Jeromes Dream

Last updated
Jeromes Dream
Origin Connecticut, United States
Genres
Years active1997–2001, 2018–present
Labels Iodine Recordings, Witching Hour, Old Glory Records, Clean Plate Records, Alone Records
MembersJeff Smith
Erik Ratensperger
Sean Leary
Past membersNick Antonopoulos
Website www.jeromesdreamforever.com

Jeromes Dream is a screamo band from Connecticut, originally active from 1997 to 2001, and again from 2018 onwards.

Contents

History

Jeromes Dream began on September 13, 1997 [1] after a short jam session that was held in the basement of guitarist Nick Antonopoulos in his mother's house with bassist Jeff Smith and drummer Erik Ratensperger. According to Ratensperger, their first recorded material was intended to be used for a demo release; however, it caught the attention of Rice Control Records, resulting in the intended demo material being released as a split album with Amalgamation. [2]

Most of the band's music was released as splits with other artists, including other notable screamo acts such as Usurp Synapse. Their most well known split release would be their split with Orchid, a 10" record shaped in a 3/4ths view of a skull, which is sought after by both collectors and fans alike, and considered a definitive work of the genre. They toured the United States frequently, and their first proper full-length album, titled Seeing Means More Than Safety , was released in May 2000.

Their second full-length, Presents , which was released on July 9, 2001, featured a significant change in sound for the band. They eventually broke up in August that same year. Jeff Smith began a career in experimental drone music by creating the band The Wind-Up Bird with Joseph Grimm, [3] while Erik Ratensperger became the drummer for The Virgins, a dance punk band from New York. [4]

Along with artists such as Orchid, Saetia and Pg. 99, they are considered as one of the most influential bands of the late 1990s screamo movement and have been called as "probably the most original" band of their time. [5] Their music has influenced many bands, such as Lord Snow, [6] Brighter Arrows, [7] and Vein. [8]

In mid-2016, Ratensperger posted a previously unreleased video on the new official Jeromes Dream YouTube channel. [9] He also opened an official archival band Instagram page, mostly for the purpose of uploading previously unreleased photos of the group. In the spring of 2017, it was announced that Zegema Beach Records and Coniine Records would release a Jeromes Dream tribute compilation, titled It's More Like A Homage To You, with all proceeds going to Flint, Michigan. [10] The compilation featured covers done by 29 bands from multiple countries.

On September 3, 2017, it was announced through Jeromes Dream's official Instagram account that all three members of the band had talked that day through a three-hour phone call for the first time since their disbandment, all of which was recorded by drummer Erik Ratensperger, and later posted on the band's YouTube channel.

Reunion

On March 5, 2018, Jeromes Dream created a new website, jeromesdreamforever.com, featuring a mailing list. On March 8, the band posted a YouTube video, titled "Something is happening.", which linked to their website.

On March 22, 2018, Jeromes Dream announced that they were writing a new full-length album, which was set to be recorded in the fall of 2018 by Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studios. [11] This record would be self-released, and to finance this the band set up an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign as a pre-order for the record. In less than 24 hours, 90% of their $15,000 goal was reached, and in less than 4 days, 100% of the goal was reached.

The LP was confirmed to no longer be recorded by Kurt Ballou, but instead by Jack Shirley, at Atomic Garden studios. It was released on July 19, 2019. Later in January 2019, it was announced that the reformed group would tour with Loma Prieta in the summer of that year. [12]

On July 30, 2021, Jeromes Dream announced that they were working with the Boston-based label Iodine Recordings and reissuing their album "Presents" on vinyl for its 20th anniversary. [13]

On October 3, 2021, Jeromes Dream announced via social media that Sean Leary (Loma Prieta, Ełłe, Stormlight) had officially joined the band as a second guitarist.

On February 28, 2023, the band announced a new album, titled "The Gray In Between," and released the single "Stretched Invisible from London." [14] The album released on May 5 of the same year. [15]

Style and live performances

Vocalist and bassist Jeff Smith would scream from the top of his lungs during live performances without the use of a microphone. During live shows, both Smith and Antonopoulos would perform with their backs facing the audience. They always performed on the floor, and would refuse to play on stage.

Jeromes Dream is mainly categorized as a screamo band. [16] [17] [18] [1] [19] Their music includes influences from powerviolence, grindcore, [10] noise rock, and math rock. [20] Those influences include bands such as Don Caballero, 1.6 Band, Bloodlet, and Deadguy. [21]

Their first full length, Seeing Means More Than Safety, was very violent and destructive musically, and included many noise interludes composed of guitar feedback and radio samples. Their second full length, Presents, however, was much more angular musically. The vocal style also changed dramatically, having "a more traditional hardcore-shout kind of approach," as described in a review. [22]

Band members

Current members

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum DetailsNotes
2000Seeing Means More Than Safety
  • Released: May 2000
  • Label: Old Glory Records
    Clean Plate Records
  • Format: 10"
First pressing consisted of 1000 black colored copies. Second press consisted of 600 black copies and 400 white copies. First press was released through Old Glory, second press was released through Clean Plate
2001Presents
  • Released: June 9, 2001
  • Label: Alone Records
  • Format: CD, LP, CS
Remastered by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden with new artwork, released on July 30, 2021. [23]
2019LP
  • Released: July 19, 2019
  • Label: Microspy
  • Formats: CD, LP, CS, DL
First studio album release in 18 years.
2023The Gray in Between

