The Winery Dogs are an American Hard Rock trio formed by ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy to "keep the Classic Rock fire alive".
Lineup:
- Richie Kotzen (lead guitar, lead vocals, keyboards)
- Mike Portnoy (drums, backing vocals)
- Billy Sheehan (bass guitar, backing vocals)
Discography:
- The Winery Dogs (2013)
- Unleashed In Japan (2014)
- Hot Streak (forthcoming, 2015)
This band may show examples of the following tropes:
- Audience Participation Song: "Stand", formerly a massive production number featuring a gospel choir, appears in their live set filed down to Kotzen on solo acoustic guitar and the crowd on backing vocals.
- Call-Back: The live set usually features songs from Sheehan and Kotzen's past bands, with Talas' "Shy Boy" and Poison's "Stand" being the most common. Kotzen-penned "Shine" (from their shared time in Mr. Big) sometimes turns up.
- Cover Version: Per
Word of God, having only one album forced the band to learn some covers to fill out their concert set. "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" and "Love Is Alive" show up most often.
- Meaningful Name: Word of God is that the band's name reflects their desire to be seen as guardians of instrumental virtuosity, likening themselves to attack dogs guarding a vineyard.
- Performance Video: Four videos, all four showing the band playing without a real narrative. "Time Machine" changes it up a bit with footage of the band playing the song at a show in Japan, ironically enough.
- Supergroup: All three are renowned instrumentalists with fan followings long predating the band's formation - Portnoy as the most famous member of Dream Theater, Sheehan for his work with David Lee Roth and 90's Hair Metal shredders Mr. Big, and Kotzen for a series of solo efforts and a brief tenure with Poison.
