The Dream Syndicate at the Codfish Hollow Barn -- October 2.
Friday, October 2, 8 p.m.
Codfish Hollow Barn, 5013 288th Avenue, Maquoketa IA
An alternative-rock project that, according to the Los Angeles Times, "rocked with the highest degree of unbridled passion and conviction" among artists associated with the Paisley Underground music movement, the Dream Syndicate brings their national tour to Maquoketa's Codfish Hollow Barn on October 2. The group's most recent album, Ultraviolet Battle Hymns & True Confessions, inspired Spill magazine to say that "the band has gained an extra edge, coming up with a batch of their most memorable songs in recent times."
As stated at AllMusic.com: "The Dream Syndicate are one of America's best and most enduring indie bands, spinning vivid cinematic storytelling out of sharp guitar interplay and literate, streetwise lyrics. When they emerged from the Los Angeles Paisley Underground scene of the '80s, the Dream Syndicate clearly adored the intricate wordplay and edgy energy of Highway 61 Revisited-era Bob Dylan, as well as the noisy guitars and bracing darkness of the Velvet Underground. Dream Syndicate leader Steve Wynn's initial influences may have been clear, but he was a strong enough songwriter to give the group material that stood on its own, and over the course of their run, the Dream Syndicate took their music in a number of challenging directions.
"After the stark, nervy sound of their first album, 1982's The Days of Wine and Roses, they crafted a darker and more ambitious follow-up, 1984's Medicine Show, that moved them into a dustier and more rock-oriented sound. 1986's Out of the Grey and 1988's Ghost Stories stripped down their approach and embraced a wiry, energetic attack, but they were released just as the group was winding down. On 2017's How Did I Find Myself Here?, Wynn introduced a revamped Dream Syndicate with an approach that was, as always, dominated by strong guitars and incisive songwriting, but this time with an experimental bent that dovetailed into psychedelia on 2019's These Times and revealed ambient and prog influences on 2022's Ultraviolet Battle Hymns and True Confessions.”
Beyond the group's eight studio albums, the Dream Syndicate released How Did We Find Ourselves Here? in February of 2024. A double LP package titled Live Through the Past Darkly included a DVD of the recent documentary How Did We Find Ourselves Here with commentary from Chris Robinson of Black Crowes, Stephen McCarthy of Long Ryders, David Fricke of Rolling Stone and more. It chronicles the band's journey from their beginnings, through conflicts with former friends, battles with major record labels, and disbandment, to their reunion in 2012. Exclusive to this DVD is a previously unavailable one-hour 1983 Dream Syndicate live concert, filmed at the Roxy in Los Angeles.
The Dream Syndicate brings their tour to Maquoketa on October 2 alongside guest artists the Claudettes, admission to the 8 p.m. concert event is $35-40, and more information and tickets are available by visiting CodfishHollowBarnstormers.com.
