“Hi, we’re Dog Eat Dog and we’re from the ’90s,” Dog Eat Dog frontman John Connor shouted at the crowd as the band took stage at Starland Ballroom. The audience reciprocated with cheers and excitement as the band tore into “World Keeps Spinnin'” off their 1993 EP Warrant and proceeded to play the lion share of songs off their hit album, All Boro Kings.
Connor looked as youthful as ever, passing the mic to the crowd for a singalong during “Who’s the King” and jump kicking the air during breakdowns. Drummer Brandon Finley was on fire, running out from behind the kit any chance he could to hype the already psyched crowd between songs, while Dave Neabore brought the low-end, murdering the opening of “No Fronts.” Dan Nastasi, currently serving in Leeway NYC, pinch hit on guitar for the band’s homecoming show in Sayreville.
And a homecoming it was. As Neabore, told us on a recent episode of Mai Tai Happy Hour, the band all but vanished from the States in the late ’90s, just as the crossover scene was blowing up. Instead, Dog Eat Dog took to Europe where their legend grew and they cultivated a huge following for the next two decades.
Now, Dog Eat Dog is back with a sorta new album, Brand New Breed, and a positive outlook towards the future. Almost 25 years after the release of their hit record, Dog Eat Dog proved that their U.S. fans haven’t disappeared, they are just very good at waiting. Judging by the reaction of the audience at Starland Ballroom it was worth it. My only regret is that they didn’t play “Rocky” or their excellent cover of Offspring’s “Genocide,” but I’m not about to nitpick.
Here are some of my favorite photos from Dog Eat Dog’s Starland Ballroom show.
