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Go Dog Go

Long Story Short

By Jim Fester

Fort Wayne Reader

2004-04-05

Go Dog Go’s Long Story Short is an instantly likeable album. What makes it a tricky album to talk about is that it doesn’t make a big deal about what it does so well. The 16 tracks on Long Story Short don’t try to dazzle you with their virtuosity. Instead, the band’s virtues are old-fashioned ones: solid musicianship and a focus on crafting memorable tunes. For Go Dog Go, it’s all about “the Song.” Bassist Eric Federspiel and drummer Mark Winters lay down a firm foundation on which songwriters Chris Dodds and Matt Kelley (Go Dog Go’s singer and guitarist, respectively) build a hook-filled blend of mid-tempo rock n’ roll, a little power pop, and hint of that country-tinged rock that people seem to call Americana these days. Barroom rock? Well, yes, if that doesn’t sound too dismissive. The difference is that most bar bands lose something on record. Go Dog Go’s songs make the transition from weekend gig to CD with all their appeal intact.