WICN Artist of the Month, August 2026: The Love Dogs
Written by WICN Intern on August 1, 2026
Boston-based band The Love Dogs, WICN’s August 2026 Artist of the Month, have been swinging through the New England blues scene for thirty years. The high-energy band combines elements of jump blues, New Orleans R&B, and early rock ‘n roll for their own “recipe for music and mayhem” as they bring audiences to their feet, not only in New England, but also on tours throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. WICN is thrilled to welcome that music and mayhem to the Jazz+ Live stage on August 21.
The Love Dogs are led by vocalist, songwriter, and percussionist Eddie Scheer. Scheer’s powerful voice and his sense of humor create a joyful fervor on and off the stage. He describes the pattern between the band and the audience almost as a feedback loop; when the band brings their spontaneity and humor to the stage, their crowds give energy right back in what they describe as the “tribal love vibe.”
Scheer began playing at a young age, and by fourteen he was singing and drumming professionally. As a freelance drummer in his 20s, Scheer eventually played with R&B greats like Peter Wolf, John Mayall, and Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson.
Scheer got a taste of New Orleans R&B while touring with Johnny Adams in the early nineties, and he just couldn’t shake it. Scheer returned to Boston, and he started The Love Dogs in 1994. Since forming The Love Dogs, Scheer’s been named “Outstanding Male Vocalist” and “Most Charismatic Entertainer” multiple times in the New England Blues Audience Magazine readers’ polls.
The Love Dogs have a lineup full of terrific musicians to create their mayhem. As Scheer described it on the band’s website, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” and what a sum does that make.
Alizon Lissance is a double threat on keyboards and vocals, which is especially evident on “Burn, Baby, Burn” off the band’s 2025 stunner Get Off My Lawn. Lissance has toured the world with various bands, and she won the 1991 Boston Music Award for “Outstanding Keyboards.”
The mononymic Myanna brings her alto and tenor sax and some vocals to the band, and she’s been a frequent collaborator with Lissance; Both Myanna and Lissance were original members of the legendary band Girls Night Out from the 80s. They’ve also played together in Myanna’s own band. Myanna attended Berklee and the University of Massachusetts, where she studied under the great jazz drummer and educator Max Roach.
They complement and are complemented by Rob Lee (tenor & baritone sax) and Mark Paquin (tenor sax & trombone) to round out the Dogs’ powerful horn section, along with Mark Poniatowski on bass and Steve Brown with his lovely drums.
The Love Dogs were voted “Best New England Band” by the Blues Audience Magazine, and Blues Review put it best: “This band is built for fun.”
The Love Dogs thrive when they’re playing live, although when listening to any of their albums, it’s hard not to at least tap your foot along with the rhythm. The Love Dogs released three albums under Tone-Cool Records: I’m Yo Dog (1996), Heavy Petting (1998), and New Tricks (2000). If you just can’t wait to see them play, their live album Live and On Fire might give enough of that energy to tide you over until we welcome The Love Dogs to Jazz+ Live.
Trust us—you don’t want to miss their performance August 21 for the 9th annual Jazz+ Live, when the space behind the Hanover Theater will be turned into an outdoor, picnic-style venue. Bring your comfiest camping chairs, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself doing more dancing than sitting.
Get your tickets now at wicn.org! Tickets are $30 per person (or $35 on the day of the concert). VIP stage-front tables that seat four are also available for $175.
