Happy sounds for stressful times

Pet the Dog, a funk-rock band that delivers a “Red Hot Chili Peppers with a dash of Incubus” vibe, aims to dish their personal dirt in a pile of lyrical tunes that will make you wag your tail.

The Los Angeles-based band, composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Brousseau, guitarists Andrew Litton and Matt Molloy, bassist Zach Mayberry and drummer Tyler Burdick, will shake things up from 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at Hennessey’s Tavern in Laguna Beach.

Brousseau will give a solo acoustic performance beforehand from 6 to 8 p.m.

“Our goal is to make people happy,” Mayberry said. “We try to give them 45 minutes of relief that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.”

The feel-good rockers recently released their self-titled debut album, and have toured the West and East coasts spreading the message that there is always beauty to be found in even the worst of times.

Mayberry said every song in the band’s repertoire reflects a personal experience and attempts to convey a hopeful message.

“We try to focus on the beauty around us, even if the song is about something sad,” he said. “It goes with anything ““ if you don’t learn from the bad, you can never find the good.”

The band members said they’re inspired by others who strive to make a difference in the world regarding issues that are important to them, and by artists who are genuine with their craft.

“People who make music to gain fame or to get chicks better get used to being disappointed,” Mayberry said. “Be genuine in your talent and you’ll always be a Jedi.

“Music is our life-line and is really what keeps us going. We want to keep making music and others to do the same. Without a community of artists expressing themselves, our band is much less important. We want to do whatever it takes to see music become [influential] again.”

Pet the Dog came together as a result of a simultaneous fizzle of multiple music projects concerning its five talented members.

“The first time we played together and were writing material, we knew we had something good.” Mayberry said.

As for the name?

“It’s a hard one to forget. Plus, most of us have dogs.”

Admittance is free. For more information, visit www.petthedog.com