Why Dogstar's comeback is still comeback-ing

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The members of Dogstar were trying to manage expectations.Their expectations.Almost exactly three years ago, this Los Angeles-based alt-rock trio ventured up to Napa’s annual BottleRock festival to play its first public gig in more than two decades.Dogstar had built a small but devoted audience in the post-grunge 1990s before splitting up in 2002, not long after the band’s movie-star bassist, Keanu Reeves, red-pilled himself into sci-fi history as Neo in “The Matrix.” Now the group was reconnecting on a bill that also featured Post Malone and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.“Ten minutes before we go on, I look out and it’s empty,” singer-guitarist Bret Domrose recalls.

“Massive green lawn.I’m like, This sucks, but I get it — we’re this band no one’s heard from in a while.

So I go back with the guys and we do our little huddle.” He laughs.“Then we come out, and it’s f—ing packed.”“And people stuck around — they didn’t leave,” adds drummer Robert Mailhouse.

“That show really set us off on our journey.”Indeed, Dogstar’s return — which spawned a 2023 reunion album, “Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees,” and a world tour of nearly 100 dates — went well enough that the comeback has continued: Last week, the band released a second phase-two LP, “All In Now,” and it’s set to spend the summer on the road in Europe and the United States.Before Dogstar heads overseas, the trio will perform Tuesday night at the Grammy Museum in downtown L.A.

Music The veteran California punk band has a new album, ‘Born to Kill,’ that follows Ness’ experience with cancer.“I can only speak for myself, but I think we all feel this way: This is way more fun now than it’s ever been,” Domrose says as Reeves and Mailhouse nod in agreement.The three are gathered over beers on a recent afternoon at Pasadena’s Sid the Cat Auditorium;...