The Dodos

The Dodos are an American indie rock duo from San Francisco, California, formed in 2005 by vocalist and guitarist Meric Long and drummer Logan Kroeber. The pair developed an instantly recognisable sound built on Long's rapid, percussive fingerpicking technique and Kroeber's inventive, propulsive drumming — music that feels simultaneously spare and overwhelming, rooted in folk but driven by a rock energy. Their debut Beware of the Maniacs (2008) introduced their approach, but it was Visiter (2008), released on Frenchkiss Records and produced by Phil Ek, that brought them to wide critical attention. The record was praised for its melodic generosity, rhythmic complexity, and emotional warmth, and landed on numerous year-end best-of lists. Time to Die (2009) and No Color (2011) demonstrated the duo's range, with No Color featuring a fuller production approach and contributions from Neko Case. Carrier (2013), Individ (2015), and Certainty Waves (2018) continued to find the band evolving while retaining the essential character of their sound. The Dodos have remained a reliable and beloved fixture of the American independent music scene, their unusual instrumentation and kinetic energy making them a memorable live act. While never breaking through to mainstream success, their back catalogue — Visiter in particular — is widely treasured by fans of inventive indie rock.