It’s Saturday on the rainiest night in May. On a night like this, it’s preferred to stay in– you’ll be soaked before leaving the apartment. But at Substance Skatepark in Bushwick, Brooklyn, this was the opposite.

Packed to the brim, everyone here came to see emo band, Doolittle. Born and bred in 2022 in New York City, the band consists of four members: David Russell (25, lead vocals/guitar), Gemma Guttenberg (27, bass), Davis Rowe (29, drums/background vocals), and Jared Myers (29, guitar).

‘Doolittle’ had been a nickname for Russell’s grandfather, who fought in World War Two and would be kicked out for laziness. His peers called him ‘Doolittle’ due to his indolence. The band would co-opt the nickname for themselves.

Doolittle met under unexpected circumstances, each of them from different places across the U.S. David Russell grew up in Nashville and was surrounded by the music industry his entire life. “My dad collected guitars, and I would throw parties in my barn. The whole party with live music thing, it’s always kind of been a part of my ethos. I've always done free shows for my friends.”

His identity and principles would accompany him to New York, where he met Gemma Guttenberg at a cafe where he was a barista. The two of them began dating, with him teaching her how to play the bass. Together, they solidified the beginning of Doolittle.

Emma Guttenberg (left) and Jared Myers (right)

From right to left: David Russell (lead vocals/guitar), Emma Guttenberg (bass), Davis Rowe (drummer/background), Jared Meyers (guitar)

Russell busked in Washington Square Park, where he noticed the community was craving shows. Post covid, New York City struggled to bring live music back to the forefront. Young people felt isolated and yearned to meet people their age.

The couple would attend live shows in backyards, parks, and on rooftops to get a sense of what the scene was feeling like. Russell had been told about a band called Whitehall by his mentor, Nordista Freeze, a psych-pop artist from Nashville.

Here, they met drummer Davis Rowe. Guttenberg recaps the moment: “Davis’ band was opening, and David was like, ‘That guy fucking hits hard, I need him to be in my band. I need him" Rowe would join the band that evening. Doolittle met guitarist Jared Myers in a like manner, this time at a show Guttenberg was hosting in the backyard of her Brooklyn apartment. Myers was in another band who were on the bill of the DIY show. Guttenberg had a similar reaction to her boyfriend when they found Rowe, insisting on adding Myers as the second guitarist. Doolittle had found the missing pieces for the group– forming a quintessential 4-piece band that would reach the hearts of a community starved for shows and companionship.

A wooden mammoth half-pipe sits in the middle of the skatepark– skaters drop in, pumping up and down the ramp. Fans run to get a head start, hoisting themselves to be able to sit on the edges of the half-pipe for the show. In the middle of this chaos, Doolittle is setting up, all eyes on them.

Drenched in rainfall, fans from all over the world residing in New York wait for the show to begin. The “Dooverse” (their fanbase name) came out in droves for the band. It shocks Rowe every time. “It's wild, I've never been able to show up to a show where it's already packed while we're trying to load in our stuff, like that never happens. It's really cool to see them follow us around and do that.”

Showgoers I meet tell me they discovered the show through social media, such as Instagram or TikTok. Several fans are here alone. Yes, to see the show, but seemingly to socialize with new people they wouldn't have met before.

Myers admires their attitudes. “They have made so many good friends through this community, and they'll hang out on their own. They're not like, ‘Oh, we're only hanging out at the shows, it's only Doolittle stuff.’ They've created their own friend groups out of this.”

Longtime fans are members of the band's Discord, an instant messaging platform that allows for several channels to be made. Discord first gained popularity in the gaming world, as players were able to chat while gaming. Russell describes Discord as “the normie version of Slack, the unemployed Slack.”

Discord has become a hub for fanbases, and big labels in the music industry have caught wind of the power the social platform holds for an artist. Mainstream performers such as alternative artist FKA Twigs and DJ Fred again… use the platform to crowd-source information directly from fans. Fans are not only able to interact with their favorite entertainers, but with others who share the same interests.

Doolittle’s Discord currently holds over 6,700 members. The band believes the platform is akin to texting a friend, which gives them the ability to warn fans about busts on shows and to network with them on their creative endeavors. The connection and camaraderie have allowed the band to know their fans on a personal level. Lack of structure also attracts the Dooverse to Discord; it feels informal and within the foundation of emo music.

UMG approached the group, wanting them to sign a distribution deal for 20% ownership of their catalog. Executives were riveted by the social media engagement the band attracts, telling them that they had been watching Doolittle for a while. UMG told them that if they did not sign with the label, they would have interns manufacture a similar band.

But like many bands who grow out of the underground, Doolittle refuses to sell out their indie cred in exchange for the possibility of mainstream success. Their ethics and trademark authenticity are imperative for them, and the music they play is based in that same background. The ethos remains consistent: to stay as authentic to themselves and to the fans. Discord allows them to memorize usernames of show attendees, so that meeting them in person is seamless. Doolittle creates channels where fans can plug their own creative endeavors– some using this to scout talent for DIY house shows.

Guttenberg feels that, “A lot of people go online, and whatever apps they're on, it's designed to keep them online. This community starts online, but it gets offline, which is what makes it so unique. People are still craving those experiences.”

Doolittle will spend their summer performing shows throughout the 5 boroughs. They will also be on tour on the East Coast of the United States: Washington, D.C., Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC. Their next show could be where you meet the love of your life, creative collaborators, or form bonds that blossom into forever friendships.

A Night in Dooverse with New York City’s Doolittle

Simi Liadi and The Art of Conversation