“Sharp-cornered, highly erudite rock that brings to mind horn-rimmed glasses and sticker-covered college radio studios... a hyper-precise aesthetic adds heat to pointed (and, at times, self-lacerating) lyrics about 21st-Century ills and turns the band’s moments of post-punky chaos... into giddy realizations of their musical might.”
Dream Version describe themselves as an indie pop Trojan Horse, testing out how many weird choices they can make without sacrificing an accessible, melodic exterior. Since forming in Chicago in 2012, the band’s twin mantras have remained: “Don’t waste time” and “Don’t condescend.”
“Whip-smart, ultra-satisfying, right on fucking time ”
The band met as Chicago Public Schools teachers. In their decade-long existence, they’ve released three full-lengths and a brand new EP. 2015’s Beginners was a coming of age record about navigating adulthood, imposter syndrome, and changing relationships. 2017’s Fight Fair was a more tightly conceptual record, a scream of political anger for introverts who don’t like confrontation. Rolling Stone made Fight Fair an Editor’s Pick, calling it "sharp-cornered, highly erudite rock that brings to mind horn-rimmed glasses and sticker-covered college radio studios.” In 2021, the band released their self-titled third album, a looser record that simultaneously explored more poppy, mathy, and haunting directions.
In 2023, Dream Version released its most confident work yet, an E.P. composed of five new tracks. The songs on Common Pearly Everlasting tend to be about time and permanence. Most of its songs revolve around keeping relationships vibrant as they age (N.R.E., The Healing Power of Touch), including the connections between the band members themselves (What If We Gave Up). As the E.P. progresses, the topics of the songs themselves seem to grow up (Real Estate) before flaming out in the climate apocalypse (Painful High Five).
“Music That Matters”
The band were really pleased to work with composer and multi-instrumentalist Erik Hall as their engineer at his home studio in Western Michigan. And equally excited to have the record mixed by Polyvinyl artist and Michigan music scene staple Fred Thomas. Both of their fingerprints are unmistakable on this set of songs.
The Pearly Everlasting is a hardy prairie flower, with a high tolerance for drought and frost. More importantly, it’s an herbal remedy for diarrhea.
PRESS
Editor's Pick: "Chicago trio Dream Version specializes in sharp-cornered, highly erudite rock that brings to mind horn-rimmed glasses and sticker-covered college radio studios." - Rolling Stone
“…Enigmatic and captivating…” - Line of Best Fit
"Lyrically, these songs are incredibly poignant... Musically, these songs are catchy as hell." - Midwest Action
“Pop music with a very interesting and arty twist." - Richard Milne, WXRT Chicago
"...Insanely tight hooks made for smart people who want to think and dance." - The Revue
"The world needs Dream Version... a punk soundtrack to shout along to, a band to be boldly their own and encourage us to lift our fists in the fight." - The Grey Estates
"Amazing album just released by Chicago band Dream Version. Whip-smart, ultra-satisfying, right on fucking time" - Ezra Furman
"The riffs are pretty jagged/angular, knifing their way through the mix while synthesizers fade in and out of the background... elevating the group beyond your standard fare of modern indie heroes." - Austin Town Hall
Best of 2015 - CHIRP Radio and Chicago Mixtape
"Dream Version delivered a nonstop set full of positive vibes, sticky, sing-along choruses, and groovy bass lines." - Rachel Zyzda, ANCHR Magazine
The band in 2023: Alec Harryhausen (vocals, bass), Eric Brummitt (guitar, keys), and Michael Kunik (drums)
The Pearly Everlasting is a hardy prairie flower, with a high tolerance for drought and frost.
SOUNDS LIKE
Spoon
Wilco
Pavement
The Tragically Hip
CONTACT
dreamversionband@gmail.com