Critical Equation<\/em> marked a significant step in the band\u2019s evolution, coming on the heels of a two-year hiatus that brought a nine-album run to an uncertain halt. To a greater extent than even on record, Dr. Dog\u2019s live show is hard to define, as the band\u2019s mash of styles keeps things exciting as well as unpredictable. Blending styles can be a dicey prospect, but when a band has chemistry, a band has chemistry, and Dr. Dog\u2019s chemistry runs deep – their arrangements walk a line connecting pop, folk, psychedelia in a way that most bands don\u2019t attempt: a truly genre-less band reliant upon musicianship and stylistic gymnastics. \u201cWorst Trip\u201d offered a bouncy take on a Motown beat filtered through a wild jam that called to mind the New York Dolls, and \u201cCan We Dance\u201d from last year\u2019s Critical 7\u201d<\/em> called to mind the kind of playful lyrical approach that Okkervil River have turned into their modus operandi. The quintet, particularly the interplay between bassist\/vocalist Toby Leaman and instrumentalist\/vocalist Scott McMicken, was a well-oiled machine throughout the night.<\/p>\n Which is not to say that the musicianship gets in the way of hooks. Songs like \u201cThat Old Black Hole\u201d with its singalong coda and \u201cBring My Baby Back\u201d with its simple, soulful refrain were balanced nicely between more introspective pieces like \u201cI Only Wear Blue\u201d and \u201cBuzzing in the Light,\u201d and the jangly melancholy of \u201cShadow People\u201d from 2010\u2019s Shame, Shame <\/em>locked the crowd in early for a varied, career-spanning setlist (which differed entirely between the two nights, a welcome feat for any band).<\/p>\n Dr. Dog\u2019s 2018 return was a welcome one, and if Critical Equation<\/em> is any indication, the band still has considerable fuel in the tank. Their Chicago performances showcased a band in total control and having fun with their craft while still making a case for bending and blending styles however you want, rulebook be damned.<\/p>\n For more on Dr Dog, click here<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/beintheloopchicago.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dr-Dog-Thalia-Hall-Chicago-02-06-20-16-1024x683.jpg\")
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