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Dream Demon Offers Listeners a ‘Bargain’

By Jaci Jedrych

Dream Demon is not your typical band. It is a collective of West Coast-based bands: Scott Mercado of San Diego’s Manuok, Via Satellite, and Black Heart Procession; Mike Sparks, Robert Cheek, and John O’Connell of Seattle’s By Sunlight; and Ben Heywood of LA’s Giant Waste of Man. Dream Demon began as a “late-night brain-strike you have when you’re on tour with a couple bands whose company you enjoy,” and 14 songs were made in just four meetings in 28 months.

Before meeting, each member would write one or two songs to share. Among the first songs to be released is one of Ben Heywood’s songs, “The Bargain,” inspired by the struggles he feels in his gig as a bartender. Seeing the low points of human nature, he felt very pessimistic about human nature and his will to live.

“’The Bargain’ is simple: I’ll stay alive for you, if you stay alive for me. It’s the theme of Dream Demon. Five guys trying to hang on,” said Heywood.

Fans of experimental rock like Talk Talk or Sonic Youth, or individuals looking for a grungier version of alternative music like Nirvana, should check out Dream Demon. Their songs create a sonic landscape that feels reminiscent of old rock, while discussing deeply personal topics.

Follow our Alchemical Weekly Spotify Playlist for this and more great music featured on the site.  

Jaci Jedrych

Jaci Jedrych is a World Politics student at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She loves going to concerts and exploring different genres, and has a passion for arts and news writing.

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Foghat Sonic Mojo 2024 Tour. Fillmore Silver Spring, MD March 9
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Foghat’s Roger Earl Refuses to Slow His Ride

By this point in his life, Foghat founding drummer Roger Earl has visited quite a few doctors. But what may be surprising is that the percussionist, 77, is quick to point out that many of the medical professionals who have worked on him also enjoy rocking out.

“Nearly all the doctors and surgeons I know, they all play something: trumpet, sax, violin, guitar,” Earl said recently. “There’s not too many drummers that are surgeons, there’s probably a good reason for that!”

Earl half-jokingly invites his surgeon-rockers to join him and the other members of Foghat onstage at the Fillmore in Silver Spring March 9, where they will be headlining the Rock and Roll for Children Foundation benefit for the Children’s Inn at NIH. Earl, the only original member of Foghat still in the band, will be banging the skins behind guitarist Bryan Bassett and other members Scott Holt and Rodney O’Quinn. “Slow Ride,” the band’s 1975 megahit, is all but assured to be on the setlist, along with tunes from Foghat’s most recent record, “Sonic Mojo.”

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