DARK SUMMER DAWN

Artist Information

Biography

Edgy modern rock band Dark Summer Dawn (Austin, Texas) actually began their journey as “Deejer.” In 2004, they showcased at the Florida Music Festival and recorded with Pete Thornton (Shinedown, Limp Bizkit), and Mark Dufour (Ghostland Observatory, Blue October). Deejer released their debut CD “Grief Can Kill An Elephant” in 2005. The first single, Farther Figure, charted at #27 on the FMQB specialty radio chart, was in rotation on XM Radio Unsigned, and was featured in A&R Worldwide’s Unearthed Vol. 3 compilation. The song “The Arrow” was included in Alternative Addiction’s V.5 complication and the track “All I Ever Wanted” reached Top 5 in the Heavy Rock category of the 2005 Independent Music Awards.

In 2008 they teamed up again with Mark Dufour and released “Dark Summer Dawn.” It was a noticeably darker and heavier effort, and was mastered by Dominick Maita (Fallout Boy, Plain White T’s). It received specialty rotation on KLBJ, KISS, and KXTE. American Top 40’s Shadoe Stevens placed the title track into heavy rotation on Cabo Wabo Radio and it received multiple awards in the Modern Rock category on Garageband.com. They showcased at the 2008 Amplify Music Festival in Las Vegas and inked endorsements with Traben Bass Company and Michael Kelly Guitars. In 2009 they changed their name to Dark Summer Dawn, and in 2010 released a music video for the song “Red Ink” featuring LA model Trisha Lurie.

Dark Summer Dawn is currently recording with producer Todd “Taz” Osterhouse.

Instrumentation

Chris Didear - Lead Vox
Gary Hopkins - Drums
Chal Boudreaux - Guitars - Vox
JR Shirley - Bass - Vox

Discography

Album: (Formerly Deejer) Dark Summer Dawn
Release Date: 24 May 08

(Formerly Deejer) Album: Grief Can Kill An Elephant
Release Date: 25 Feb 05

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace

Audio

• Red Ink
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• Sun In My Eyes
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• Dark Summer Dawn
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• One Big Fist
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Lyrics

• Red Ink
• Sun In My Eyes
• Dark Summer Dawn
• One Big Fist

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Garageband.com Awards [+ Show ]
  

  Dark Summer Dawn: Track of the Day on 1Aug2008 in Modern Rock Best Male Vocals in Modern Rock,...Dark Summer Dawn:
  
  Track of the Day on 1Aug2008 in Modern Rock
  
  Best Male Vocals in Modern Rock, week of 18Aug2008
  
  Best Male Vocals in Modern Rock, week of 1Sep2008
  
  Best Male Vocals in Modern Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Best Guitars in Modern Rock, week of 1Sep2008
  
  Best Guitars in Modern Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Best Drums in Modern Rock, week of 18Aug2008
  
  Best Bass in Modern Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Best Production in Modern Rock, week of 18Aug2008
  
  Best Production in Modern Rock, week of 1Sep2008
  
  Best Production in Modern Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Best Lyrics in Modern Rock, week of 1Sep2008
  
  Most Original in Modern Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Review of Dark Summer Dawn:
  
  "Rise up. Strong vocalist with a very marketable voice. Instruments are bang on. Good guitar sound, Kicking drums, Rocking Bass. Makes me feel like I would like to change the world. The words Backwards we all fall down are excellent. The message is positive if we can all agree. The production is stellar. I look forward to seeing this band break the market."
  
  Reviewed by: Rumblehouse from Canada
  
  
  Red Ink:
  
  Best Male Vocals in Pop Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Rocking Track in Pop Rock, week of 29Sep2008
  
  Review of Red Ink:
  
  "Solid driving tune. Beat: Awesome beat. kept the song moving all along. Drums: Solid thoughout Guitars: Love the dynamics between the verse and chorus between the guitar and bass. Lead Vocals: Great pipes. Very solid and probably one of the best parts of the song. Backup Vocals: Nicely done, placed in all of the right places. Songwriting: This is a main stream song and pulled togther and engineered well. I would expect to hear this on the radio by next week!"
  
