January 21–28, 1999

six pick

The Love Dogs

It is high time that The Love Dogs made their Philadelphia performance debut after tantalizing us with two blazing albums. Jump blues and jive (the post-World War II resurrection of swing) are the basis for this Boston band's sax-driven sound. The new record, Heavy Petting (Tone-Cool), opens with the kind of sax-and-rhythm groove that seemed only possible from Ray Charles. Big Joe Turner is lead singer Ed Scheer's hero, and, just like Turner, Scheer says that The Love Dogs play "rock 'n' roll from before the time it was called rock 'n' roll."

-Mary Armstrong

Thu., Jan. 21, North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar Sts., 215-235-STAR.