The driving force behind such film franchises as “The Matrix” and “John Wick” also drives the low end as bassist of Dogstar, a Los Angeles trio that played through the 1990s, then was re𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 with last year’s record “Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.”
Columbia listeners can catch Reeves — and his musical partners, vocalist-guitarist Bret Domrose and drummer Robert Mailhouse — when Dogstar rocks Rose Park Aug. 24. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
The show is part of the Central Bank Downtown Live! outdoor series (formerly tagged Summerfest) that stretches across sister venues The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall.
Over the years, Dogstar has displayed a realistic relationship with Reeves’ outsize fame, not shying away from it but not seeming to exploit it either. This is, to the best of its ability, a rock ‘n’ roll band.
Dogstar offered up two records, 1996’s “Our Little Visionary” and 2000’s “Happy Ending,” before calling it a decades-long day. The band huddled together during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, discovering a resultant second life.
“Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees” is a musically buoyant document, created at the intersection of ’90s alternative and more timeless power pop. Domrose’s vocals flutter and soar on cuts like opener “Blonde” while the band displays a tight-knit chemistry. Reeves’ bass guides tracks like “How the Story Ends” while Mailhouse subtly opens up the groove.
Lead single “Everything Turns Around” harnesses a real accessibility, sounding like a hit from the ’90s, 2000s or today.
Tickets for the Aug. 24 show are $35. Visit https://rosemusichall.com/ for more details.