  Reviewed by: SelfStart from Bedford, New Hampshire

• Night After Night, Sept. 25-Oct. 2 [+ Show ]
  

  Deejer is on the road with its sophomore CD, "Dark Summer Dawn," the follow-up to "Grief Can Kill an...Deejer is on the road with its sophomore CD, "Dark Summer Dawn," the follow-up to "Grief Can Kill an Elephant." Led by vocalist Chris Didear, Deejer plays a brand of modern rock that's heavy and hard but features smart, passionate words. Deejer tackles a few sociopolitical issues without ever letting up on the rock.

• Press Release as Deejer [+ Show ]
  

  Sharon Jones Publicist Pick-o'-the Litter Media Deejer's New Release Secures Amplify Music ...
  Sharon Jones
  Publicist
  Pick-o'-the Litter Media
  
  
  Deejer's New Release Secures Amplify Music Conference Showcase and
  Rotation on Cabo Wabo Radio
  
  The strength of Deejer's new sophomore album Dark Summer Dawn not only
  guaranteed the band an invitation to showcase at the Amplify Music
  Conference & Festival, Aug 5-8, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV, but is
  catapulting them into high rotation on Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Radio.
  
  
  Austin, Texas - July 20, 2008 – The release of Dark Summer Dawn kills
  any danger of a sophomore slump for Austin-based progressive modern
  rock band Deejer. Produced by Mark Dufour, whose diverse resume
  includes groups such as Ghostland Observatory and Blue October, the
  album also features the mastering skills of Dominick Maita (Fallout
  Boy, Plain White-T's.)
  
  Released on May 24, 2008, Dark Summer Dawn is already receiving major
  music industry notice. Deejer is one of only 100 showcasing artists
  invited to perform an industry showcase at the Amplify Music
  Conference & Festival in downtown Las Vegas, NV. Deejer appears at the
  Neonopolis on August 7, 2008 at 8:00 pm.
  
  This week, entertainment icon Shadoe Stevens (KROQ, American Top
  Forty) added Deejer as a "featured new band," to Sammy Hagar's Cabo
  Wabo Radio (#1 modern rock station on Live365.com and ranked #37
  overall for 10,000+ stations; logging 112,728 listeners from 110
  countries in June 2008). The album's title track "Dark Summer Dawn,"
  is in high rotation.
  
  Stating, "We're fans," Stevens continues, "Deejer is very talented and
  we're expecting great things for them."
  
  Dark Summer Dawn is filled with darker and edgier songs than Deejer's
  2005 critically acclaimed indie debut Grief Can Kill An Elephant (that
  received specialty radio play, charted on FMQB and was added to
  rotation on XM Radio Unsigned). The new release is a much more
  aggressive counter-assault against personal and global political
  frustrations, while the messages contained in the songs show strength
  through the maturity and perspective gained through surviving personal
  tragedies.
  
  Such memorable tunes as the societal wakeup call "Dark Summer Dawn,"
  the brokenhearted rocker "Red Ink," as well as the road-trip anthem
  "Sun In My Eyes," boast the band's distinct trademark sound. The
  heaviest track "One Big Fist," screams and thunders with aggression,
  while "Effigy" opens with President Bush "catapulting the propaganda."
  Personal hells of addiction and rock bottom angels have you, "Falling
  Forward" into the sanctity of "Safe Circle Saints," while lamenting
  the pain caused by those you love in "Sharp Objects."
  
  Hard-hitting yet intricate drums, formidable bass lines and aggressive
  guitars create infectious melodic hooks and intricate musical lines
  that converge with dark lyrics and powerful, but soulful vocals. Lead
  singer Chris Didear's lyrics demonstrate his dynamic ability to simply
  deconstruct the harder emotions faced in this complicated modern
  world.
  
  Deejer is already receiving specialty spins on KXTE-FM (Las Vegas, NV)
  and KLBJ-FM (Austin, Texas). A music video for the single "Sun In My
  Eyes," is also in pre-production. Michael Kelly Guitars and Traben
  Bass Company endorse Deejer. Dark Summer Dawn is available in the
  "earth-friendly" eco-pack at local Austin music retailers (Waterloo,
  Encore and Cheapo's Records), as well as online at
  www.theconnextion.com/deejer and iTunes.
  
