Before the inception of Dogstar, lead singer and guitarist Bret Domrose had just landed a gig as Sheryl Crow's touring guitarist. It was during this period that he met the other members of Dogstar who were oddly enough in search of a guitarist. Self-taught bassist Keanu Reeves had already been jamming with drummer Rob Mailhouse for quite some time, but Domrose fit the mold perfectly. Their second release, Happy Ending was a labor of love for the trio as the record was cut over the course of a year with two different producers and two different continents. But the challenges of writing music combined with an actor's difficult schedule yielded eleven intimate tracks and marks Dogstar's stateside debut. Be sure to check out Dogstar with this HOB.com Video Webcast recorded 7/4/2001 at Summerfest - Milwaukee, WI.

Side stage review: Dogstar

From:DogstarOnline.com
Author:Tammy

PRE SHOW

drove from Chicago to Milwaukee with my friends Beth and Matt, who are not D* fans per se, but enjoy them. Their sole mission was to get me where I was going to see D* perform. Before leaving my place, I'd made an iron-on and a bunch of temporary tattoos of the new D* logo. I've never been to a show, so I haven't had a chance to own any official garb before and I wanted them to know I was a fan and not a random Summerfest attendee. We spent the night in Racine on Tuesday. So, the first thing I did Wednesday morning was apply the iron-on to my shirt and apply temp tattoos to my hand and arm and Beth's ankle. I was feeling kinda punch happy and ready to go, go, go. We arrived at Summerfest about 1 pm.

As soon as I saw the Summerfest archway, I was thinking, OMG DOGSTAR HERE I COME! But, I was like cool it--9 hours to go! So, we walked around, I ate one sandwich and never ate again--nervous knots. As the afternoon progressed, we sauntered around and I always paid special attention to the Miller Stage--that's where they would be performing that night. As other performers held the stage, I noticed the Miller Stage was always the busiest of all the stages. I was starting to wonder how hard it would be to get a front row seat, but figured if I went early enough, it would be okay. Then I read the day's program and saw that it read: Dogstar with Keanu Reeves. And, I thought uh-oh...this could draw a crowd. (Gee, ya think? I have moments of genius!) By 3 pm, I was telling Beth and Matt about my plan to go park my butt at the stage NO LATER THAN 6 pm to ensure a good spot. So, every second from that point forward was anxiety-filled. All I wanted to do was go stake my claim on a seat, and they wanted to eat and stuff. Jeesh!

So, 6 pm comes...I go to the stage. The front 6 rows were filled including people standing at the barricades (those had suddenly been added). I was like OH NO. Not a chance in the hot spot of getting closer than row 7. Bummer. Now, that may sound close, but it sure didn't feel like it. I found myself wishing for some small emergency (nothing fatal...I'm a good person) that would take those people in rows 1-6 away. But, I didn't see that happening.

A couple minutes after picking a seat, I look up on stage to see Rob checking out his drums. I knew there was another group coming on at 6:30, but their drums were in front of his, so he was checking out his setup. I went to the barricades long enough to snap some pics of him despite the glare of the girl behind me in row 1. There was some music coming over the speakers...it was the D* Happy Ending CD. People up front were singing along to Slipping Down. I was like, Okay, at least they know the song. They deserve their spot.

I returned to my seat and Beth told me she knew who Rob was...used to watch his soap. I was like, yes Beth. When Rhythm Method came on, Rob suddenly appeared out in the audience at the corner of the stage. He was just standing there with some guy and I was like LOOK--there's ROB! So, I started walking really fast over there, Beth following w/a camera. I walked up to him and said, "Excuse me, Rob--could I get your autograph?" and he said "Sure, can you hang on a second?" and I was like oh no, I interrupted something...but he put a couple things in his pocket and took my pen (I didn't even have the cap off for him--UGH!) he tried to write w/it before realizing he had to take the cap off. He did it, then handed it back w/a smile and I asked for a pic he said "sure" then this other girl came up w/something for him to sign and he took it and signed it then looked to see another few people in line, so he turned to me and said, "Where's the camera?" and I pointed to Beth and we posed. I thanked him and he said, "You're welcome." AHHHHHHH, a pic I got his pic and autograph! I was so excited.

