After a prolonged pandemic-induced hiatus—following its self-imposed hiatus in 2018—Dopapod is done taking it easy. Last month, the band mounted a two-night run at Denver’s Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom which saw, amongst other things, Dopapod cover the 2003 viral YouTube video “Badger Badger”, sandwiching the original “Present Ghosts” in-between callbacks to the early 2000s sensation.
The song came as the encore for the band’s second of two nights at the Denver hotspot on May 14th. Both nights saw Dopapod perform two single-set shows at Cervantes’, one early and one late. For the incendiary finale, Dopapod started off with the classic rock staple of AC/DC‘s “T.N.T.” before taking a hard turn as bassist Chuck Jones delivered the YouTube video’s earworm refrain with his buttery baritone.
Related: Dopapod Shares Billie Eilish “Bad Guy” Cover From Denver [Watch]
It wasn’t all fun, games, and nostalgia for D-pod, however, as guitarist Rob Compa could be heard firing off the familiar opening riff of “Present Ghosts” even as Jones continued to proclaim “Badger Badger Badger, Mushroom Mushroom”. On a dime, the rest of the band switched gears into the Never Odd Or Even track as keyboardist Eli Winderman fired up the engines of his synthesizers for one more ride. Dopapod, never ones to take themselves too seriously, ultimately brought “Badger Badger” back around once again following the fiery crescendo of “Present Ghosts”.
Watch Dopapod string together a “Badger Badger” sandwich with “Present Ghosts” at Cervantes’ in Denver.
Dopapod – “Badger Badger” > “Present Ghosts”, “Badger Badger” – Denver, CO – 5/14/21
[Video: Dopapod]