Keanu Reeves Reunites with Dogstar at BottleRock Napa Valley Festival 2023

Keanu Reeves delighted fans at the BottleRock Napa Valley Festival 2023 with a long-awaited reunion alongside his former band, Dogstar.

The renowned star of "The Matrix" took to the stage as the bassist, marking his first public performance with the group in over two decades, per Deadline.

Before their eagerly anticipated appearance, Robert Mailhouse, Reeves' bandmate, shared some insightful words with him.

"He was just super positive. He was like, 'Listen to the music. Just be present in the song, and it will go from there,'" he said.

Dogstar started in 1991 when Reeves and Mailhouse forged a friendship at a local supermarket. This fateful meeting laid the foundation for the band's formation, with Reeves on bass and backup vocals and Mailhouse as the drummer and percussionist, forming the core of the band's rhythm section.

A year later, Dogstar welcomed Gregg Miller as the lead guitarist and vocalist, adding a new dimension to their sound. However, Miller departed from the group in 1995, impacting their musical journey.

Undeterred by the change, Dogstar continued their musical voyage with Bret Domrose, who joined as a guitarist and vocalist in 1994 and replaced Miller when he left the band.

Keanu Reeves Band Dogstar Will Launch New Album, Maps Out Live Gigs

Keanu Reeves' band, Dogstar, is returning, ready to thrill fans with new music and live performances. The highly-anticipated reunion kicked off at BottleRock Napa Valley Festival 2023, a vibrant music festival taking place this weekend in California's beautiful Napa Valley, per STEREOGUM.

After a series of private shows to fine-tune their act, Dogstar took the stage and delivered an electric performance. Their setlist featured beloved tracks from their first two studio albums, the 1996 release "Our Little Visionary" and the 2000 record "Happy Ending." Additionally, the audience was treated to fresh material from the band's upcoming third album, which is currently untitled.

Expressing his passion for the band, Reeves shared his deep connection to the music, stating, "It's a space that I love and a space that I tried to protect." The actor-turned-musician's dedication to Dogstar is palpable, underscoring his commitment to the band's revival.

Rob Mailhouse, another integral member of Dogstar, shed light on the ongoing recording process for the upcoming album. Collaborating with producer Dave Trumfio, the band found a kindred spirit who understood their artistic vision.

Mailhouse praised Trumfio's ability to work closely with guitarist Bret Domrose, experimenting with layered guitars, diverse soundscapes, and subtle textures. The result is a sonic tapestry extending beyond conventional hard rock's boundaries, embracing more atmospheric and evocative elements.

Keanu Reeves, Dogstar Cook at BottleRock Napa Valley Festival 2023

Following their electrifying performance, Dogstar collaborated with renowned celebrity chef Roy Choi, joining forces on the Williams Sonoma Culinary Stage to whip up a delectable feast of kimchi fried rice and Korean barbecue burritos, SFGATE reports.

While BottleRock's culinary performances often carry an air of contrivance, with forced antics meant to entertain, Keanu Reeves appeared somewhat indifferent to the cooking spectacle.

However, the atmosphere quickly shifted when an unexpected guest, the charismatic George Kittle, made a surprise appearance. Kittle, a regular participant in the culinary festivities, approached Reeves with a playful nod to his iconic role as Neo in "The Matrix," mimicking the famous bullet-dodging gesture.

In a delightful display of camaraderie, Keanu Reeves reciprocated by mimicking Kittle's renowned over-the-shoulder catch and triumphant spike, a move immortalized in multiple highlight reels of the San Francisco 49ers.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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