When growing up, the Hooper brothers were often accused of “playing dog” – a family slang term for faking to be asleep to avoid household chores. Now with Australian folk rock band Goldstein, it’s a term the brothers have turned on its head for an energetic and confronting original release. Goldstein’s Playing Dog is the latest music offering from the ostentatious and award-winning South Australian group. Featuring songs about relationships, breakdowns, rebound dating and under appreciated Australian sporting stars, it has the band evolving from its more traditional folk roots with a stronger rock influence this time around. Playing Dog is Goldstein’s fifth album and its first release as a five-piece with the recent addition of Paul Kolomitsev (bass) to the founding foursome of Adam Hooper (lead vocals, accordion, guitar), Ben Hooper (violin), Robin Pratt (guitar) and Jeremy Owen (drums). “This album reflects changing priorities and observations as you move through life,” songwriter Adam says. “It’s a stack of stories with some life chapters closing and others opening along the way. We’ve also opted to bring out a bit more of the rock in folk rock this time.”