From The Desk Of Dr. Dog: Chamber Of Sound Effects

Last summer, rock ‘n’ roll six-piece Dr. Dog made a return to its Philadelphia home studio to record its seventh album, Be The Void (Anti-). In MAGNET #85 (order a copy here), we talked to the group’s founding members, co-songwriters and vocalists Scott McMicken (guitar) and Toby Leaman (bass), about that journey, and what it takes to bring a band with a formidable label deal and a professional touring setup back to its DIY roots. One thing that has remained consistent in Dr. Dog’s music across its evolving career is a juxtaposition of existential, occasionally desperate lyrical concerns with exuberant pop songs. Dr. Dog keyboardist Zach Miller will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with McMicken and Leaman.

Miller: Dimitri met the guy who makes these effects by chance back home in Tucson and ended up with a Jupiter T analog drone synth/optical theremin with built-in delay. It’s the kind of pedal only someone like Dimitri could reign in. He uses it all the time onstage and is going to reconnect with the guy who makes them when he gets back to Tucson. He even makes a version of the Jupiter with a delay you can trigger with a drumstick. (I think?) We are all excited to see what he comes back with next.