About half an hour later, I look over to Rob's spot...and there was BRET WITH ROB! OMG! We went over there and I approached Bret. I was in line behind 3 other people...one girl about 8 was in front of me with her autograph book open to the first page. I thought, this must be exciting for her to get her first autograph. Then I realized that Rob had really been my first autograph. So, Bret was very nice and I asked for the autograph and pic and he politely said "Sure" to both. I thanked him--he said you're welcome. I took my Happy Ending CD pamphlet over to my seat and stared at the two signatures. Wow. I said to Beth and Matt, I don't know if I can get that 3rd signature...what do you think? And they were like, well...

So, Rhythm Method is a cover band and they were excellent. They are a local band for Milwaukee and had a fanbase there. The lead singer made a few jokes about being before D*--they had a nice attitude about the whole thing. He said that he was glad to see they'd finally gotten the 3 ft. barricades for them...and he guessed they'd probably leave them up for the 'other performers' while they were at it. He asked at one point: anyone ever seen the Matrix? Just a really nice guy and he had a great voice. It was nice to be fully entertained by them instead of just sitting there in waiting for the main event. That wouldn't have been fair to Rhythm Method.

So, finally, it's minutes away. There had been some sound checks done by anonymous guys. Suddenly and very unexpectedly, Keanu just walks out by himself up to some guy on stage and says something to him and starts to walk away. Everyone starts screaming and he turned around and smiled and gave a casual wave before going off. He was wearing a navy tee. Everyone had gotten used to seeing this one stage guy walking around that looked a little like Keanu and he was wearing a dark blue tee. There was a delayed reaction to Keanu coming out cuz they all had thought it was the other guy for a sec.

THE SHOW

After Keanu had been on stage for that short moment, I looked around at the crowd and it went on and on. People were pushing and shoving--latecomers trying to get close and there was just no way it was happening. Everyone was standing on their benches. No one was sitting. Girls on guys shoulders. It was dark...the stage lights came on and they came out. The crowd went crazy and Keanu smiled over at Bret. They without a word, launched into Alarming. The three of them were very into what they were doing. They looked to be having the time of their lives.

As for the playlist, I can't give you a perfect report. I can say that it started off exactly like the last reported playlist.

1. Alarming
2. Slipping Down
3. Halo
4. Enemies
5. Cornerstore
6. Superstar
7. (two songs I don't know which must have been I Confess and Your World)
8. Stagger
9. A Dreamtime
10. Swim
11. Goodbye

1. Blown Away
2. a Ramones cover that I don't know
3. Bret's solo
4. 32 Stories
5. America

I hope I'm close to right on that. I know there have been such accurate reports before. I admit that I was 5 beers into it, so my ability to track the show was hindered. Not to mention I was so focused on taking pics which I didn't know would not turn out well or I wouldn't have spent so much time doing them. And, I'd listened to Dogstar CD's the entire day before and that very morning.

Keanu did his usual by the descriptions I've read. He mostly looked down, only occasionally glancing up which was met with hysteria...he would smile and look down or look at Bret. But, he did a lot of head bobbing and challenged Bret a couple times. Bret once came over to Keanu and butted Keanu's shoulder with his head like a billy goat. It was so cute. Keanu smiled and kept playing his heart out. It was a nice exchange. There were a lot of hands in the air with the ASL 'I love you' sign. Keanu responded with the gesture of putting his hand to his heart.

I found myself wondering how far out into the crowd they could see. Did they know the hands were out there in the air rows and rows and rows away?

Bret had really been into his playing, too. And his solo was met with a lot of enthusiasm. I got some pictures of him on stage that I hope will turn out. He had quite a stage presence. After his solo, Rob and Keanu came back out and Keanu said into the microphone, "Mr. Bret Domrose". He said it with his back to the audience like he was just too shy to look at us. Bret said some things about the nice weather we had that night and how much they liked playing outdoors so they could "turn it up". He also said that Keanu had had his bass made especially for the holiday. I didn't know if he was serious or kidding. I've not noticed the stars and stripes bass in the past. Judging from the reactions of the more experienced show-goers, I'd say it was new.

Rob was, as always, a little hidden in the back. But he had his shorts on, which I expected and had that nice little drum solo thing that showed off his talent. Beth wants him bad. We may have a new D* fan, folks. Sometimes people don't set out to become fans, but do.

When they left the stage the second time, a guy came out and started taking the drums apart so we knew they meant it. The first time they'd left (before the enocore), the Keanu lookalike had come out and acted like he was going to take the drums apart, but he didn't, so I knew they'd be back. Once we knew they were really gone this time, we headed for the stage door to the right of the stage. Since this stage was freestanding, we knew they'd have to come out that door to get out of the stadium.

