In a “most excellent” display of rock, Dogstar—featuring Hollywood outsider favorite Keanu Reeves on bass—played to a sold-out Catalyst main room last night. The air was more electrified than the batteries of the Matrix as everyone anxiously waited to get a glimpse of the star. Despite the show starting at 8pm, Catalyst staff had been at the club since 10am setting up the stage and keeping fans away from the tour buses all day.
Yet despite the early call time, stage managers, runners and security were in as good of spirits as the fans later in the evening. That’s just the magic of Keanu.
While the official time the doors opened was 7pm, VIP lanyard ticket holders were allowed in 20 minutes before. A group of 50 or so individuals rushed to the front of the stage to stake their place. Every once in a while a friend from any given group would go to the bar and place an order of drinks to bring back while the crowd broke into cheers whenever the door to the green room opened.
By the time opening band Sons of Silver hit the stage, the Catalyst bars were in full gear cranking out drinks to thirsty crowds. The Los Angeles five piece is touring off their latest single, “Running Out of Words,” ahead of the release of their debut full-length, Runaway Emotions. Featuring former members of Pearl Jam, Candlebox and Skillet, Sons of Silver brings a certified classic rock sound with a twist from keyboardist Brina Kabler. Their first time in Santa Cruz and at the Catalyst, Sons of Silver singer Peter Argyropoulos acknowledged the venue’s historic past.
“It’s good to be in a proper rock ’n’ roll club,” he told the audience, noting the current Summer Vacation Tour with Dogstar has taken the bands to multiple casino resort shows.
After a 20-minute or so break between bands, the crowd erupted as the three-piece Dogstar took the stage. They opened the set with “Blonde,” an Echo & the Bunnymen-esque song that also opens Dogstar’s new album, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and the Palm Trees, which came out in October 2023. Throughout the set they played a number of new tracks, such as the break-up ballads “How The Story Ends” and “Glimmer” along with an energetic anthem, “Breach.”
After a quick five-minute break, Dogstar returned for a four-song encore that included lively cover versions of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” and The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated,” maybe or maybe not in honor of the day being the 20th anniversary of the death of Johnny Ramone.
As they closed out the set, singer Bret Domrose—a Santa Clara native who has also acted in movies like The Replacements with bassist Reeves and previously played bass in San Francisco new wave punk act The Nuns—told the Catalyst he was once in a local band as “a kid” that tried to play the venue but couldn’t get a gig.
“So thanks for finally letting me in,” he joked before the band walked off stage.
Living up to his reputation as a “regular person” and grateful star, Reeves re-emerged once most of the venue cleared out to greet fans and hang out with old friends. Before heading back onto the bus he signed autographs and took a couple of photos with some lucky fans while rocking a comfy pair of UGG boots. Like his character in The Devil’s Advocate said, it’s “free will after all.”
Yes…..”free will after all”