  A high-octane 60-second Deejer ad is running on KROX-FM (Austin, TX),
  promoting the July 25 show at the Red Eyed Fly in Austin, with Dawn
  Over Zero and Withheld. Listen to their spot and cuts from the album
  at www.myspace.com/deejer.
  
  UPCOMING SHOWS
  
  July 25, 2008 (11:30 pm)
  Red Eyed Fly, Austin, TX
  
  Aug 7, 2008 (8:00 pm)
  Amplify Music Conference & Festival
  Neonopolis, Las Vegas, NV
  
  Aug 23, 2008 (11:15 pm)
  Momo's, Austin, TX
  
  For information or press package: www.deejermusic.com or
  Contact: Sharon Jones at jonesinaustin@gmail.com
  
  Pick-'O-The-Litter Media
  11900 Metric Blvd, Ste. J-189
  Austin, TX 78758
  www.myspace.com/jonesinaustin
  512-356-9491 Office
  512-364-4233 Cell
  

• eXciting news! [+ Show ]
  

  -eXciting news!- Deejer: Dark Summer Dawn The latest release from Austin's own Deejer, "Dark Sum... -eXciting news!-
  Deejer: Dark Summer Dawn
  The latest release from Austin's own Deejer, "Dark Summer Dawn", is now available to order in their online store. This modern rock record was recorded and produced by Mark Dufour (Ghostland Observatory, Blue October) and was mastered by Dominick Maita (Fallout Boy, Plain White T's). See why indienettunes.com says, "The BUZZ about this radio friendly modern rock band is almost deafening. It's no wonder... They deliver the goods in a musical package that is nothing short of genius. It is honesty, hooks, melody, and emotions all packaged in a tight, bright new package."

• Quality Modern Rock [+ Show ]
  

  "Texas rockers Deejer knows how to write quality modern rock by the book..." "The songs however a..."Texas rockers Deejer knows how to write quality modern rock by the book..."
  
  "The songs however are great, just listen to the Kings X influenced "Sun in my eyes" or the Foo Fighters-esque rocker "Red ink" that could work on active rock radio..."
  
  "Why isn't this band signed to Rock Ridge Music? This band is like handmade for that modern rock label..."

• What the Media are saying about Dark Summer Dawn [+ Show ]
  

  “This hard-working band's commitment to success is exceeded only by their passion for creativity and...“This hard-working band's commitment to success is exceeded only by their passion for creativity and expression.” - Austin's WB Buzz MP3s.
  
  "Ranging somewhere between modern alternative and the nu-metal sounds that a lot of bands have employed over the past few years, “Farther Figure” could certainly relax with the big boys on radio." - smother.net.
  
  “Dark Summer Dawn songs are about life and introspection, music that people can relate to and remember.” - Pulse Unsigned.com.
  
  “The BUZZ about this radio friendly modern rock band is almost deafening. It’s no wonder… They deliver the goods in a musical package that is nothing short of genius. It is honesty, hooks, melody, and emotions all packaged in a tight, bright new package.” - IndieNetunes.com.

• Jones'in Austin [+ Show ]
  

  February 2005 The new 7-song Deejer CD, Grief Can Kill An Elephant, was produced by Producer/Engine...February 2005
  The new 7-song Deejer CD, Grief Can Kill An Elephant, was produced by Producer/Engineers Pete Thornton (Cold, Shinedown), Mark Dufour (Vertical Horizon, Love Spit Love), and Grant Ostergard. For an advance taste of the new stuff, Deejer will be on-air with Loris Lowe (KLBJ) for Local Licks Live, on Tuesday, February 22 conducting an on-air interview, acoustic performance, and spinning cuts from the their new record. The official CD Release Party is Friday, February 25 at the Red Eyed Fly, with Deejer going on at Midnight. Also on the bill are Gemini and Trace Element (Houston). The week of the show 101X will be airing commercials featuring cuts from the EP and Deejer will perform on Fox7 News in the morning, Thursday, February 24, and is also scheduled for an in-store promotion and acoustic performance Friday, February 25 at Encore Music and Video from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. There will be free beer and free ice cream!