THE POSTSHOW

So, we headed over to the stage door to see a crowd of I'm guessing 200-250+ people. I was like, wow, I wonder how they're going to get them out of here. At this point, it was 11:10 pm. The park was closed at midnight. So, I said, they'll probably just stay in there til this place is closed and they call in the military to get us out of here.

People were there determined to see Keanu. I, myself, was standing there with my CD pamphlet hoping for the third autograph. A girl looked down at the pamphlet in my hand and said, "Girl, you ain't gonna get that signed." There was no van around to get them so I knew nothing was gonna happen til some sort of vehicle came for them. Finally, a van very slowly came creeping in...directed by security inch by inch. The van was driven by a woman. Some security guys came and loaded in a couple cases of beer and something that said "The Sheraton" on it. So everyone was like, oh, they're going to the Sheraton.

As time went on, people started complaining. I was like, man, these people are irate and I don't know what they honestly expect. It's not safe for anyone for Keanu/D* to come out here. The crowd could get run over by the van or tip it over if they wanted to.

The van lady was cool. She took it all in stride despite the many crazy stories people were throwing at her about why they HAD to see Keanu. They begged her to tell them where she was taking the guys. She said she couldn't tell. They said, PULLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAAZZZZZZEEEEEE! She said, can't tell ya. They said, really? Oh come ON! She was like, nope. They said we won't tell anyone you told us. She said, okay--Motel 6, but I don't know which one. Stuck to her guns.

There was a lady in front of me with a little boy in her arms that looked to be about 4 years old. She told the van driver that the boy's name was Keanu and he was very disappointed that he couldn't see his namesake. The van lady looked reasonably apologetic, but said she could not help. Then it was about 12:00 and the security people started yelling that the park was closed and everyone had to leave. Some people listened. Some, like me, were like I don't think they really mean it.

In about 10 minutes time, I was the only one by the van lady's window left. I was very seriously considering delivering my own really lame I HAVE to see Keanu story (prepared speech: "But, I already HAVE Bret and Rob's autographs...I NEED Keanu's to finish the set! Puhleeeze!") when she said OMG! There's Keanu out in front of the stage!!! I was like what? Nooooo... and she said, I AM SERIOUS THERE HE GOES...GO OVER THERE!! Just then, Beth yelled over, "Tammy, Keanu's over here! Hurry, hurry!" And I did.

I ran over and could see the pale green shirt and medium blue bluejeans he'd worn for the show. I simply walked in the first aisle past many people who seemed sort of awestruck and paralyzed. The aisle behind those up against the railing separating the crowd from Keanu was clear...so, I just walked. Finally, I got about 5 ft. away from him. He was signing and signing, the crowd was very subdued, but I started to worry that he couldn't do everyone...so I held out the CD pamphlet and said, "Keanu, please?" And he looked me in the eye, took it, signed it and handed it back. I thanked him and I think he said you're welcome. I had what I'd wanted, but I still couldn't move--I was pinned in by the crowd. I just looked at him. Someone next to me handed him the QF CD and he looked at them, signed it then went to hand it to me, looked me in the eye, then realized it didn't belong to me and looked next to me to find the person it belonged to. (He's paying attention to us out there, folks!) He worked his way down the line and the crowd pushed that way so I let it carry me that way. He gave hugs and kisses when asked, took pictures with people. I, of course, was OUT OF FILM! So, no pic w/Keanu. And, then I found myself greedily wanting some kind of physical contact, too. Is it wrong? I felt a little wrong, but when he came back my way, I stuck out my hand and said, "Keanu" and there were a bunch of hands w/things to sign sticking out and he took one, signed, then gave it back. He then took my left hand in his right one and shook it, but it's not a real handshake that way...it's more like holding hands. At least, that's how I prefer to think of it...heh heh. Then I wanted to even ask for a hug. I know, I know it's terrible. When is enough enough? But, then he said he had to go and some people started kind of pulling back and he kept signing for a minute and I finally saw an opening to get out of the crowd and pulled back myself. I looked back to see him signing away once more then went over to the van and thanked the van driver for telling me to get over there when she saw him. She looked kind of surprised and said, you're welcome. I told her, I'd gotten all the guys' autographs that day and she said, well, good goin'.

I found Beth and Matt. Matt had shaken Keanu's hand and handed something up to be signed for someone who couldn't reach Keanu. We walked along talking about how successful the D* Adventure had been. We then saw the van drive by slowly toward the park gate. Even though the van windows were tinted and I couldn't see anybody but the driver, I waved.

It was quite a day. Can't wait for my next D* show.