After a hiatus of more than two decades, Keanu Reeves and his band Dogstar took the stage for their highly anticipated reunion performance. The indie-rock trio delivered an electrifying set at the BottleRock Napa Valley festival on Saturday, marking their first live show in 23 years.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Reeves and his bandmates Robert Mailhouse and Bret Domrose treated the audience to a mix of songs from their earlier albums, including 1996’s “Our Little Visionary” and 2000’s “Happy Ending.” They also showcased new tracks from their forthcoming record, creating an exciting blend of nostalgic favorites and fresh material.
Speaking to the outlet, Reeves, who plays bass guitar, expressed his excitement about the band’s return and their plans moving forward.
“Today was like our first kind of foray out,” he shared. “The band wants to play. We have a record, so we’re just trying to figure out the best way to marry those two things.”
Reeves admitted to feeling nervous before the performance, but his bandmate Mailhouse, the drummer, provided him with encouragement.
“He was just super positive,” Reeves revealed. “He was like, ‘Listen to the music. Just be present in the song, and it will go from there.’”Â
Dogstar is all set to release a new album
Throughout the years, Reeves, Mailhouse, and Domrose stayed connected and continued to have private jam sessions. Then, last summer, they officially announced their comeback through social media.
“It just organically happened,” explained Domrose. “There was never a big blowout, like, ‘I’m never talking to you again!’ We took a break, and it was a long break.”
Mailhouse added, “We love playing, and we love writing. We came back together with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. And as that progressed, it was like, ‘OK, let’s make a record.’”
As they finalize their plans, Dogstar is gearing up for a headlining tour supporting their upcoming album, exciting fans who have eagerly awaited their return to the stage.
The band’s reunion was met with excitement from fans, who had been eagerly awaiting new music from Dogstar for years. The band’s set at BottleRock was well-received, with many fans praising Reeves’ performance on bass.
It remains to be seen when Dogstar will release their new album, but the band’s reunion is a welcome development for fans of the indie-rock trio.
