Alive and well

Though they may have named their newest album Time To Die and their band after an extinct species, it sounds like the members of The Dodos are here to stay.

The band will be at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington tonight and at the Talking Head Club in Baltimore tomorrow, showcasing their vitality and promoting Time To Die.

As suspiciously named and vibrant as ever, The Dodos' third album continues the former duo's trend of percussive indie rock and adds a vibraphone player for good measure.

"There's so much more possible," lead singer and guitarist Meric Long said regarding the addition of a third member to the group. "With a third guy, it still can be pretty sparse and minimal — but with three people, there's enough to create a lot of sound."

Having not toured the United States for more than a year, the newly minted trio is looking forward to spending time here and abroad, traveling until the end of the year. First, the band will tour North America for much of October, only to then take two weeks off before leaving for a two-month jaunt across Europe.

"I love touring the states," Long said. "As long as the weather isn't horrible and we don't get into a car accident, it's fun. [Touring] keeps you focused and keeps you from thinking about shit too much.

"They treat you really well [in Europe]. Like in mainland Europe, in France or Germany, those countries aren't as saturated with bands as the U.K. or the states. It's nice. You get a lot more respect."

What's gotten The Dodos the most respect and attention is the band's focus on rhythmic songs that beg to be sung and stomped along with. Long's finger-picking style of guitar playing nicely complements drummer Logan Kroeber's front-and-center drum work.

"I've always related to instruments in the way of wanting to write songs than really trying to learn how to play them correctly," Long said. "So basically, we try and just have a different approach to our instruments and make a bunch of racket. And it's easier to hit an instrument than it is to play it, I find."

For Time To Die, The Dodos went in the studio with veteran indie rock producer, Phil Ek, the man behind the boards on albums by Built To Spill, The Shins, Band of Horses and more. And though Long describes the music of The Dodos as "tantrum," things seem to have gone smoothly in the studio with Ek.

"It was good," Long said. "It was a little bit more intense because he records in a really different way. It was like going to school or learning how to record music."

Releasing their first full-length, Beware of the Maniacs, in 2006, but breaking out with 2008 LP Visiter, The Dodos find comfort in the critical and public attention their music has garnered. But the group is determined to play music and not provide temporary fodder for the blogosphere.

"It was definitely another step when Visiter came out, but ... we're a band, and we make records and we play shows," Long said. "That's where the f--- this is. And you can get kind of bogged down in trying to make stuff to increase your visibility or get your band bigger.

"I guess that's important, but our main focus is to just try and keep writing records and progress as a band. We're not thinking whether this record is gonna take us to the next level or not. We have more records in us, so just get to the next one."

The Dodos will play at the Rock & Roll Hotel tonight and the Talking Head Club tomorrow. Doors are 9 p.m. at the Rock & Roll Hotel. Tickets are sold out. Doors are 8 p.m. at the Talking Head Club. Tickets cost $12 in advance and $14 at the door.

rhiggins@umdbk.com