The Golden Dogs Benefit From A Touch Of Divine

Horseshoe Tavern

Toronto, ON

on May 30 2008

Scott Bryson (CHARTattack)

06/02/2008 3:30pm

The ever-changing group have been a proving ground for many of our country's finest — Feist, Brendan Canning and Holy Fuck's Brian Borcherdt are all former members — but what's most exciting about this enduring institution is that after nearly 20 years, founder and frontman Jose Miguel Contreras is still playing every show like it's his first. (He was admittedly more than a little drunk on this night, but we'll assume it just added to an already-present glee.)

By the time The Golden Dogs finally mounted the stage amidst dangling tassels and a multitude of postered and hanging pictures of some unnamed historical figure (the four-piece are never shy with stage decoration), the crowd was already wound up and ready to be impressed.

They started their set with new tracks "Darkroom" and "Burst," and if these songs are any indication of what we can expect from the next Golden Dogs album, we're in for a real treat. Things quickly moved into material from their Big Eye Little Eye sophomore album and for the most part didn't stray, with the exception of "Birdsong," "Yeah!" and "Big Boy And The Masters Of The Universe" from their debut.

Their set list and their adorable penchant for putting up signs with each of the song names on them was abandoned mid-performance when they opted instead for audience requests. That fuelled the crowd fires and quickly inspired riotous dancing and a body-surfing blow-up doll (of the adult, orifice-included variety). No one was quite sure where she came from, but everyone was happy to pass her along.

Thundering drums and rhythmic pulses of guitar (see: "Saints At The Gates") were the flavour of the night. "Dynamo," "Runouttaluck" and "Construction Worker" were definite highlights. It's quite possible that there's no such thing as a bad night for this band. They're one of this city's best, without question.