Dogstar
W/The Backfires
September 15th, 2026
Showbox, Seattle, WA
Dogstar in Seattle: A Band, Not a Celebrity Side Project
In a sold out Showbox on a Wednesday night, Dogstar’s Seattle performance made a convincing case that the band deserves to be heard on its own terms. While Keanu Reeves naturally draws attention, his name carries a gravitational pull that is difficult to escape.
The night ultimately belonged to the music.
At the heart of the performance were Bret Domrose and Rob Mailhouse, whose contributions made it clear that Dogstar is very much a three-piece band. Domrose’s vocals and guitar gave the songs their emotional center, shifting comfortably between the more reflective moments and the hard driving rock everyone enjoyed, while Mailhouse provided the steady, energetic drumming that kept everything moving. Together, Domrose and Mailhouse brought a confidence and cohesion to the stage that complemented Reeves’ bass playing and reminded longtime fans that Dogstar’s identity has always been built on the chemistry of all three members.
The trio sounded like a working rock band with genuine chemistry, rather than a celebrity project built around Reeves’ presence. Reeves’ role on bass was understated, and that worked in the band’s favor. Rather than turning every moment into a spectacle, he played as part of the ensemble. The more compelling story was the interaction among the three musicians, the way they locked into grooves, responded to one another and gradually built momentum as the set progressed.
The sold out crowd was clearly aware of the novelty surrounding Reeves, but Dogstar largely resisted becoming a novelty act. As the performance unfolded, the celebrity factor receded and the songs took over. What made the Seattle performance especially rewarding for longtime fans was hearing that familiar Dogstar chemistry come alive in venue designed to feel at home. The songs had the same character that fans have come to appreciate, but the live setting gave them another dimension.
There was a sense of recognition throughout the set, as familiar moments landed with a crowd that clearly knew the material, while the band’s interaction onstage gave even well-known songs a fresh energy. For those who were there, it felt less like witnessing a celebrity side project and more like catching Dogstar doing what they do best, playing together.
There were moments when the performance felt especially loose and authentic, about half way through the show when ‘Everything Turns Around’ spun up, the crowd and the band hit their stride and the crowd was fully bought in.
Dogstar has the kind of chemistry that comes from musicians who have spent years playing together. That familiarity gave the show its character. The appeal wasn't watching a movie star play bass; it was watching three musicians find their rhythm together onstage.
By the end of their performance, after they played their newest single, “All In Now”, and everyone had left the stage, the crowd chanted one more song until the trio returned for an encore of “Punch the sky”, “Shallow Easy” and “Breach”.
As the venue cooled down and people filtered out, the most interesting takeaway from the night wasn't “Keanu Reeves plays in a band.” It was that Dogstar actually is still a great band. One capable of carrying an evening through musicianship, chemistry and songs without relying on celebrity to do the heavy lifting.
After 30 years of playing together, you can see they are in it for more than fame. Check out the pictures below to see what I mean.
