Dream Racer – Gloomy Eyes EP

Southern California’s Dream Racer may have adopted a moniker that sounds straight outta the eighties, but their sound comes from approximately two decades later, from that pre and post millennial era when pop punk was king. The band was borne, as many bands are, out of boredom, isolation and that sense of community that being part of the punk scene fosters, as the band’s frontman, Robert Rodello, explains; “Coming into 2020, life had me extremely overwhelmed, which brought me to a tipping point and I knew I had to break free. I hit my ‘fuck it’ moment, which led me to going out and buying an acoustic guitar. That day, I felt madly inspired from my roots of being a punk kid and my veins began pumping with passion to play music again.”

Shortly afterwards lead guitarist Manny Arrendondo, bassist Anthony Bueno and drummer Michael Raso were added to the line up and Dream Racer was born and they are set to release their debut EP, Gloomy Eyes, on the 18th September. With all four members now in their thirties the band have been through life and, as with many punk bands, their sound is equal parts catharthis and a call for unity. Despite the title and the band’s origins, this is an optimistic, uplifting and hopeful EP that carries that irrepressible pop punk spirit.

They might be looking back with Gloomy Eyes, something it’s all to easy to sink into, especially during the past fifteen months, but this is no self pity party. The first taste of the EP is the optimistic and uplifting title track that hits you with a slice of classic polished pop punk that carries a big chorus that happily sits amongst the emotive almost understated verses. The EP is completed by the tracks Lay Right Here and Let’s Go Home, that are in the classic pop punk mould, and the slow burn of Burning From All Directions. All of which ensures that the Gloomy Eyes EP ticks all the boxes for any self respecting lover of pop punk.

On their debut EP Dream Racer have delivered their own spin on the classic pop punk sound, one that hits the mark musically and exorcises some of the ghosts of lockdown. The Gloomy Eyes EP also looks forward to a Summer that will, hopefully, see us all back doing what we love with the people we love.

You can pre-save and pre-order Gloomy Eyes here