XPN Fest Recap: The Dream Syndicate lays it all out on the Marina Stage

The Dream Syndicate | photo by Jeremy Zimmerman for WXPN

“Who says you can’t freak out in the broad daylight? I never said that.” And freak out The Dream Syndicate did. The 80’s indie rock band from California rocked NonCOMM back in May, and today they performed as a complete band for the first time ever at XPoNential. It’s been 30 years since the group released their last album Ghost Stories and only five since they reunited, but from today’s tight set it would be easy to believe that they never stopped.

The high-energy performance was filled with heavy electric guitar riffs (and guitar battles), old classics, and previews from the Dream Syndicate’s upcoming album, set for a September release. Frontman Steve Wynn introduced the new track “Out of my Head” with the unbelievable statement “This is from a new Dream Syndicate record. I haven’t said that since Herbert Hoover was in the White House.”

The band laid it all out during the set, never stopping the roaring guitars and fitting in long jams between verses and songs anytime that they could. The set ended in a crazy layered build that showed the crowd that The Dream Syndicate aren’t making a comeback, they’re picking up right where they left off.

Setlist
See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
Definitely Clean
That’s What You Always Say
Out Of My Head
The Medicine Show
Halloween
The Days of Wine and Roses