Dreams in Peril, Pigweed & Dressed in Electric with Interviews!
Rustbelt Rock Reviews
By: Z.M. Delgado
Zackolantern.com
Volume #13: Dreams in Peril: Interview and Live Review: Dreams in Peril, Pigweed & Dressed in Electric
May 28th, 2022
Maple Grove Tavern, 14832 Pease Rd, Maple Heights, OH
This past Saturday I was invited to the Maple Grove Tavern to give my thoughts on some out of town bands. The MGT was hosting “The Tears of Blood Tour,” featuring Dreams in Peril and Pigweed with support from Dressed in Electric. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to sit down with Dreams in Peril and subsequently got some time to chat with members of Pigweed as well. I arrived about a half hour before my scheduled appointment with DiP. I touched base with show manager/booking, Jeremy Jones, before surveying the room. My first impression was that it was a nice little club: Small, but with a solid layout. Later, I would discover that the lights and sound are actually quite good. Better, in my opinion, than most area venues of comparable size.
I dialed my contact number, Bass Player Dalton, and found out that the interview may have to be delayed. As it turns out two members of the band (Dakota and Jeff) had taken off to a nearby skate park for a quick session. Considering they had been on the road all day, with the long drive in from Chicago the night before, I understood. I found Dalton shortly thereafter and we chatted while the rest of the band trickled in. During this time was when I got to speak with some of the members of Pigweed, as well. I say “some” because that was all that was available. As it turns out, due to a personal emergency, three of their members had to temporarily leave the tour. While they failed to elaborate as to the nature of the troubles, I got the impression it was of some concern to Frontman, Dave.
While I learned a few interesting facts about Pigweed, it was no breaking news. I doubt I can add any pertinent facts for a diehard fan. For Newbies like myself, here’s what I discovered: They are a Nu-metal band, formed in 2009 in San Antonio, TX. They take being from Texas with some seriousness and consider themselves to be representatives of Texas Metal while on the road. Dave also mentioned that they will have a new album, entitled “Liars” out at the end of September. I learned they do their own recording, in a home setup that they affectionately refer to as “Momo Studios.” In general these guys were very open, warm and friendly. I think my biggest take away from my conversations with Pigweed was they seem very dedicated. Dave spoke about the decision they had to make, in regards to their band members absence. He essentially told me they were faced with cancelling the show, maybe multiple shows, on a tour they had just begun. Pigweed found this unacceptable. The second option, and the one they elected to take, was to in effect “play through the pain.” Two days prior to the show, they had frantically recorded tracks to a laptop, in order to fill out the sound. They also had to adapt the setlist, to songs that they weren’t necessarily planning to play; to accommodate the remaining four member’s strengths. It is often a joke, the performer’s greatest cliché, but also an absolute truth: The show must go on. Pigweed knew that last Saturday night, and they weren’t about to shy away from the challenge… more on this later.
Dreams in Peril
Before too long, all the members of Dreams in Peril had assembled and we got to talking. Dalton and I had been there for a while by then, so as the other members filed in and joined, the conversation flowed naturally. So let’s start with the basics: Dreams in Peril are more or less a Deathcore band and they are from Kansas City, Missouri. Founded by Dalton (Bass), Josh (Guitar) and Jeff (Drums) in 2018 as a four piece, they released their debut album “Mephobia.” Obviously, COVID affected their plans shortly thereafter. In the intermediary time, they went through numerous lineup changes, eventually adding second Guitarist Lucas and Vocalist Dakota. They also wrote and recorded a new album, “Ascending,” set to be released late August of this year.
Their influences include: Whitechapel, Acacia Strain, Slipknot and Jinjer. Dakota listed “Slaughter to Prevail” and their front man Alex Terrible as his favorite act of all time. They also sighted none Metal flavors that they use to season their sauce. Jeff discussed his Jazz influences, while Josh apparently enjoys movie and orchestral scores. When asked his opinion on just who is “the greatest guitarist of all time,” Josh had no clear answer. Changing gears, I then inquired as to who his biggest influences are, as a Lead Guitarist. His answer was… “Let’s just put it simply: I musically masturbate all the time. I don’t really have an influence. Or I couldn’t be able to really answer that question.” Dalton went on to clarify, that what Josh was getting at was that he has diverse musical tastes and likes to incorporate many “movie-esc sounds and pedals” in his song writing. I have to say, Josh was an interesting cat. I couldn’t tell if he was intentionally playing the aloof Guitarist role, had some sort of interview anxiety or was just one of those legitimately strange, yet completely real dudes you can only meet at a Rock Show. I am inclined to believe he is this final option. Considering this bands subject matter, it would fit in my opinion.
