Saucy Dog

Saucy Dog took shape in Osaka back in 2013 when singer-guitarist Shinya Ishihara started the project on his own. After rotating through several early collaborators, the band settled on bassist Akizawa Kazuki and drummer Seto Yuika as its permanent rhythm section. National recognition followed in 2016 when the trio captured the Grand Prix at MASH FIGHT, Vol. 5, securing both widespread attention and a deal with the MASH label. Their first release to reach stores nationwide arrived the next year in the form of the mini-album Country Road.

From that point forward the alt-rock group maintained an annual schedule of mini-albums while playing shows across Japan to strengthen their following. The band’s melodic, guitar-centered sound and emotionally charged vocals helped them build a broad audience throughout the country. Their 2021 mini-album Lazy Sunday produced the jangling, hook-filled single “Cinderella Boy,” which emerged as one of their strongest streaming successes. In 2023 they issued But Really, their seventh mini-album, and closed the year with the five-track EP Hashiyasume.