Comprised of Ranier (guitar and vocals), Joe (drums). Jamie (guitar) and Ryan (bass), the indie rock quartet DOCKS initially formed in San Jose, CA and relocated to Portland, OR. Over the past year, the quartet have developed a sound that’s reportedly influenced by math-rock, punk and new wave — although the band’s latest single “Where’s My Mind” off the band’s soon-to-be released Misdirected EP clearly sounds inspired by 120 Minutes-era alternative rock/college radio rock as the brooding song pairs shimmering guitar chords, towering feedback, thundering drumming and mournfully plaintive vocals.
The recently released music video follows a headphone wearing, hipster puppet as he’s listening to “Where’s My Mind” and lip synching the song as he’s going about his day — and eventually winds up at a tiny club, where he rocks out and crowd surfs to his favorite, new band. Sounds like the time of one’s life right? Well, not quite. It ends with the video’s protagonist ben as alone as ever. In some way it suggests that the band’s material manages to be ironic yet deeply emotionally charged.