For a band whose bassist happens to be one of the most recognisable actors on the planet, Dogstar seem remarkably uninterested in making a fuss. That doesn’t mean the fuss isn’t there.
Bret Domrose & Keanu Reeves of Dogstar @ Roundhouse
Long before the lights dim inside London’s Roundhouse, the signs are obvious. One fan stands centre barrier dressed as Neo from The Matrix. Another waits for a gap in the crowd noise to shout “Go on John Wick!” as Keanu Reeves emerges from the darkness to collect his bass from the back of the stage. Plenty have come to see the Hollywood A-lister in the flesh. Sure, they may well be in town as the Download Festival roadshow offers the opportunity — they play the festival the following day, but what Dogstar spend the next 72 minutes proving is that they’re here to focus on the music.
Dogstar @ Roundhouse
Without introduction, the trio dive straight into Siren, taken from newly released fourth album All In Now. Robert Mailhouse’s driving beat and Reeves’ uncomplicated basslines provide the platform for Bret Domrose’s warm vocals and wah-infused guitar work. It immediately sets the tone for the evening: direct, unfussy and refreshingly free of rock star theatrics.
The songs come thick and fast. Lust and How The Story Ends arrive in quick succession, jangling guitars ringing around the circular former railway engine shed. There are barely any pauses between tracks. Dogstar appear determined to fit as much music as possible into the evening, rattling through songs with military efficiency.
When Domrose finally stops to address the audience, it’s with genuine appreciation rather than grandstanding. “Good evening, Roundhouse. All the way around. Thank you very much for coming. This is a special night for any band to get to play here, so thanks for joining us,” he says before leading the band into the slow-burning Everything Turns Around.
The release-week glow surrounding All In Now naturally means the new material dominates proceedings. Before launching into the haunting Joy, Domrose checks the room’s homework. “Anybody heard the new record yet?” he asks, drawing enthusiastic cheers. “The rest of you get out and listen to it.”
Bret Domrose of Dogstar @ Roundhouse
The newer songs often prove to be the evening’s strongest moments. Album closer Wing sees Reeves’ bass resonating through the Roundhouse, sitting prominently above Domrose’s gentle guitar work and Mailhouse’s restrained drumming before the track swells dramatically during its chorus. The excellent This Sphere shifts gears completely, Mailhouse’s fast-paced drumming injecting fresh energy into a crowd that has largely been content to nod along rather than lose itself in the music. As Domrose sings, “Happiness is bulletproof all around this sphere,” the lyric feels particularly fitting inside one of London’s most distinctive circular venues.
Not everything hits with the same impact. The sunshine-soaked Blonde glistens with sugary melodies and bright guitar textures but never quite leaves a lasting impression. Glimmer follows by taking the pace down again, its haunting atmosphere allowing the venue a moment to catch its breath. Elsewhere, Math benefits from one of Reeves’ most memorable bass performances of the night, the driving low-end groove underpinning the song before Domrose’s fuzzy wah pedal takes centre stage. Introducing The Whisper, the frontman reveals the song’s origins.
“Anybody ever been to San Francisco?” he asks. The audience cheers in response. “As much fun as I’ve had on pub crawls in your lovely city, I had a really good pub crawl in San Francisco. Sorta inspired these lyrics I think.” Mailhouse immediately counts the band in and the story is over almost as quickly as it begins.
That brevity extends to much of the evening’s stage banter. Yet one aspect of the production deserves particular praise. Positioned prominently to the left of Domrose throughout the performance is a sign language interpreter, translating both lyrics and between-song conversation for Deaf and hard-of-hearing fans. Having struggled earlier in the evening myself to communicate with a Deaf fan pressed against the barrier who was trying to ask me something, the significance of the interpreter’s presence feels particularly apparent. It’s a thoughtful inclusion that reflects Dogstar’s commitment to making their shows accessible to everyone.
Dogstar @ Roundhouse
As the set moves into its final stretch, Mailhouse takes a moment to introduce his bandmates. Describing Domrose as “money in the bank” before introducing Reeves as being “from … everywhere … our own Keanu Reeves baby!”, he receives the loudest audience reaction of the night. Of course.
Keanu Reeves of Dogstar @ Roundhouse
The frontman returns the favour moments later. “And what would a band be without a drummer?” he jokes. “I guess it’d be Simon & Garfunkel.” The laugh quickly gives way to something more heartfelt. “We’re all very blessed to have met up with each other and become the brothers that none of us ever had.” The sentiment draws a collective chorus of approving “ahhhs” from the audience and offers a glimpse into the chemistry that allowed the trio to reunite in 2020, almost two decades after their original run ended.
The final stretch barely pauses for breath. Exalted, Runway and What Is flow seamlessly into one another before unreleased track Marmalade is dedicated to Sawyer, a fan the band had met earlier in the day. The main set concludes with the title track All In Now, before Dogstar make only the briefest exit from the stage.
Bret Domrose of Dogstar @ Roundhouse
The encore is similarly economical. Punch The Sky opens with crunchy guitars before briefly making room for Reeves’ bass to shine. At the song’s conclusion, Domrose continues teasing notes from his guitar before laughing: “That guitar sounded so good I needed to hear a little more.” The crowd responds warmly before Shallow Easy and a rousing Breach bring proceedings to a close. As the final notes ring out, Domrose offers one last thank you. “Thank you for making it a great record release week for us. Thank you Roundhouse for letting us all party together.” And with that, Dogstar disappear into the darkness.
The entire show is over in little more than an hour. Twenty songs flash by in what feels like the blink of an eye. There is limited showmanship, sparse lighting and very little audience interaction beyond the occasional anecdote or expression of gratitude. Yet that restraint ultimately becomes one of the evening’s strengths. Many arrive hoping to see Keanu Reeves. What they leave having witnessed is something much more rewarding: a genuine band of three lifelong friends, quietly and confidently delivering sharp alternative rock on one of London’s most iconic stages.
Live review and photography of Dogstar @ Roundhouse, Camden by Kalpesh Patel on 13th June 2026.
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