On the heels of a performance in Saranac Lake this weekend, jam band stalwarts since 2008, Dopapod, have announced an indefinite hiatus, beginning at the end of 2024.
The group also announced ‘Best Friends 2024’ Fall Tour dates, with more to be announced.
Shared on the band’s social media channels, the band’s message stated:
To our family, friends, and fans:
Before we get into the details and such, we’ll just get right to the point: Starting in 2025, Dopapod will no longer be touring, recording, or writing for the foreseeable future.
The last sixteen years have been an unbelievable adventure. We really did get to experience the whole spectrum of having a full time, professional touring band. To paraphrase Homer Simpson: ‘The dizzying highs, the crushing lows, the creaaaaamy center.’ All of it, the highs, lows, and everything in between has been an absolute treasure trove of life and learning experiences.
However, the price we have paid mentally, financially, physically and otherwise can no longer be ignored. We feel deep down in our guts and our hearts that this is the best possible thing not for the band, but for four dudes who truly love each other and want the best for each other. And to be clear, our families have always offered full support of this lifestyle and did not play a role in this decision. The touring life has never been easy and it seems to be getting more difficult. We send our love to all the artists/crew that put so much of their heart and soul into making live music possible.
Coincidence or not, we did say when we took our last break that we were inspired by an article where a company would take a sabbatical every 7 years, and it’s been 7. Plus, in 2017 we had a full solar eclipse and this year we had another. Regardless of all that, we are treating this as an indefinite hiatus.
We love you all and have endless appreciation for this journey and everyone who has enjoyed the music we’ve put out into the world this last decade and a half. In the meantime, we will continue to play tons of shows through the remainder of 2024, including all of these ‘Best Friends 2024’ fall tour dates in addition to the already announced summer dates. So come see us while you can. We fully intend on giving you the best shows we can possibly deliver, and savoring every second of it.
With immense love and gratitude,
Eli, Rob, Chuck and Neal,
dopapod.
While a surprise to many of the broader Dopasquad fanbase, artists are finding it tougher to be on the road financially, as well as the burden of touring consistently. Bands including Aqueous, Ghost Light, Baked Shrimp, and CBDB have all called it a day since 2021, many citing the costs of touring and the personnel that go with it, while others (Twiddle and Turkuaz in particular) see variations of the original lineup continuing on (Mihali, Cool Cool Cool, respectively).
Dopapod joining this fraternity – one that could be found gracing the lineups of numerous festivals in the past decade (Catskill Chill, among others) – is a symptom of the post-pandemic world where costs are higher, even if audiences are coming out to see and support artists.
Dopapod formed at Berklee College College of Music in Boston in 2008, with Eli Windermand and future Turkuaz drummer Michelangelo Carubba as a duo. Later, Rochester native Rob Compa joined the band, adding in Chuck Jones on bass and Neal Evans on percussion, shifting to drums when Carubba joined Turkuaz. Scotty Zwang replaced Evans from 2013-16 behind the kit.
NYS Music has covered Dopapod countless times in the past decade, from show reviews, interviews with band members, to reviews of many of the group’s palindromic albums – Radar, Drawn Onward, Redivider, Never Odd or Even, Megagem, Emit Time, Dopapod, and 2024 releases Aiboh and Phobia (combined, aibohphobia is the fear of palindromes). We wish the band members the best through their remaining shows and what lays ahead.
The band will continue to tour this summer, including a show at The Waterhole in Saranac Lake on Friday, June 21, Great South Bay Festival on July 20, and Bearsville Theater in Woodstock on September 13. Tickets go on sale Thursday, June 20 at Dopapod.com.
Dopapod Tour Dates
6.21 – Saranac Lake, NY
6.22 – Jay, VT
7.11 – Montclair, NJ
7.12 – Portland, ME
7.13 – Lake George, NY – Rock the Dock
7.14 – Bridgeport, CT
7.16 – Waynesboro, VA
7.17 – Wilmington, NC
7.18 – Virginia Beach, VA
7.19 – Elkton, MD
7.20 – Patchogue, NY – Great South Bay Festival
8.01 – Whitestown, IN
8.02 – Ludington, MI – w/ TAUK and The Motet
8.03 – Paw Paw, MI – w/ The Motet and TAUK
8.04 – New Berlin, IL – w/ TAUK and The Motet
8.31- Morgantown, WV
9.1- Garrettsville, OH – Summerdance
9.4- Raleigh NC
9.5- Knoxville TN
9.6- Nashville TN
9.7- Chicago IL
9.8- Lexington KY
9.11- Richmond VA
9.12- Harrisburg PA
9.13- Woodstock NY – Bearsville Theater
10.22- St Louis MO
10/23- Kansas City MO
10/25+26- Denver CO TBA
10/27- Salt Lake City UT
10/29- Boise ID
10/30- Portland OR
10/31- Bend OR
11/1- Spokane WA
11/2- Bellingham WA
11/3- Seattle WA
11/6- Chico CA
11/7- Mill Valley CA
11/8- Santa Cruz CA
11/9- Hermosa Beach CA
11/10- Los Angeles CA
11/11- Pioneertown CA
Comments are closed.