Biography
A Giant Dog, the Austin-based outfit, infuse their hook-laden indie rock with rowdy tavern vitality, shifting across a spectrum that stretches from straightforward riff-powered anthems to ornate glam spectacle. The combo first appeared on record in 2010 via the House EP, which soon drew notice from Spoon's Britt Daniel and led to a Merge contract several years afterward. National notice arrived with the 2016 Merge debut Pile, after which they issued the comparably styled Toy the following year. Subsequent efforts found the group venturing further afield, delivering a complete rendition of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible and unveiling the fantastical concept album Bite in 2023.
Sabrina Ellis on vocals, Andrew Cashen handling vocals and guitar, and Orville Neeley on drums launched the band in 2008; the three had already collaborated while attending high school in Houston. They added Andy Bauer on guitar and Graham Low on bass, then launched into a liquor-fueled blend of glam, garage, and punk throughout Texas' capital city, issuing the House EP in 2010 before following it in 2012 with the full-length Fight. Fellow Austinite and Spoon frontman Britt Daniel responded by bringing them along on a nationwide tour in 2012. After the self-released Bone LP appeared in 2013, A Giant Dog entered an agreement with the respected indie label Merge. Teaming with Spoon producer Mike McCarthy, they cut Pile, which reached stores in spring 2016. They wasted no time, returning the next year with Toy—their fourth album—which intensified the group's aggressive party-rock stance. Their subsequent project took an unexpected turn, consisting of a full Merge cover of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. Having weighed Prince's Purple Rain and Queen's Sheer Heart Attack as options, the band settled on Neon Bible, citing the source material's political and social unease as relevant to America in 2019. In 2021 they recorded a version of "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors for inclusion in Amy Poehler's film Moxie. Marking their first original material since 2017, A Giant Dog ventured into fresh terrain with the 2023 release Bite, a sweeping concept album that follows characters inside a virtual realm named Avalonia. The record's rich sonic textures and panoramic reach reflect the imprint of predecessors such as Electric Light Orchestra, Dio, and Ennio Morricone.
Sabrina Ellis on vocals, Andrew Cashen handling vocals and guitar, and Orville Neeley on drums launched the band in 2008; the three had already collaborated while attending high school in Houston. They added Andy Bauer on guitar and Graham Low on bass, then launched into a liquor-fueled blend of glam, garage, and punk throughout Texas' capital city, issuing the House EP in 2010 before following it in 2012 with the full-length Fight. Fellow Austinite and Spoon frontman Britt Daniel responded by bringing them along on a nationwide tour in 2012. After the self-released Bone LP appeared in 2013, A Giant Dog entered an agreement with the respected indie label Merge. Teaming with Spoon producer Mike McCarthy, they cut Pile, which reached stores in spring 2016. They wasted no time, returning the next year with Toy—their fourth album—which intensified the group's aggressive party-rock stance. Their subsequent project took an unexpected turn, consisting of a full Merge cover of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. Having weighed Prince's Purple Rain and Queen's Sheer Heart Attack as options, the band settled on Neon Bible, citing the source material's political and social unease as relevant to America in 2019. In 2021 they recorded a version of "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors for inclusion in Amy Poehler's film Moxie. Marking their first original material since 2017, A Giant Dog ventured into fresh terrain with the 2023 release Bite, a sweeping concept album that follows characters inside a virtual realm named Avalonia. The record's rich sonic textures and panoramic reach reflect the imprint of predecessors such as Electric Light Orchestra, Dio, and Ennio Morricone.
Albums
Singles
