September 12, 2000
By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
"The Watcher," America's
No. 1 film, isn't the the only project where Keanu Reeves shuns top billing.
He's been doing it for years
in the rock band Dogstar.
The star of "The Matrix"
is very aware that his status as an actor will overpower anything that
his formidable band Dogstar accomplishes.
So two hours before his
group's concert Monday night at the House of Blues, Reeves plays his reserved
bassist role to the hilt--politely deferring to singer Bret Domrose and
drummer Rob Mailhouse during an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times.
"It would behoove us to
tour to promote our new record [`Happy Ending']," says Reeves, wearing
blue jeans, a black shirt with a tiny hole at the neck and a black jacket.
"We visit radio stations when we can and do shows when we can. But we can't
[really tour right] now, so we try to do what we can."
They can't hit the road
for an extended period right now because of Reeves' film career. He's currently
shooting "Hardball" in Chicago, which leaves only Sundays and Mondays--not
exactly the hottest concert nights--to promote his band.
"Hardball" has come under
fire recently from Mayor Daley, the media and some parents who are concerned
that the film's child actors are being required to swear a heck of a lot.
But Reeves doesn't bear a grudge against the city, though he says he finds
the criticism frustrating--especially since all the children are tutored
on set.
"The movie is going well,"
he diplomatically says. "The cast, kids and director are all great. I'm
really enjoying myself here. I always do."
Reeves--who filmed "The
Watcher" and "Chain Reaction" here--reveals that while the bulk of the
next two "Matrix" films will be shot next year in Australia, filmmakers
Larry and Andy Wachowski are discussing shooting parts of the sequels in
Chicago.
"They've been talking about
it and I'd love it," says Reeves. "Chicago has always been kind to me.
And the people who come to our concerts have always been really good."
Not like D.C., where a woman
put her 2-year-old daughter onstage.
"There were about four cities,
actually, where people would put their kids onstage," says Domrose. "They'd
say that their babies were getting smashed and would want security to take
the kids backstage, so that they would have an excuse to come backstage.
Lame."
Because Reeves' acting career
keeps him on location so often, Domrose and Mailhouse often have to travel
to wherever their bassist is working. When Reeves was shooting ``The Matrix''
in Australia, Reeves showed Domrose some of the ``movie kung fu'' he had
learned from his fight choreographers.
``He threw me into a Christmas
tree!'' Domrose says, laughing. ``That was after he jumped on my chest.
I suppose it serves me right. I started it.''
Noshing on a plate of ribs,
Mailhouse adds, ``I watched. I'm just the drummer. I don't fight.''
Maybe not physically. But
during their five-year career, the musicians have had to fight the perception
that Dogstar is just another sideline vanity project for a bored movie
star. But as their musicianship improved, the group has honed a pop-influenced
rock sound that is not unlike the songs being cranked out by Third Eye
Blind, Gas Giants and Matchbox 20.
"I like being the underdog,"
says Mailhouse. "It works for us because there is no pressure on us whatsoever."
They don't even mind the
occassional unruly crowd, such as the English ``fans'' who eyed them suspiciously
at the Glastenbury Festival.i'm not sure i spelled this right! Rumor
had it that they were pelted with shoes.
``No, that's false,'' says
Reeves. ``There were a couple of wasted people out front but I kind of
dug it. It was funny. They were like, `Yeah, there's this band with the
actor in it from America. Let's throw shit.' Can't say that I blame them."
Much-improved Dogstar rocks at free concert
A couple of words about Dogstar.
No, Keanu Reeves doesn't sing. And yes, the band can play.
At a free, 45-minute concert
at the House of Blues Monday night, the three-man group rocked hard onstage,
lending a punky edge to the material. Much of Dogstar's set list was culled
from "Happy Ending," its newly released U.S. debut album.
Like Ricky Nelson, David
Cassidy and Rick Springfield before him, Reeves has a day job. But unlike
those TV stars, this movie star takes a supporting role. He and drummer
Rob Mailhouse lay down the pounding foundation for the group, which is
fronted by guitarist-singer Bret Domrose.
Since its inception five
years ago, the group has improved in musicianship and taken on a confidence
that was sorely lacking at Dogstar's 1995 Chicago debut at the Park West.
Back then, it aimed for Pearl Jam by way of Green Day and fell short.
These days, Dogstar's playing
is sturdy and the band's original songs have a melodic pop influence that
suits Domrose's throaty vocals. On tunes such as "Cornerstore," Domrose
reveals the same quivering tenor as Charlie Sexton in his prime.
Reeves is no dilettante.
He won't set Paul McCartney quaking in his Beatle boots, but his playing
is energetic and effective, especially in punk-flavored numbers.
There was a certain irony,
though, when the band covered the Carpenters' ``Superstar,'' considering
it has one in its own fold.
And the predominantly female
fans noticed. But the fact is, regardless of why they came, the fans left
having heard some solid rock 'n' roll.
Fans who missed this show
can look forward to another Dogstar concert Oct. 9, probably at the House
of Blues.
Read more about Keanu Reeves:
Where's Keanu?
Dogstar concert review (1999)
Matrix Reloaded (2003)
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