Athfest 2011: Dreamboat and Sea of Dogs serve us some sweet tunes

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Dreamboat and Sea of Dogs

Dreamboat was high on my list of must-see bands at this year's Athfest. I caught a very short Live in the Lobby show of theirs a while back at WUOG, UGA's student-run radio station, and my ears craved more of their soft, lovely melodies. Featuring members of the well-loved local band Hope For Agoldensummer as well as several other talented musicians, they gave us a set of melodies that were earthy yet transcendent, with echoing drums and bells that flowed like soft but powerful breezes into our ears. Although not entirely acoustic, Dreamboat's beautiful sound was so natural that it could have been created by the earth itself. Their lyrics, sometimes unexpectedly dark in tone, wound through the tunes in a purely delightful way. Among them, one of the most memorable lines was one disguised within a sweet melody that said "if life didn't suck so much, I wouldn't have to use so many drugs, so blame life." Such a fascinating song in its melancholy yet somehow serene disposition! Encored at the end of their set to play several more songs, they taught the crowd to sing along, bringing their show to a most fulfilling finish.

Following Dreamboat, all-female band Sea of Dogs took the stage to give us their own soft, rather indie tunes. A trumpet and a banjo joined the usual array of band instruments to form a very endearing, sort of folk-style sound. The whole effect was quite sweet. Also, I must say that I'm extremely happy to see so many women rocking their hearts out in our hometown scene this year!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!