Split releases

YearAlbum DetailsNotes
1998Amalgamation/Jeromes Dream
  • Released: December 1998
  • Label: Rice Control Records
  • Format: 7"
About three pressings made. The first press consisted of 200 black copies and 100 pink, and its cover was blue/white cardboard. The second press consisted of 300 blue copies, and was packaged in a manilla envelope. A third pressing was made, 100 black copies that came in a blank white cover with a letter written by the two band glued to it. Split with Amalgamation.
1999Jerome's Dream/July
  • Released: Spring 1999
  • Label: Hit The Ground Running
  • Format: 7"
Consisted of 500 black copies, 250 with green colored covers, 250 with brown colored covers. Split with July. Jeromes Dream is mistakenly credited as Jerome's Dream.
1999Jerome's Dream/The Book Of Dead Names
  • Released: September 1999
  • Label: Witching Hour Records
  • Format: 5"
853 copies made, 750 black, 112 red. Jeromes Dream is mistakenly credited as Jerome's Dream, even though there is not supposed to be an apostrophe in Jeromes. Split with The Book Of Dead Names.
2000Jeromes Dream/Orchid
  • Released: May 2000
  • Label: Witching Hour Records
  • Format: 10"
Single sided 10" record that's shaped as a skull. The back side of the record had two grooves, one that contained Jeromes Dream's tracks, and one that contained Orchid's tracks. 1000 copies were pressed with black ink, 1000 copies were pressed with glow-in-the-dark ink, and 197 were pressed with red ink. According to the insert, the red pressing was an accident. Split with Orchid
2000An Aspirin, An X-Ray1300 white copies, 200 black. Some came with tour pins. Split with Usurp Synapse.
2000Jeromes Dream/The One AM Radio
  • Released: December 2000
  • Label: Garbage Czar
  • Format: 7"
2000 black copies pressed. Split with The One AM Radio

Compilation albums

YearAlbum DetailsNotes
2005 Completed: 1997-2001
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Alone Records
  • Format: 2xCD
Discography compilation that includes every single song Jeromes Dream recorded throughout their lifespan, included live recordings and previously unreleased material

Compilation appearances

YearAlbum DetailsSong
2000Antipodes"How Staggering Is This Realization?"
2001Ghost in the Gears"Everyday at 3:06"
2023Balladeers, Reedefined
  • Relased: June 2023
  • Label: Secret Voice

Format: 12"

"Reminders to Parallel"

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References

  1. 1 2 "Alone Records". www.alonerecords.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "Interview with Erik Ratensperger". forallmasters.com. For All Masters. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Burnns, Todd. "Stylus Interview with The Wind-Up Bird". Stylus.com. Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2004.
  4. ↑ Durbin, Johnathan (26 November 2008). "Interview with The Virgins". interviewmagazine.com. Interview Magazine. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  5. ↑ Treppel, Jeff (2015-03-27). "For Those About To Squak: Waldo's Picks Of The Week". decibelnmagazine.com. Decibel Magazine. Retrieved 2017-05-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : LORD SNOW Interview Part 1of3. YouTube.
  7. ↑ Obenschan, Phillip (17 April 2015). "Four Unsigned Bands You Should Hear This Month". Altpress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ Hardt-Valenzuela, Bruce (June 2, 2017). "Interview: Anthony DiDio (Vein)". Invisible Oranges . Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  9. ↑ "JEROMES DREAM". Youtube. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  10. 1 2 Rosenthal, Jon (April 26, 2017). "It's More Like An Homage To You: Wolf Teeth and Coma Regalia Tackle Jeromes Dream". Invisible Oranges . Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Jeromes Dream – New Lp 2018".
  12. ↑ Sacher. "Jeromes Dream recording first album in 18 years, touring with Loma Prieta". brooklynvegan.com. Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  13. ↑ "SCREAMO PIONEERS JEROMES DREAM REVISIT INTENSE EARLY DAYS, POLARIZING 'PRESENTS' LP". www.revolvermag.com. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  14. ↑ "JEROME'S DREAM share new album details and first single". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  15. ↑ Gotrich, Lars (11 May 2023). "Jeromes Dream knits feedback into the tangled seams of 'The Gray In Between'". NPR .
  16. ↑ Rogowski, Jordan. "Jeromes Dream – Presents Review [Punk News]". punknews.org. Punk News. Retrieved January 7, 2005.
  17. ↑ "Jeromes Dream reviews, music, news – sputnikmusic".
  18. ↑ "Jeromes Dream / Orchid – Jeromes Dream / Orchid [10-inch]".
  19. ↑ n/a (8 February 2014). "Noisy Sins Of Insect – Discography Review". diyconspiracy.net. DIY Conspiracy. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  20. ↑ "Jeromes Dream – Completed Review". aversionline.com. Aversionline. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Beat Banter: Erik Ratensperger". KZSC. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  22. ↑ Nixion, Brandon. "Jeromes Dream – Presents Review [Sputnikmusic]". sputnikmusic.com. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Iodine Recordings on Instagram: "Welcome @jeromesdreamforever and @microspymusic to Iodine Recordings! We are excited to announce that old friends Jeromes Dream have signed to Iodine Recordings and will have an LP drop this Fall! Please comment below and welcome Jeromes Dream to the Iodine roster! . Jeromes Dream were one of the first bands to ever work with Iodine Recordings in the mid-90s. Iodine included one of JD's demo tracks (Everyday at 3:06) on our "Ghost in the Gears" comp. Since then, JD and Iodine have remained close friends and felt that working together was the perfect fit bringing both the label and the band full circle. . As always, those on the Iodine e-mail list will be the first to know about pre-orders and limited vinyl editions. If you haven't signed up yet, now would be the time! . . . #jeromesdream #jeromesdreamforever #seeingmeansmorethansafety #posthardcore #emoviolence #screamo #iodinerecordings #iodinerecords #microspy #microspymusic"".
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