FEVER DREAM: THE BAND THAT WOKE BACK UP

Art by Sara McConnell

Syracuse’s University Neighborhood has long hosted a vibrant music scene, characterized by its neon lights and sold out basement shows. That is, until all properties owned by rental agency Rent from Ben were forbidden from hosting live shows, a blow that has been felt by Syracuse University bands.

Now, bands like Fever Dream are itching to make their way back onto the scene. Fever Dream is a local band that consists of four SU juniors— Emerson Carracedo, Aidan Norton and brothers Nate and Zach Kyle. They are known for their fast, upbeat tunes that often turn fan favorite pop songs into rock tracks.

In the first half of the fall semester, Fever Dream staged an incredible comeback. They’ve performed at places like Funk ‘n Waffles, The Stoplight and The Shipyard, as well as a recent opening for Phoneboy, an indie rock artist currently on the road with The Happy Fits for their Lovesick Tour, at The Song and Dance.

We here at Jerk wondered if the Syracuse music scene became more competitive with the onslaught of previously popular venues shutting down, but Fever Dream assured us that wasn’t the case.

“I’d say everyone’s really supportive of each other. There's a lot of bands, a lot of musicians, but no one's trying to topple over one another,” said Zach Kyle.

While some bands book shows through a band manager, Fever Dream plans gigs as a team. The group found that reaching out to random venues or other bands in the area has led to a number of bookings.

“We got our first show just by cold calling and ‘shot in the dark’ DMing random places,” Nate Kyle explained.

The band is quick to note that not all venues are created equal. Contrary to popular belief, bigger places that require tickets aren’t particularly lucrative for performing bands, because most of the profits then go to the venue. Venues like restaurants and dive bars are where the band makes the majority of their money.

“We try to keep it pretty democratic,” Zach Kyle said of their process for choosing which music to perform.

Their typical inspiration leans toward contemporary pop—Green Day, Chappell Roan, and some classic rock, with a particular fondness for Blondie.

After the release of their debut single "Back to Boston" this past August, Fever Dream’s been booked, but it looks like there's a break on the horizon. Finishing up a large cluster of shows late in the fall semester means that their minds are at work, looking to produce new music.

“Writing new music is going to get us to the next level,” Nate Kyle said.