A Giant Dog-A Daydream Single/Bite LP
“A Giant Dog” seems to be setting a high bar for themselves with the release of their ambitious new concept album, “Bite,” scheduled for August 25, 2023, via Merge Records. This Austin-based glam-punk quintet has crafted an intricate narrative that explores themes ranging from the dangers of virtual reality and addiction to gender dysphoria and ethical living in a capitalist society. It’s a significant departure from their previous works, displaying their growth and maturity as musicians and storytellers.
The described tracks, like “A Daydream,” showcase the rich variety of influences and textures the band is bringing to the album. The incorporation of orchestral strings, synthesizers, and new songwriting approaches indicate a desire to stretch their creative boundaries. The conceptual setting of Avalonia, a “virtual utopia,” offers a thematic framework that allows the band to delve into existential and societal issues.
The band’s decision to write a full-fledged screenplay to support the album underscores their commitment to the concept, providing fans with an opportunity to immerse themselves more deeply into the world of Avalonia. This may prove to be a unique and engaging way to explore the multifaceted themes within the album.
Recording the album in rural France, as described, seems to have further stimulated their creativity, providing them a different cultural perspective and inspiring environment to work within. Their descriptions of the experience are colorful and vivid, hinting at a strong connection between the place and the music they created.
Lyrically, the album appears to grapple with complex emotions and ideas. Lines like “My body can’t explain the things my mind don’t comprehend” from “Different Than,” exemplify the struggle with identity and societal pressures that resonate through the album. The mix of defiance and reflection within the songs could make for a potent musical experience.
Musical comparisons to Electric Light Orchestra, Ennio Morricone, Thin Lizzy, Dio, and Iron Maiden also hint at the expansive sonic landscape they’re aiming to create. By combining elements of punk, rock, orchestral arrangements, and futuristic sounds, “A Giant Dog” is attempting something quite extraordinary.
The success of such an ambitious project is never guaranteed, but the passion and innovation described here suggest that “Bite” could be a significant moment in the band’s career. Whether they succeed in realizing their vision fully or not, it’s clear that “A Giant Dog” is pushing themselves in exciting new directions, and their fans and the wider music community are likely to take notice. Their upcoming U.S. headline tour beginning in October may provide the perfect opportunity for audiences to experience this ambitious project live.
PRE-ORDER BITE
A GIANT DOG
WORLD TOUR 2023
August
18 – Parish (Album Release Show) – Austin, TX
19 – Parish – Austin, TX
24 – Woodstockeboda – Alvesta, SE
25 – Get Lost Fest – Hamburg, DE
26 – Gutter City Fest – Copenhagen, DK
29 – Siate Reis Pub – Halden, NO
30 – Kafe Hærverk – Oslo, NO
31 – Hus 7 – Stockholm, SE
September
1 – Hush Hush Club – Jonkoping, SE
2 – NGBG Fest – Malmö, SE
3 – An der Autobahn – Berlin, DE
5 – Reifenlager West – Essen, DE
6 – Merlevn – Nijmegen, NL
7 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, NL
8 – Mysty Fields – Asten-Heusden, NL
9 – Rock in the Barn – Vexin-sur-Epte, FR
10 – Frisson Acidulé – Vitry-sur-Sein, FR
13 – Le Trokson – Lyon, FR
14 – Secret Place – Montpellier, FR
15 – Gambeat Festival – Barcelona, ES
16 – El Diablo en el Esablo – Alcalà de Henares, ES
16 – Wurlitzer Ballroom – Madrid, ES
17 – Mojo Club – Tarragona, ES
19 – Il Fantasma dei Briganti – Cuneo, IT
20 – Blah Blah – Turin, IT
22 – Covo Club – Bologna, IT
24 – ISC Club – Bern, CH
25 – Horst – Kreuzlingen, CH
26 – Schokofabrik – Bayreuth, DE
27 – Immerhin – Würzburg, DE
28 – Alte Hackerei – Karlsruhe, DE
29 – Villa Nachttanz – Heidelberg, DE
30 – Spitalkirsche – Pfarrkirchen, DE
October
10 – Siberia – New Orleans, LA
11 – The EARL – Atlanta, GA
12 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
13 – Get Tight Lounge – Richmond, VA
14 – Metro – Baltimore, MD
15 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA
17 – The Middle East – Boston, MA
18 – The Sultan Room – Brooklyn, NY
19 – The Sultan Room – Brooklyn, NY
21 – 123 Pleasant St. – Morgantown, WV
22 – Spirit – Pittsburgh, PA
23 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
24 – Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL
25 – Icehouse – Minneapolis, MN
26 – Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
27 – Smoke and Barrel – Fayetteville, AR
28 – Mercury Lounge – Tulsa, OK
29 – Three Links Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX
November
6 – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
7 – HQ – Denver, CO
8 – Beehive – Salt Lake City, UT
9 – The Olympic – Boise, ID
10 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
11 – Dante’s Hifi – Portland, OR
13 – Bottom Of The Hill – San Francisco, CA
14 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
15 – Zebulon – Los Angeles, CA
16 – 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
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