These dogs are barking loud.
Pete Lanctot and the Stray Dogs, a local Americana band with an ever-changing lineup, will bring its full strength to its album release party this week. The band will celebrate its first full-length album “No Sign of Love or Farewell” with a party at Littlefield on Oct. 18 and a rarely-seen five-person lineup.
“The full band is really exciting to play with because it allows for a much bigger dynamic range than when we play as an acoustic trio or quartet,” says Pete Lanctot. “We’ll be bringing out some of the rockers from the new album for this show.”
Park Sloper Lanctot, who has taught tipsy music classes and describes himself as “deeply influenced by old blues and country music artists,” has been playing Brooklyn gigs by himself and with a pack of pals since 2012. The music collective’s singer and only consistent member says the changing cast of “Stray Dogs” brings a unique energy to the performances.
“The rotating cast really adds a vibrancy and immediacy to each show,” says Lanctot. “It’s a very exciting thing to see that interaction happen in real time and makes each show a unique event.”
The 10-song album, which was recorded in a week, also captures a distinct moment in time, says Lanctot.
“Working at that pace was great because it gave the record a very present energy,” said Lanctot. “There wasn’t time to overthink things.”
He describes the songs on the new album as a collection of short stories.
“It’s like a series of snapshots of a cast of different characters that don’t necessarily have direct contact with each other but live in the same world,” says Lanctot.
One song comes from the perspective of a corrupt preacher, and another from someone who runs away with a medicine show circus.
“For me as a songwriter it’s really exciting to find the humanity in these situations and to be able find where tenderness, love, regret, anger, very normal and powerful human emotions lie in the midst of all that weirdness,” says Lanctot.
The release party will feature Lanctot on guitar, tenor banjo, viola, and vocals; Sledgehammer Charlie on fiddle and lap steel; Adam Brisbin on electric guitar; Sean Cronin on bass; and Chris Holdridge on drums.
Pete Lanctot and the Stray Dogs at Littlefield [622 Degraw St. between Fourth and Third Avenues in Gowanus, (718) 855–3388, www.littl
