TVD NYC staff writer Nicole Blumenfeld weighs in on the recent Dream Diary show at Mercury Lounge on Tuesday 01/18/11.
Remember the child-like joy of rolling down a perfectly slanted grassy hill on an impeccably sunny spring afternoon? You couldn’t get enough of rolling down that hill! Dream Diary’s sugary pop is equal parts grassy-hill-rolling happiness, dizzingly infectious melodies and blissful nostalgia, making them the band to watch right now. But don’t worry, you won’t have the urge to vomit all over the inside of your mom’s minivan after rolling through their live set. Mixing shimmery pop melodies with clever lyrics, the band has been a much needed ray of sunshine in the often hazy Brooklyn scene. They’ve had the blogosphere a-buzzing of late, with shining reviews on Spinner, Magnet Magazine, Oh My Rockness and even a shout out by the New York Times.
So, what are three guys to do when their female backup vocalist and rhythm guitarist relocates to Memphis? Why, strip down their sound and have their bassist sing in as high pitched a tone as his voice will reach! And that is exactly what the bi-spectacled Dream Diary did on Tuesday night at The Mercury Lounge.
Temporarily absent founding member Madison Farmer, singer/guitarist Jacob Danish Sloan incorporated Farmer’s guitar parts while bassist Christopher Balla sang the beautiful harmonies. From the first notes of “Paper Flowers” through the set closer “Something Tells Her”, Sloan and Balla’s harmonies were as wistful as ever, complemented by the always bangin’ (pun intended) beats of drummer Alexander Iezzi (NOT Alex Lezzi, ahem, NY Times fact checker). The set was packed with upbeat tracks from their upcoming album You Are The Beat (out February 15 on Kanine Records), sandwiched by a few jokes courtesy of funny man Balla. It was a perfect escape from the dreary New York winter raging outside.
Dream Diary in the New York Times
Pre-order the record You Are The Beat through Kanine Records
