The Winery Dogs

The Winery Dogs are a definitive modern supergroup that bridges the gap between technical progressive proficiency and classic hard rock accessibility. Formed in 2012, the trio consists of Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, and Mike Portnoy, each a titan of their respective instrument.

Their sound identity is characterized by a 'power trio' format where the traditional boundaries of rhythm and lead are blurred; Sheehan's use of distortion and two-handed tapping on bass often serves as a second lead instrument, while Kotzen's fingerstyle guitar work and Chris Cornell-esque vocal range provide a soulful, bluesy core. Portnoy, moving away from the complex odd-time signatures of his Dream Theater tenure, focuses here on a heavy, 'Bonham-meets-Copeland' groove style. Critically, they are praised for avoiding the 'too many cooks' pitfall of supergroups, instead developing a cohesive chemistry that favors songwriting over mere showmanship. They occupy a unique space in the 'musician's musician' circuit, influencing a new generation of rock players while maintaining a presence on mainstream rock charts.