If surf music can exist in the landlocked, agricultural haven that is the Midwest, then Doc Bullfrog is the embodiment of Midwest surf. It’s evident that the Iowa City band knows a thing or two about bouncy beats, clean guitar tones and spring reverb, creating their own indie surf sound.
Doc Bullfrog’s first full-length album, Like We’re Supposed To, was released on Jan. 3. On the same night, the band played an album release show at xBk. It was a predictably cold night; an indie surf band in the Midwest was juxtaposition enough, but releasing an album in the winter made the contrast more apparent. Outside was below freezing, but inside the band’s energy had the crowd dancing and cheering as they played the new album from start to finish.
The title track “Like We’re Supposed To (Intro)” opens the album with a brand of weird that I didn’t expect. A soft guitar plays along to audio from the 1977 Jim Henson movie Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. Mayor Fox (whose voice would not be recognized unless you’re an avid fan of Muppets or, like me, do extensive research on the little details) introduces Doc Bullfrog — a mushy, dopey-eyed bullfrog that is presumably the band’s namesake.
I personally love when albums have spoken bits — it offers a glimpse into the band’s energy that you don’t (usually) have to decipher like lyrics. With “My Best Wishes (Interlude)” the dialogue, pulled from an episode of Adult Swim’s Smiling Friends, is something most musicians (or people against the mainstream) have experienced at one time or another — the stupidity of caring about music (or whatnot) over something conventional.
Now, Muppets and animated interludes aside, and onto the music.
Like We’re Supposed To is a musical assembly of the sort of things a person may go through in their young adulthood — the complexities of relationships, romance and figuring yourself out. Slathered on top is sunny, jingly beats. It’s hard to get caught up in life’s complications when the music makes you want to sway and bop your head.
On the surface, “Sorry, I Missed The Hook” sounds like a happy, poppy song. It’s really not. It’s more of the push and pull and the tension of an inevitable split. “I’m getting the feeling that you don’t really care, you say you’re on your own … if I can’t find a reason, if I can’t convince you to stay.”
The same theme is followed in the next track, “Wind Blows.” It’s a very surf-ish song with bouncy rhythms and crisp guitar tones that evoke cool waves. But the lyrics, “Nobody’s at fault, there’s nobody to blame, you wanted it different, I wanted the same,” tells a story about two people separating.
“Newport” is a fast-paced, energetic tune. The beginning riff feels like a calling, inviting you to immerse yourself in what becomes a tale of escapism. The lyrics call on you to “punch in, punch out” — mentally? At work? In a relationship? All seem applicable.
“After All” is a triumphant anthem. It stands out from the other songs as an ascent of a character; the lead is rising above the shit. “So here I go, I’ll make a point, I’ll blow this joint, I hope you listen, you’re gonna hear me, as I cry…”
The band’s good energy and friendliness shines through on the tracks on the album. Take “Forget the Words” — with its cliche and lovey-dovey lyrics, it is somehow still enjoyable and not cringe. Which feels like a good way to describe Doc Bullfrog themselves: a charming outfit, especially when taken in live.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s March 2026 issue.
