Bad//Dreems

Australia's Bad//Dreems deliver an energetic strain of jangle rock whose origins trace to the nation's 1970s and 1980s underground circuit, encompassing Paul Kelly and the Saints, as well as to American punk and college rock acts such as the Replacements and Wipers. Following several singles and an EP that earned strong notices, the quartet issued its first full-length album, Dogs at Bay, in 2015; the harder-edged sequel Gutful appeared two years later. Extensive roadwork over the next twenty-four months solidified their standing as a potent concert draw, paving the way for the third LP, Doomsday Ballet.

The group coalesced in Adelaide during the summer of 2012 when singer and guitarist Ben Marwe joined forces with guitarist Alex Cameron, bassist James Bartold, and drummer Miles Wilson. Their inaugural single, "Chills," surfaced that September and was quickly followed by "Caroline," both of which received favorable press and airplay on youth broadcaster Triple J. The loose, unpolished yet sincere approach mirrored the frequently disparaged character of their hometown, fusing gritty pub rock with a more diffuse indie sensibility. Early in 2013 they tracked four additional numbers; together with the prior singles these formed the Badlands EP, issued that summer on the independent imprint Mirador Records. Soon after, Bad//Dreems aligned with Sydney's Ivy League Records and unveiled the 2014 singles "Dumb Ideas" and "My Only Friend."

Dogs at Bay reached stores in August 2015. Its critical acclaim expanded the band's profile beyond Australia before the more forceful Gutful arrived in 2017, again helmed by producer Mark Opitz (INXS, Cold Chisel). Following further national and international touring, the quartet returned to the studio with Burke Reid and Jack Ladder, resulting in the October 2019 release of Doomsday Ballet.