The Wake

Smokers gather outside the Triple Rock Social Club, enjoying the brisk air and taking a break from the packed club. They were waiting to see Dosh and celebrate the release of his latest album “The Lost Take.”

“Excuse me, pardon me,” says a college-aged woman, holding a drink. “I’m not trying to shove anybody. I just have to get to the other side.”

As the fan squeezes her way through the crowd to catch a closer look of Dosh and the band on stage, a man in a newsboy cap positions himself in the back of the room by the bar, closing his eyes as the band’s first notes trickle in.

Dosh, accompanied by a bass, guitar, keyboard, violin, drums and saxophone, begins the show with a whimsical, peaceful number. The sound they produce is an ideal soundtrack for a person strolling through a vast, open prairie against an endless blue sky or for relaxing on a Sunday afternoon.

The man in the newsboy cap does not sway from position during the passionately played opening song. When the crowd erupts into applause, the man claps with outstanding vigor– eyes still closed.

Soul and passion are perfect words to describe Dosh’s performance. A few songs in, he takes a moment to thank everyone for making it out to the show. He continues, “You know, people always ask me what it is I exactly do. And I say, ‘I make beats, yo!’”

The crowd chuckles and the eccentric musician begins dropping electro pulses into the set, while the band adds mellow and haunting notes.

As the band took a short break to leave Dosh fending for himself, the crowd erupted in applause, shouting, “Dosh is God!”

Clearly, Dosh’s heavenly sounds have entered the soul, where they’re guaranteed to leave a deep impression.

Categorizing Dosh’s sound is easier said than done. The eccentric mix would probably be filed under “rock” in your local record store, but the latest album showcases more. It’s an intriguing blend of hip-hop, jazz, electro and rock that creates an experimentalist sound all its own.

Dosh’s style is an eclectic journey and watching the crowd’s reactions to the music is as interesting as the music itself. It’s their expressions and feelings that create the experience. While some bobbed their heads slowly, others were on the dance floor grinding.

Despite his musical genius, Dosh admits just how normal he is, telling the crowd that when he was practicing in his basement he became so nervous he had an out-of-body experience. With the help of his band, who he claims only practiced with him for three or four hours, his nerves were calmed. Judging by the fans, nobody would have been able to tell that he was nervous. With that confession off his chest, Dosh got the crowd involved.

“OK, we’re going to make a loop right now,” he said, handing a microphone down to people in the front row. “Just pass the mic around and say something with one syllable.”

Sounds like “Wooo,” “Yeah,” and “Ick” become an on-the-spot loop. “See, anybody can help make a loop,” Dosh said to his honorary music collaborators.

Dosh’s style balances simple overtones with more complex elements, and the end result is utter perfection, thanks to the passion that he puts into his art.