the venue’s stellar lighting and acoustics enhanced the band’s dynamic presence, creating a superb experience for everyone in the venue. The mixed crowd, spanning from original fans who have followed Dogstar since their beginnings to younger generations discovering their music for the first time, contributed to the great atmosphere of the evening. Without a doubt, Dogstar’s performance at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London was a successful return for the band.
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Written by Maggie Gogler
Featured image © Narine Chalabi for View of the Arts
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