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Barking Up Your Tree
Vancouver’s hard-rock heroes Day of the Dog hit the Cranbrook Hotel Pub
By Ferdy Belland
“Our most recent show was at the Fox Cabaret in East Vancouver, and we sold it out!” So says Tommy MacDonald, bassist and songwriter for the West Coast’s rising hard-rock heroes Day of the Dog.
“It used to be an infamous local porno theatre, way back when, so there’s a colourful – and, um, sticky – history there in that room… but it’s been converted into one of the better live venues in the city, and the show just slammed! We’re doing the weekend warrior approach to the band for the short term, aiming for shows as many weekends in the month as possible. On this stint we’re playing back-to-back shows in Calgary and Edmonton, so we’re fortunate to have landed a cool-as-hell Cranbrook show to thicken out the trip.”
And what a cool-as-hell show it will be as Day of the Dog take the stage at the Cranbrook Hotel Pub on the evening of Thursday, April 13 (with guests Star Collector and Brotherhood of Lost Souls) for a very special early-evening show to liven up everybody’s humdrum weeknight
Day of the Dog have steadily risen through the ranks of Vancouver’s formidable hard-rock scene, having been formed by MacDonald in mid-2021 by determinedly gathering together like-minded and stage-hardened veterans into a strong, punchy quartet that winningly straddles the sonic line between Velvet Revolver and Shinedown.
“I found our lead guitarist Brian playing the Malcolm Young role in an AC/DC tribute!” says MacDonald. “I could tell, through my musician’s eyes, that he was the guy in that band who could really play. I saw how he was laying back onstage, coasting though a cover-band gig, but I knew there was something there, so I reached out to him after that tribute act broke up and everything instantly clicked – and he also plays in Darby Mills’ band, so that never hurts.
“I rescued our lead singer T.C. from a crappy Vancouver band named Strip, where he’d been languishing for years and looking for something better to do – I also saw potential in him onstage, I saw how he had that certain star-quality charisma, and a really good singing voice.
“Our current drummer is quite a bit younger than the average age of the rest of us, but that’s sort of by design… he helps us all look younger! (laughs) And it’s an awesome opportunity for us, as grizzled veterans, to work with a young musician who’s not only open to suggestions when it comes to songwriting and stage presentation, but he radiates on us enthusiasm and energy and optimism – the stuff we’ve bitterly shoved on a shelf! (laughs)”
MacDonald explains the dedication and devotion invested in Day of the Dog’s current work in the recording studio.
“All of our current career momentum’s been formed by word of mouth from the strength of our live shows,” says MacDonald. “And as cool as that is, it’s also driving us nuts, since we don’t have any of our songs recorded yet! We need some sort of official release to be taken seriously, to build a true enthusiastic audience, and to open bigger and better doors for us – whether it’s a standalone single or a full album.
“We do have nine songs recorded. I wrote the majority of the songs and produced it all in my home studio. I called in my friend (legendary Vancouver producer) Mike Fraser to handle the mixing of the tracks, and you’re in good hands when you’re in Mike’s hands. But we’re taking careful time with this. We don’t just want to shove a song onto the album just to say that we finished a song – it’s got to be All Killer, No Filler. I want to make sure all the songs are fully fleshed out. I don’t mind taking whatever time is needed to create a strong album that people will actually enjoy and listen to over and over again for years to come. I mean, I don’t want to take selfies of myself at the gym – I just want people to see my beach body! (laughs)”
The rock-loving people of Canada need to keep a sharp eye out for Day of the Dog – they’re here to stay, and they mean business.
“I’m always driven, and ambitious, and striving to be the best I can be as a full-time professional musician,” says MacDonald. “Taking it as far as I can take it. We’re always looking for better, larger, more dedicated venues in Vancouver to perform at. I can’t stand playing at so-called ‘venues’ that aren’t actually venues. I’m talking about lousy bars that don’t have any in-house production, so you have to drag your own PA system in, and then they kick the bands out at 10:00pm so they can usher in some lame-ass DJ dance party for the rest of the night. Who calls that tired thumpy disco-computer shit fun anymore?
“It’s like AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses, which these days might be called ‘Dad Rock’ – whatever. I don’t care about modern pop trends, and a lot of people out there couldn’t care less about whoever the digital flavor of the week is. We are Rock and Roll. It comes naturally to me. That’s who I am. That’s who we are in Day of the Dog. The only way for anyone to be original is to be themselves. And we are ourselves, and the overall rock sound is still all around us, for me and for modern college kids.
“Look at Greta Van Fleet. Look at Monster Truck. Look at the Sheepdogs. Cranked-up Marshall amps and Ampeg bass stacks. Rock and Roll is Alive and Well, and Rock and Roll Will Never Die.
“We want to be able to play a rocking show that’s right in your face and then hang out with the audience afterwards and talk to the people, the way it used to be, and the way it always should be. The way we’re gonna do it in Cranbrook.”
DAY OF THE DOG kick out the old school hard-rocking jams live in concert at the Cranbrook Hotel Pub (719 Baker Street) on the evening of Thursday, April 13, with guests Star Collector and the Brotherhood of Lost Souls; admission $10 advance (tickets available at the Pub during regular business hours), $15 at the door.
Doors open 7 p.m., Showtime 7:30 p.m. onwards – please don’t miss out on the best way anyone in our fair Key City could spend a weeknight!
Photos submitted
e-KNOW