• Jones'in Austin - Lessons From the Sandlot [+ Show ]
  

  October 2004 Sticktoitivity: Lessons From The Sand Lot. Sometimes, not very often, but sometimes, a...October 2004
  Sticktoitivity: Lessons From The Sand Lot. Sometimes, not very often, but sometimes, a band begins to get it right, starts making things happen for themselves, and begins to make it look easy. I guarantee you it isn't. Actually, the smoother you appear to operate usually means you've probably already waded through lots and lots of muck in the past and hopefully have grown from those experiences. That's what I'm seeing happening with local Indie rockers Deejer, whose lead vocalist Chris Didear is a veteran rocker whose played drums in Austin for about 16 years. I've known Chris since about 1997 when his former band 50 Mission Crush began playing gigs on 6th Street. I remember watching them play one night at Babe's and then booking them immediately to play a few blocks over on 3rd Street at the now non-existent Voodoo Lounge. 50 Mission Crush (MC) made quite a run at the label game in the late 90's, single-handedly pushing their 1998 self-titled album onto the charts of 80 college radio stations, with no label support. Therefore, it didn't surprise me when Deejer's recent nationwide radio campaign began doing so well.
  
  In mid-September, XM Radio Unsigned added Deejer's single "Farther Figure" to their national XM line-up. Each week Radio Unsigned also submits the 12 most notable artists it received that week to hundreds of industry professionals and insiders via their Radio Unsigned R.A.D.A.R Report and Deejer's song was selected to be one of those top 12 audio tracks for including in the industry report. In only the second week of their national radio campaign, Deejer's single is already getting airplay in: Palm Springs, CA, Columbia, SC, Binghamton, NY, Portland, ME, and Oklahoma City and "Farther Figure" already hit # 30 of the FMQB National Radio Specialty Charts Top 100, and still climbing. Brian Kendall also featured "Farther Figure" on his Texas Traxx show on KISS FM in San Antonio. The band was recently featured on the Kings of A&R website, and according to Didear, it has definitely generated some label interest. The band is currently working on setting up several showcases in New York for several major labels later this fall. "Father Figure" has also been making a very strong showing on www.garageband.com. Within the first four days of posting, it was already awarded Track of the Day and rated at 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars. According to Garagebands.com weighted rating system, only the top 1% of songs ever exceeds 4.5 stars. The band will also be supporting the "Don't Try This at Home" Tour with Steve-O from MTV's Jackass. Information about a 4-city tour in November will be posted soon to their website. Whew! www.deejermusic.com

• The A&R Report [+ Show ]
  

  September 13, 2004 Texas' Deejer recently charted at #27 on the FMQB Top 101 Specialty Radio Chart ...September 13, 2004
  Texas' Deejer recently charted at #27 on the FMQB Top 101 Specialty Radio Chart with only 58% of statons reported and has been selected for national radio play on XM's Radio Unsigned and the Radar Report.

• A&R Radio Newsletter Vol. XXXXIV [+ Show ]
  

  September 17, 2004 A&R Worldwide Unearthed, Vol. 3: Deejer Here's another SOLID unsigned act alrea...September 17, 2004
  A&R Worldwide Unearthed, Vol. 3: Deejer
  Here's another SOLID unsigned act already garnering Specialty spins on stations such as KUPD Phoenix, WKGB Binghamton, WCYY Portland, ME, WARQ Columbia, SC and KSPI Stillwater, OK (amongst others.) The self-release of their new three-song demo, produced by Pete Thornton (Cold, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit) has got the labels sniffin' around...we expect big things to come of Deejer in the not-so-distant future.

Setlist

Sets are 45 min. - 1hr. 30 min.
Original Music

Dark Summer Dawn
Falling Forward
Keep It Safe
Without Reason
The Arrow
Farther Figure
Red Ink
Safe Circle Saints
Sun In My Eyes
Army of Angels
Monkey Wrench
Jet Black Sunshine
Dark Horse
Twice
One Big Fist
Effigy
Plowed
Pitchfork Kiss
The Hissing of Swans
Ultraviolet Love
Sharp Objects
Stinger
Underdog
Akumal
Push Pull
Clear As Mud
All I Ever Wanted
In The Dark

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