The Dream Syndicate perform in The Current studio
by Jim McGuinn
December 06, 2017
The Dream Syndicate were founded in 1981, part of the Los Angeles psychedelic-post-punk mashup scene known as The Paisley Underground. "We were at the opposite of the bands in our scene," recalls front man Steve Wynn. "As much as I love the bands in the Paisley Underground, we were the noisy, trashy stepbrothers down the hall."
In 1988, the band broke up, but reunited in 2012. "We had broken up way back in '88, and at various times had been asked to do shows," Wynn explains. "We remained friends and talked to each other about things, and just didn't do it. We got asked to do a festival in Spain five years ago and it just seemed like, 'Well, now's the right time.' And we did it, and it went great."
So great, in fact, the band began creating new music together. "After a while we started to realize not only that we were able to pick up where we left off, but go to new places at the same time," Wynn says. "We sound like, in some ways, a new band, and we were enjoying it and we figured, well, rather than keep playing the oldies circuit, let's make a new record."
That record, How Did I Find Myself Here?, was released in September. Now touring in support of the album, the Dream Syndicate visited The Current studio for a session hosted by Jim McGuinn just ahead of a show at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis.
Use the audio player above to listen to the complete in-studio session with the Dream Syndicate, including Jim McGuinn's story about where he first saw the Dream Syndicate perform live: opening for U2 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago in 1983.
Songs Performed
"Filter Me Through You"
"Like Mary"
"Glide"
All songs from the Dream Syndicate's 2017 album, How Did I Find Myself Here?, available on ANTI- Records.
Hosted by Jim McGuinn
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Riley Bruestle
Visuals by Nate Ryan
Web feature by Luke Taylor
Resources
The Dream Syndicate - official site