October 10: Dr. Dog

For a long time, Dr. Dog was that cool band that counted other cool bands as fans. After My Morning Jacket’s frontman Jim James heard the Philly outfit’s experimental self-released album, he snatched them up and took them on tour. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and the Strokes soon enlisted their support on the road, too. With the release of Dr. Dog’s latest album, Fate, they’ve established themselves as the main attraction, and for good reason. While they hold fast to a scrappy, rootsy, old piano-hall sound, they deftly blend that with a polished musicianship: jaunty Kinks-style hooks and lush harmonies that they learned from their days as a Beach Boy cover band. Tonight they bring their throwback jams to the Middle East Downstairs (472 Mass Ave, Cambridge, 617.864.3278). Go fetch your tickets ($12 in advance; $14 at the door) at the box office, www.ticketmaster.com, or 617.931.2000