DOG PARTY: Sisterhood, Noise and the Long Road of Doing it Yourself

Dog Party is one of those bands that make you remember why punk rock and a DIY mindset matter so much. 

Dog Party is as stripped-down and pure as it gets. With just two members: Lucy Giles on drums and vocals, and Gwennie Giles on guitar and vocals, they prove that you don’t need anything extra to make a serious impact. No bass player. No gimmicks. Just songs that hit hard, stick in your head and make you want to get up and dance.

But what really sets Dog Party apart isn’t just the sound, it’s the spirit. Lucy and Gwennie are not only incredibly talented and creative but they’re also genuinely two of the kindest humans you could ever meet. That only makes it more impressive how undeniably punk they are. They’ve been doing things their way for nearly two decades now and it shows.

Dog Party formed back in 2007 and released their first record in 2009. I first discovered them in 2016, when they opened for Green Day at the Fillmore in Detroit. I remember being completely blown away by how catchy the songs were, how fearless their set felt and how effortlessly cool their image was. Dog Party didn’t feel like your average opener, they felt like a band that belonged on any stage they stepped onto.

Years later, I finally got the chance to sit down and talk with Lucy and Gwennie about their journey, songwriting, touring overseas and what it’s like being sisters in a band. 

The Songwriting Process

Dog Party’s chemistry isn’t something you can fake or manufacture, and that’s because it’s been forming since childhood. Lucy and Gwennie have been writing and performing their own songs since the fourth grade, growing up with music as a constant presence in their household. It wasn’t a phase or a side project, it was always part of who they are. 

Both sisters contribute to the lyric writing of their songs. There’s a raw honesty in Dog Party’s catalog. Their songs sound fun and punchy on the surface, but carry emotional weight underneath.

“Our songs are always so personal to me,” Gwennie explains. “It’s this truth that’s inside of me that’s coming out sonically.”

That emotional transparency is balanced by a strong melodic instinct. Lucy describes her songwriting process as being driven by feel first.“I’m very melody driven,” she says. “I will think of a melody and then just sit with my guitar.”

The approach that they take results in songs that stick with you long after the set is over, hooks that feel natural, not forced. Lucy even points to one track as a personal high-water mark:“I think that Bullet in Disguise has got to be one of the best songs I’ve ever written.”

There’s a confidence there, but it’s earned. After years of writing together, the Giles sisters have developed an instinctive understanding of what works, not just musically, but emotionally.

Opening for Jack White: A Full Circle Moment

Some shows just hit different. For Dog Party, opening for Jack White at Channel 24 in Sacramento in May of 2025 was one of those moments.

The White Stripes were a massive influence on Dog Party growing up, both musically and structurally. Seeing a two piece band command massive stages while keeping things raw left a deep impression on Lucy and Gwennie. Years later, they found themselves sharing a bill with one of their heroes.

“Jack is such an influence for us,” Lucy says. “I was losing my mind. Playing the show itself was so exhilarating.”

The night wasn’t just memorable because of the performance. The sisters were able to briefly talk with Jack backstage and even snag a photo with him. At one point, Lucy recalls walking past his green room and hearing “Black Sabbath blasting at an ungodly volume,” a small but perfect detail that made the experience feel surreal.

Even more unreal was what happened onstage. Toward the end of his set, Jack gave Dog Party a shoutout to the crowd, something he’s known to rarely do.

“You can tell how passionate Jack and his whole entire crew is,” Gwennie says. 

It’s safe to say Jack White is a fan of Dog Party and it’s just as safe to say that kind of recognition doesn’t happen by accident.

Sisterhood as a Creative Engine

Being in a band is hard. Being in a band with your sibling adds another layer entirely. But for Lucy and Gwennie, being sisters is one of Dog Party’s greatest strengths. They’re incredibly close, they communicate openly and have learned how to balance honesty with respect. That familiarity allows them to push each other creatively without fear.

“Because we are siblings, we can be more critical and harsh with each other than you would with a friend,” Gwennie admits.

That bluntness doesn’t come from ego, it comes from trust. Both sisters recognize each other’s strengths and both bring different creative instincts to the table. The result is a partnership that feels balanced rather than competitive, with each member filling in the gaps where the other thrives.

In a scene where bands often burn out due to miscommunication or clashing egos, Dog Party’s longevity truly speaks volumes.

Taking Dog Party to Japan

One of the most exciting chapters ahead for Dog Party is something they’ve never done before: touring Japan.

At the end of January 2026, Dog Party will be heading overseas for their very first run of shows in the country, playing cities like Ogikubo, Koenui, Asagaya, and Koenji. For a band that has spent years grinding it out in DIY spaces, this tour is a massive milestone for them. 

There’s something especially fitting about a band like Dog Party bringing their sound to Japan for the first time. They’re a group that thrives on intimacy, sweat-drenched rooms and real human connection. And if there’s one place where underground music culture is treated with reverence, it’s there.

Still Moving Forward

Talking with Lucy and Gwennie, one thing becomes immediately clear: their love for music hasn’t faded, it’s sharpened. They’re still driven, still evolving and still hungry to grow creatively without losing the core of what makes Dog Party feel real.

After gigging in Japan in early 2026, they will be hitting the road again for a United States tour in the early spring of 2026, continuing a journey that started when they were kids writing songs together.

If you ever get the chance to catch a Dog Party show, do not hesitate. Their sets are loud, joyful, cathartic and deeply human. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you why live music matters so much. 

Dog Party isn’t chasing trends. They’re just doing what they’ve always done: showing up, plugging in and playing real fucking honest music with their whole hearts.