ShouldaWouldaCoulda #1 - Dr. Boogie

Photo: Jeremy White

To kick things off I want to write about one of the previously mentioned bands that quit before I had ever heard about them. 

The first song I heard hit me like a freight train and I instantly fell head over heels for this band. Fast & loose guitar riffs with a rhythm section tight and full of swagger, raspy vocals delivered with attitude & conviction. Hand claps, horns & honky tonk piano added for extra flavor, these guys played pure rock n’ roll.

Dr. Boogie was founded in L.A. in 2014 & released their first E.P. the same year. The self titled release consist of 3 sizzling hot tracks that wouldn’t seem misplaced on a Faces record. 

The next year saw the release of their first, and sadly only, full length record “Gotta Get Back to New York City” through Dead Beat Records. Opening with the title track, a blast of guitar violence & a chorus so infectious you can’t help wanting to yell along until your vocal-chords bleed. There’s not a dull moment on this record, every single song delivers down n’ dirty rock n’ roll in the vein of the Faces & New York Dolls.

Dr. Boogie released a couple more great singles after the album, “She’s So Tuff”, “Peanut Butter Blues” through Spaghetty Town Records, and most recently “Bad Situation/I Need a Gun” in 2018. Three months later they announced the band had quit.

This is one of those bands that would’ve been huge if only they were around a couple of decades ago. Dr. Boogie delivered quality devil-may-care rawk. I hope to find out when these guys have new bands going.

Get their records: https://shop.dead-beat-records.com/collections/dr-boogie

Gotta Get Back to New York City on Spotify: