Mr. Dream

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Dream was composed of Adam Moerder (vocals, guitarist), Matt Morello (vocals, bass guitarist) and Nick Sylvester (drums, producer). Moerder has written several pieces for various publications, including The New Yorker and Pitchfork.[1][2] Sylvester was a writer at the Village Voice and Pitchfork.[3]

Moerder and Sylvester originally met while writing for the Harvard Lampoon.[4] Several years after graduating from college, Moerder, Sylvester and Morello had relocated to Brooklyn and started practicing and writing together as Mr. Dream. After self funding and utilizing the generosity of friends, the band started fund raising on Kickstarter. Raising over $3,000 from supporters, the band produced Mr. Dream Goes to Jail, a four-song EP. Supporters received a vinyl copy of the EP.[5]

The band performed with several different bands throughout the New York City area. Notably, Sleigh Bells, M.I.A. at Coco 66 in May 2010.[6] For promotion of Trash Hit, they opened for CSS and Sleigh Bells in Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, which marked the first time the band performed outside of New York City.[7] The band also opened for Archers of Loaf in New York in June 2011.[8]

Critical reception was largely favorable, with Stereogum listing them as one of their top 40 new bands of 2010 "because they write smart, ballsy songs."[14] The Fader praised them as "an antidote to the pulseless navel-gazing of certain lo-fi softies of late" and also noted that they don't "suck," despite their music critic background.[15] Fluxblog's Matthew Perpetua also overcame his music critic fears and noted that the band created "brainy yet very physical rock music that is always desirable but generally scarce".[16] Mr. Dream was compared to Franz Ferdinand,[17]The Jesus Lizard, Pixies,[18] Hüsker Dü and The Wipers.[19]

• Official website