Lyrically, Vocalist Dakota does all the heavy lifting. He is the lone author of the bands soul wrenching testimonials. The words are drawn from real life experiences with themes including failure, loss and personal struggles with mental health. I asked him what he draws his inspiration from and what drives his work. He told me “My emotional states, constantly… This whole album, literally every song, was wrote about each different emotion that I have felt the last couple years.” “The last two years have probably been the worst of my life, but I’ve used all of that to write these songs.” We spoke about Metal, as a community and why they do what they do. Dakota had some very compassionate sentiments to share on the subject. “It’s to let people know that they’re not alone.” “That’s honestly why I want to be a Vocalist. I don’t want anybody to feel like there’s nobody else out there that feels like them... and they don’t know how to say it.” I love this mentality. Heavy Metal is a shelter from the storm for so many of us. It is our home. It is our solace. We need it. It is outsider music. It is written by outsiders for outsiders. In our own lives many of us feel alone, but at the show… at the show, lined up with scores of other Battlevests and Black T-shirts banging our heads, we know we are part of something so much larger than ourselves. Dreams in Peril get this, to their very bone marrow. They understand how much this music means to us and they respect the hell out of it. Also they draw strength from it, as Dalton explained “It’s not just therapy for the listener, it’s therapy for the musician as well.” Truer words have rarely been spoken.
I asked them to describe their sound in their own words. They said that while they are fundamentally a Deathcore band, they are doing things they think will set them apart from their peers. Lucas says they use a “variety of interesting sounds that kind of goes a little bit outside of your classic Deathcore kind of sound.” Dalton elaborated on that, saying there are “different reverbs with our music, with like synth sounds that really drive in that dream-like sound.” When asked about Josh’s play style Dalton said “He’s more of, like, a sound engineer playing guitar because he emulates so many different sounds.” Interesting stuff, to be sure and I was curious as to what all these descriptions would add up to on stage. Before I let the boys get back to their business, just for fun, I had one more question to send around the table: “If you could open for any band, for their sold out show, which would it be?” Their individual answers: Deftones (Dalton), Knocked Loose (Dakota), Code Orange (Lucas), Jinjer (Josh) and Gojira (Jeff).
Dressed in Electric/Bo
At long last, the show was beginning. The crowd was light and I wondered about the openers. As it turns out, aside from the touring acts, there was only one. Asking around, I discovered there had originally been a fourth act from the area. They had apparently dropped off, leaving the nearest “local” support act driving in from two hours away. That band was Dressed in Electric from Columbus. This is a three piece act that I would classify as Blues Rock with touches of Southern and Stoner Metal. They have a grooving style that is both heavy and soulful. Vocals/Guitarist Bo (shirtless, wearing aviators and drinking 4 Loco) performed with both passion and mirth as he played an array of slippery solo’s, at one point dropping to his knees in a flamboyant display.
Dressed in Electric/Eric
Heavier backing Vocals are provided by Bass player: Eric. He headbanged and screamed throughout the entire set, drenched in sweat, doing his “Misfits Fiend” T-shirt proud. Drummer Adam laid out smooth and rocking rhythm that always seemed to perfectly compliment the emotional peaks and valleys of Bo’s voice. I didn’t get a track count, but they played for a while, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I often go on and on about Thrash Metal, and I cover a lot of Death Metal bands, but I rarely get to mention my love of Heavy Blues. I was raised on The Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The undeniable Blues presence in bands like Zeppelin and Sabbath is the foundation of all Heavy Metal. Without it, none of this “Rock N’ Roll” thing would be happening. So I always enjoy bands in modern Hard Rock and Metal that go this route, and Dressed in Electric does a quality job of it.
Dressed in Electric/Adam
I picked up their 2014 album “Abeyence” and it is very good. I particularly enjoy the track “Unknown Ghost.” It is exceptionally emotive and has some very nice guitar work. They let me know that they are currently recording a follow up at Somerset Sessions and they hope to have it available by fall. I for one will be on the lookout for it. If you are a fan of Down, Mothership, Corrosion of Conformity or Crobot, you should keep an ear open for that release as well.
Dressed in Electric
Pigweed
Up next was Pigweed, sort of. As I mentioned they were running at just above half capacity; down three members. I spoke to a few members of the “Pigweed Family,” as they call themselves, and asked specifically about how they thought this would impact the performance. While they assured me that everything would be fine, I detected a touch of apprehension in their voices. This left me particularly curious as to what we would be in store for. Taking to the stage they brought only two vocalists, one guitarist and their drummer with a laptop. Without delay they broke into their own unique blend of Nu-metal. I found them to be a good bit heavier than many of their peers. They seem to draw from a more Death Metal influence than most acts in the genre. While the metered, Hip-Hop style delivery is still often apparent, the heavier portions of their songs seem to push the sound into far grittier territory.
Pigweed in your face!
Pigweed played hard; very hard. They knew that the fans in attendance had come to see a show, and dammit, they were going to provide. Shouting a chorus of “You can’t stop us!” in unison with the crowd, the sentiment resonated throughout the club. Pigweed showed unquestioned dedication and appreciation for their diehards with their energetic fierce set. I feel that all in attendance were unified in their respect for what this band was overcoming in order to provide their performance. Dave stopped the show for a moment to get personal with the crowd. He talked about their struggles as a band and how COVID affected them. He also spent some time discussing mental health and the subject of suicide prevention. He encouraged Metal Heads to support one another: to never be afraid to ask for help. He told us, we all had someone, somewhere willing to listen, and for those of us who feel we are really alone, well according to Dave, we have Pigweed. He encouraged anyone in the room, who feels they have no where to turn to contact Pigweed directly via social media, and he promised to talk you through it. I respected the hell out of this. Mental Health is a serious issue that touches many of our lives profoundly. Bands such as Pigweed, opening up about personal struggles and reaching out sets a strong and meaningful precedent. We need to be there for one another. If I say nothing else about Pigweed, let me say this: I respect them for this.
