White Dog – Double Dog Dare (2024)

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Remember the time when rock n’ roll was just about plug-in electric guitars, bass, a basic drum set, bluesy vocals, and fun, fun music? Formed in 2015 in Austin, Texas, WHITE DOG began with a shared vision of blazing, fuzzed-out rock n roll that drew gleefully from their home city’s rich cultural melting pot. Emboldened by an us-against-the-world gang mentality and inspired by everything from dusty roots rock to explosive old-school ’70s hard, the band’s self-titled album emerged in 2021 and immediately stood out as a sophisticated, earthy and characterful new strain of retro rambunctiousness.
At times mellower than its predecessor, at others strident and ferocious, their new album “Double Dog Dare” showcase White Dog’s organic development, even more fluid and fiery than before.
“Double Dog Dare” sounds and feel like a 1977 recorded album, analog, rocking from the amp. And we love it…

‘Holy Smokes’ opens this slab of retro goodness with a Hammond organ infused slice of magic, the laid back minimalist production transporting this hard rock banger half a century back in time on a soft yet dense cloud of THC infused vapours via the insistent harmonies of Tamla Motown. This blast from the past fades out into title track ‘Double Dog Dare’, and the band displays their era spanning credentials with a number that injects the occult sound of Black Widow into the Southern Rock swagger of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

‘F.D.I.C.’ follows up with an altogether more contemplative and laid back number, its entire four minute run time feeling like the opening introduction to a Grateful Dead extended jam, the countrified twang of successor ‘Glenn’s Tune’ simply reinforcing the same freak-out vibe. ‘Frozen Shadows’ delivers a Led Zeppelin vibe with an opening acoustic plucking that builds up layer upon layer with added keyboards, harmony vocals, and a wall of guitars that would make a Welsh country pile ensconced Jimmy Page proud.

‘Lady of Mars’, a track that should have been recorded by Blue Oyster Cult in 1974 follows, complete with solos pulled from the guitar of Buck Dharma blasts out next, seamlessly flowing into the instrumental idyll of ‘Prelude’ before the band travels into the realm of ‘The Band’ with ‘The Last ‘Dam’ Song’, the initial slap in your face twang of guitars merging into a progressive melange of keyboards, echoing vocals, and a Doors inspired rhythm section.

Every bit a star of the album, equalling the vocals and instrumentation is the production. ‘Double Dog Dare’ avoid the intrusive polish of the modern day, allowing the listener to just dive into the genuine emotion of the band.
This is not an album that is meant to deliver the perky blandness that is apparently the stock in trade of any “rawk” band looking to appeal to the mainstream, and for that I applaud White Dog. ‘Double Dog Dare’ is instead an album simply infused with gut feeling, and for that, damn, it deserves to be listened to.
Highly Recommended

Tracklist:
01. Holy Smokes
02. Double Dog Dare
03. F.D.I.C.
04. Glenn's Tune
05. A Message From Our Sponsor
06. Frozen Shadows
07. Lady of Mars
08. Prelude
09. The Last 'Dam' Song

Line Up:
Joe Sterling - Vocals
Carl Amoss - Guitars
John Amoss - Drums
Rex Pape - Bass
Clemente De Hoyos - Guitars

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