Trusty Chords

Episode 90: Alex Cameron & Ben Marwe – Bad//Dreems

Trusty Chords

Show Notes

For close to 15 years now, I've been a massive fan of Adelaide's Bad//Dreems.

Regarded as one of Adelaide's finest purveyors of pub-rock (a term they initially shied away from), Bad//Dreems first formed back in 2011, and wasted no time hitting the ground running.

A debut EP gave way to 2015's 'Dogs At Bay,' which was followed by 2017's 'Gutful,' and 2019's 'Doomsday Ballet.' In 2023, the group re-emerged from COVID with Hoo Ha!, their best-performing record to date, and their only one to (so far) to receive an ARIA Award nomination.

As I said at the start, I've been a massive fan of Bad//Dreems across this past decade-and-a-half. In fact, if you know anything about me, it's how much I am a fan of this group.

As it stands, they're currently the band I've seen the most, I've also spent time in the studio with them, and they even refer to me as their number one ticket holder – which I'm not going to complain about.

Last week, they released their fifth album, 'Ultra Dundee,' which is arguably one of their finest releases to date. It's powerful, it's mysterious, it's angular, jagged, and luscious, and it's the distillation of what Bad//Dreems have been leading to after all these years.

Sadly, the record was also accompanied by the news that, after their upcoming tour, Bad//Dreems will be going on an indefinite hiatus.

So I recently wiped away the tears and had a chat with founding Bad//Dreems members guitarist Alex Cameron, and vocalist Ben Marwe. Together, we had a lengthy chat about their career, their new record, and what this hiatus means for them.

Anyway, have a listen to Bad//Dreems' 'Ultra Dundee,' buy a ticket to their upcoming tour, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.

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