Pigweed feeling the groove.
After this break, Pigweed continued to rock the Maple Grove Tavern with increased potency. They even treated us to a cover of the classic “Roots” by Sepultura, featuring members of Dreams in Peril. This led to members of Dressed in Electric taking to the pit to join the avid fans. With wireless mics in hand Pigweed’s vocalists took to the floor, roaming among the Moshers and Headbangers, delivering their rhymes and screams directly into the faces of their eager fans. I had never seen Pigweed before and I am honestly not sure I even have now. I have witnessed part of Pigweed fight through a tough spot and come out on top. The incarnation that I saw perform at Maple Grove Tavern absolutely busted their ass’s in order to give their fans the best show possible. You just have to respect that. If you are into Nu-metal and haven’t heard Pigweed, check them out and next time they roll through town, go to the show. If this is what they are capable of with only four members, I can only imagine what they’d bring to the table with their full seven.
Pigweed Percussion
Dreams in Peril
Closing out the show was Dreams in Peril. They opened with an instrumental number then broke into the title track of the forthcoming “Ascending” album, which had a very cool rhythm. From the first note DiP was at full power and they never slacked. Hard, fast and very intense, they have sound that is gripping and genuine. Initially I thought the Bass was too hot in the mix. Dalton’s five string absolutely shaking the room with each stroke. Luckily Maple Grove’s sound engineer must have noticed the issue as well, and it was quickly rectified. I appreciate that sort of quick response time out of the person at the mixing board.
Dreams in Peril/Dalton
Dreams in Peril/Jeff
They then moved into “Anxious Antics” followed by their single “Mad Mind.” I looked around and noticed every person in the room was headbanging in unison with the relentlessly pounding beat. Jeff hammered his drum kit with incredible ferocity, yet still produced intricate fills and variations that clearly exhibited his Jazz background. Lucas provided a solid wall of riffs while Josh utilized a large array of pedals to create strange atmospheric effects. Digging into their older material they dropped “Neckties and Nostagia” followed by “Make your Martyr” then “Parasites Crawl.”
Dreams in Peril/Lucas
Dreams in Peril/Josh
I think the highlight of the set for me was “Misery Vision.” Something about this track just grabbed me. It was originally meant to be the end of the set, but they extended and treated us to the title track from their first album “Mephobia” and then finally “Makeshift Motives.” They took a bow to a room of exhausted and grateful fans, all cheering in appreciation. I have to say Dreams in Peril played great. After talking to them and hearing them speak so passionately about their music, it is what I expected. These kids are out on the road for the first time. They have worked so hard, and come so far. They are risking it all in pursuit of their dreams… despite the peril. You may have noticed that I failed to mention Dakota above. I wanted to close on my thoughts on the Front man. I have been to a lot of shows, and I have seen a lot of bands. Rarely though have I seen such a painful and visceral performance. His lyrics seem legitimate and heartfelt. His delivery is like witnessing an exorcism. His face is racked with emotion as if he is forcibly purging his demons one after another. Watching Dakota sing was extremely moving, and I got the distinct impression that each and every song was a soul baring experience for this very intense young musician.
Dreams in Peril/Dakota
So there you have it, Rustbelt. I got to check out the Maple Grove Tavern: A very cool little club on the south side of town. You’d hardly know it was there, but I am glad I went. It is clean and comfortable. The staff is friendly and efficient. The stage is good, the lights and sound are better. I hope that more great shows roll through this place soon. I’d love an excuse to go back. I discovered a band out of Columbus, Dressed in Electric, that I really enjoy; who will have a new album soon. I got to sit down with two out of town acts, and talk about all sorts of things; really gaining some insights into what bands go through in this era of touring. I see that now, more than ever, it is important to support our small venues and underground musicians. (The cost of operation is getting astronomical and it is becoming increasingly difficult for these artists to make ends meet.) I got to see Pigweed overcome adversity and show us exactly what the meaning of perseverance is. Finally I got to experience a piece of Dreams in Peril ascent. These kids are hard working, dedicated, passionate and loyal. They play with a fire and energy that cannot be denied. They have a mission and they are ready to fulfill it. More than any of that though: they believe in themselves and each other. I could tell I was dealing with a real band of brothers. Despite the line up troubles in the past, I get the sense that is all behind them. I foresee these five guys sticking together for a long time, and that this is just the beginning of their story.
Until next time Rock on, Rustbelt!
-Z.M. Delgado
6/3/2022
Links:
Maple Grove Tavern:
Dreams in Peril:
@Dreamsinperil
Pigweed:
Dressed in Electric:
