New Band: Dodo Bird

Meric Long and Logan Kroeber are Dodo Bird.  Andrew, Daimian & I saw them a couple of weeks ago at 12 Galaxies in San Francisco.  And we were impressed.

The reviews say the references in Meric Long's sound are readily apparent:  Marc Bolan, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Jeff Tweedy, Iron & Wine.  I would also add Mississippi John Hurt.  And then turn the record player from 33 rpm to 45. 

The elders say that good music builds upon what's come before and then adds its own delicious ingredients.  Time has proven this wisdom.  Thus, Dodo Bird is good music.

The band's sound is not too far removed from the freak folk genre that was/has been/is so popular in San Francisco.  But its not quite the same either, as Long's vocals are less cartoony and his lyrics are much tighter and more focused.

Logan Kroeber's approach to drums is less traditional and more like some intensely and innately rhythmic ur-drummer was told to accompany Long.  And because there's only two people in the band, the relationship between the guitar and the drums is much more collaborative and dynamic, and there's a nice Page/Plant call & response mimicry.

After listening to their latest release, Beware The Maniacs a few times, I am enthralled.  At first my complaint was that the drums, both their sound and their usage, sounded the same on all the tracks featuring drums.  But now I'm of the opinion that this is just a certain instrumental thread traveling throughout this collection of tracks helping it to achieve Album-hood.

Note to Band:  Update your Tour Schedule.

Listen to MP3s at their site.

Fecal Face did an interview with Meric Long.

CrazyTalk pictures at a Dodo Bird show.

Meric Long

Dodo Bird