Dog Day's "Acid Party" Coming Soon

04/29/09 4:27pm

by Scott Bryson (CHARTattack)

Dreams about America's 16th president are usually reserved for television fantasy sequences, but they do actually happen in the real world.

"I woke up, earlier," says Seth Smith, singer/guitarist of Halifax's Dog Day, "and had dreamed about our release show. I always get nervous about the big release show. I was on stage — I think I was dressed up like Abraham Lincoln — and I couldn't remember any of the lyrics to the songs."

Smith's dream was an apt prophecy, considering the band's just-released sophomore disc is called Concentration and its lyrical focus is on internal conflict and mental wellness. Aside from the album's subject matter, there's also a heap of pressure on this foursome — which includes drummer Casey Spidle, bassist Nancy Urich and keyboardist Crystal Thili — courtesy of their critically beloved 2007 full-length, Night Group.

Dog Day spent much of the last year-and-a-half on the road in support of that record, but they somehow also found the time to record a four-song EP with indie legend Rick White. It was completed in March and will likely see the light of day this summer.

"We went on a cross-Canada tour with Eric's Trip," says Smith. "All of us grew up on Eric's Trip, so it was great to watch them play every night. You never really get tired of hearing that stuff.

"So we met Rick, and he does this from time to time — he'll record bands or do artwork for bands. We just asked him if he'd be interested in doing a seven-inch and he was. So we booked a little tour around it and went in [to his studio] for two or three days. It was awesome; he was a really great guy to work with."

The yet-to-be-titled disc, says Smith, picks up where Concentration left off.

"With Concentration, we tried to get a little more spooky with noises and sounds. I think the Rick White CD is pretty trippy. We kinda just wanted to let loose and have some fun with it. We weren't really concerned with how it was going to do.

"The songs were good, and we were all confident in Rick's work, so we just wanted to have some fun. It's a little heavier and a little trippier; it sounds like an acid party."

Dog Day have a few live dates scheduled and plan to add more in the near future. Here's where you can catch them:

May 1 Halifax, NS @ Reflections (CD release) w/ The Memories Attack and The Got to Get Got
May 8 Charlottetown, PEI @ Hunter's Ale House w/Boxer The Horse
May 9 Saint John, NB @ Akhord
May 10 Sackville, NB @ Strut's Gallery (early show)
May 24 Halifax, NS @ North Street Church w/Husband & Knife
May 27 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
May 28 Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace w/Pacific Trash Vortex
May 29 Montreal, QC @ The Green Room
May 30 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox w/The Von Bondies
July 4 Thunder Bay, ON @ The Apollo
June 5 Winnipeg, MB @ The Royal Albert Arms w/ Julie Doiron
June 6 Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos w/ Julie Doiron
June 10 Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop w/ Julie Doiron
June 11 Calgary, AB @ Broken City Social Club w/ Julie Doiron
June 12 Kelowna, BC @ Habitat w/ Julie Doiron
June 13 Victoria BC, @ Lucky Bar w/ Julie Doiron
June 14 Vancouver BC, @ Biltmore Cabaret w/ Julie Doiron