THE DROP: The Dreamscapes Project

Back in December, we profiled a band making waves in the DC rock scene, folk-core five piece The Dreamscapes Project. In 2010, however, musical talent and well-crafted songs only take you so far, which is why the band’s Twelve Days Project is so intriguing. The group’s innovative and experimental creative collaboration brings together various branches of the DC art scene behind the monthly release of a track from their next album.

This month, TGRIonline is proud to join the Twelve Days Project by hosting a free download of single Titanic for (you guessed it) twelve days. Be sure to grab this exclusive release, which finds The Dreamscapes combining their acoustic sensibility with the loud-quiet-loud dynamic of alt-rock. Artistic “re-imaginations” of the track will be provided by film-maker Kristin Pavelski, musician Ed Hicks, and creative writer Sean Annand.

Exclusive download link: The Dreamscapes Project – Titantic

Celebrating this month’s collaboration, the band will play at Jammin Java on March 30th. The show will benefit Pink Jams!, a DC based non-profit organization which combines the promotion of breast cancer awareness with the arts. It’s a great opportunity to support the DC art and music scenes, and a great cause.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: The Dreamscapes Project

Music takes you to strange places – literally. Such was the case on Monday night, when I found myself on the campus of Catholic University for an old-fashioned rock show.

Playing with a host of campus musicians was DC-based “folk-core” band The Dreamscapes Project. Combining the orchestral elements of Arcade Fire with the acoustic, radio-friendly songwriting of Dave Matthews Band and Days of the New, the Dreamscapes Project brings a vibrant edge to the DC acoustic scene.

Since coming together at George Mason in 1997, the band has gone through some line-up changes, eventually ending up with a five piece arrangement which includes lead vocalist Keith Center on 12-string acoustic, Ben Guy on cello, Jeremy Rodgers on bass, and the combo of Gordon Shankman on drums and Eric Sanford on percussion. Much like indie-rockers Murder by Death, the addition of the cello gives the music a melancholic, gothic sound that only the sorrowful sweep of strings can do. But the band is also at ease with jaunty bluegrass and Southern swing, compelling the audience to clap and stomp along, as they did at the CUA show. Insert your favorite pun here, but I did see Santa Claus dancing during a spontaneous hoedown.

During their abridged set, the band proved to be true veterans: you get the sense that they can engage a crowd of 20 or 2,000 with their easy-going, sardonic humor. Choice cuts from their 2007 record Pity in a Heartbeat, like “Still Love” and “Excess,” sounded powerful, even in the small venue. And it’s always refreshing to hear straightforward rock songs stripped of pretension and heavy on the blues-based hooks that have always been at the core of great rock music.

What’s in store for the Dreamscapes Project in 2010? They will be launching the Twelve Days Project, a multi-dimensional initiative that finds the band joining with artists throughout the DC scene for a monthly collaboration. As DC continues to support its own and cultivate its artistic scene, the timing of the Twelve Days Project couldn’t be better. TGRIOnline will be working with the band on this, so stay tuned for an exclusive song and more info about this groundbreaking project!

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