Indianapolis, IN. — Dogstar brought the All In Now Tour to the Egyptian Room at Old National Centre on August 25, delivering an evening of straightforward, melodic alternative rock with support from rising indie-rock outfit The Backfires. The tour follows the May release of Dogstar’s latest album, All In Now, the trio’s second record since reuniting after more than two decades apart. Featuring Bret Domrose (lead vocals/guitar), Keanu Reeves (bass), and Robert Mailhouse (drums), Dogstar’s return has evolved well beyond nostalgia, with the band sounding increasingly comfortable embracing both its history and the new chapter that began with 2023’s Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees.
Opening the evening, The Backfires brought a youthful burst of indie-rock energy to the Egyptian Room. The transatlantic band features Alex Gomez (lead vocals/guitar), Harry Ruprecht (guitar), Matt Walter (bass), and Max Wanduragala (drums), combining bright guitar hooks, driving rhythms, and an infectious sense of momentum. Touring behind their newly released album Stardust, The Backfires have proven to be a natural complement to Dogstar throughout the tour, offering a modern indie-rock edge while retaining the guitar-driven foundation that connects both bands. Their energetic, confident performance gives the Indianapolis crowd considerably more than the typical opening set and provides a strong introduction to a band quickly building its own identity.
THE BACKFIRES: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | X | YOUTUBE
When Dogstar takes the stage, the focus is firmly on the chemistry between three musicians who clearly still enjoy making music together. Domrose carries the melodic center of the performance, his understated vocals and guitar work giving the songs their distinctive warmth, while Mailhouse provides a steady, muscular backbone from behind the kit. Reeves remains locked into the rhythm section, delivering bass lines that are prominent without overwhelming the songs and interacting naturally with his longtime bandmates. Rather than leaning on elaborate production or theatrical spectacle, Dogstar allows the music to do the heavy lifting, moving between atmospheric passages, crunchy guitar-driven rock and the melodic songwriting that has remained central to the band’s sound throughout its career. Recent material from All In Now fits comfortably alongside songs from the band’s earlier catalog, demonstrating just how naturally Dogstar’s past and present now coexist.
DOGSTAR: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE
SETLIST: INDIANAPOLIS
SIREN * RUNAWAY * THIS SPHERE * JOY * WING * HOW THE STORY ENDS * EVERYTHING TURNS AROUND * CAN’T HARDLY WAIT (The Replacements cover) * GLIMMER * MATH * THE WHISPER * SHARDS OF RAIN * EXALTED * WHAT IS * MARMALADE * ALL IN NOW
More than three decades after Dogstar first came together, the All In Now Tour finds Domrose, Reeves and Mailhouse sounding less like a band revisiting its past and more like one fully invested in its future. Inside the intimate surroundings of the Egyptian Room, that renewed commitment translates into a performance built on musicianship, friendship and an obvious enthusiasm for simply playing together. With The Backfires providing an energetic start and Dogstar delivering a set that balances its newest material with the alternative-rock foundation established years ago, the Indianapolis stop serves as another reminder that Dogstar’s unexpected second act has developed into something far more substantial than a reunion.
Show Date: 08.25.26 – Indianapolis
