SLCene Suggests: The Moondoggies at The Urban Lounge

THE MOONDOGGIES, THE URBAN LOUNGE, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 9 p.m., $8

I’ve seen a few Moondoggies shows–a couple of criminally under-attended past shows in Salt Lake City, and a packed gig in Chicago–and they’ve never disappointed, no matter what the size of the crowd. The Seattle roots-rock crew lace their songs with some incredible harmonies as well as genuine grit, and I’m a sucker for that kind of musical approach. The band’s new album, Adios I’m a Ghost, might be their best yet. You’ll hear the influence of obvious benchmarks like Neil Young and Crazy Horse, as well as that of modern folk-rock peers like Fleet Foxes, but it’s also the boldest statement of what The Moondoggies are to date. The addition of multi-instrumentalist Jon Pontrello helps the core original quartet go in some exciting new directions that should be even more pronounced during their always-epic live show. The Hollering Pines and David Williams open the show.