Dreamcult

The Grayson/Ashland band Dreamcult also released their full self-titled CD this year and have backed it up with sporadic live appearances.

While their sound (much like Zeroking’s) is a definite throwback to the classic hard rock/metal era of the late 1980s and early 90’s, it sounds just as sweet now as it would have been back then.

Singer Clint Adkins has a strong sense of what works melodically, and that, paired with a strong voice and a neo-classical, rocking keyboard style that will have you singing along in no time, is what helps his band to remain a pleasure to listen to.

- Greenup Beacon (Gregg Davidson)

August 19, 2011

Crowds embrace Dreamcult
Lee Ward
The Independent The Daily Independent Fri Aug 19, 2011, 06:00 AM EDT

ASHLAND — Like many bands,?the core of Dreamcult were friends since childhood.

Clint Adkins and Morton Counts met in grade school.

“I was born in Grayson and moved to Boyd County in second grade,”?Counts, who plays bass and provides background vocals, said. That’s when he was exposed to MTV and discovered Motley Crue.

“I went to school with spiked hair and bandanas and met Clint,”?Counts, 32, of Grayson, said. “He asked if I?liked Motley Crew and we started talking. Then, in high school we started a little band. We were horrible.”

The musicians tried again in 2002 to form a band, but between personal issues and trends in the music market, they decided the time wasn’t right, Adkins said.

By 2006, times had changed.

“I showed up at Clinton’s house unannounced,”?he said, noting they hadn’t seen one another in two years. “We played for about 30 minutes, started talking and came back in a few weeks with a couple of new songs.”

“We decided this could fly,” Adkins said.

The two met drummer Kyle Baldridge through a former drummer. “He walked in and played like a beast,”?Counts said. “We knew this was it.” Lead guitar player Bill Branham of Grayson joined them next.

They play almost exclusively original tunes, with an occasional crowd-pleasing cover song. Their style is like that of the bands they grew up with and enjoy — Motley Crue, Aerosmith and Guns ’n Roses.?In fact, Adkins said Guns ’n Roses and Velvet Revolver helped inspire the name Dreamcult.

“Velvet Revolver had just had a big hit and I was trying to think of something soft with a heavy word,”?Adkins, 32, of Ashland, said. “Some edgy word with a soft, happy word.”

As for writing, they follow the example of their favorite bands, too. “The idea is to write the kind of songs we’d like to have at a party and to listen to and to be ourselves and be the band on stage we want to be,”?Counts said.

The band and the original music has been well received, especially by the music scene in Huntington.

“With the college, there’s a built-in crowd,” Counts said. “As the band has gotten better, the crowd has gotten bigger. It’s nice to play a full house.”

Baldridge, 21, of Ironton said the first live show drew a good number of people. “Since then, it’s always been more people at every show.”

Counts agreed. “People treat us real good, singing along and hollering our names,”?he said. “It’s all good.”

Dreamcult’s eight-song EP, regularly $10 and available digitally, will be on sale at tonight’s show at Shamrock’s in Huntington, for $7. More information about the band is available at reverbnation.com/dreamcult and on the band’s Facebook page.

LEE?WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.


- Lee Ward

August 19, 2011

Crowds embrace Dreamcult
Lee Ward
The Independent The Daily Independent Fri Aug 19, 2011, 06:00 AM EDT

ASHLAND — Like many bands,?the core of Dreamcult were friends since childhood.

Clint Adkins and Morton Counts met in grade school.

“I was born in Grayson and moved to Boyd County in second grade,”?Counts, who plays bass and provides background vocals, said. That’s when he was exposed to MTV and discovered Motley Crue.

“I went to school with spiked hair and bandanas and met Clint,”?Counts, 32, of Grayson, said. “He asked if I?liked Motley Crew and we started talking. Then, in high school we started a little band. We were horrible.”

The musicians tried again in 2002 to form a band, but between personal issues and trends in the music market, they decided the time wasn’t right, Adkins said.

By 2006, times had changed.

“I showed up at Clinton’s house unannounced,”?he said, noting they hadn’t seen one another in two years. “We played for about 30 minutes, started talking and came back in a few weeks with a couple of new songs.”

“We decided this could fly,” Adkins said.

The two met drummer Kyle Baldridge through a former drummer. “He walked in and played like a beast,”?Counts said. “We knew this was it.” Lead guitar player Bill Branham of Grayson joined them next.

They play almost exclusively original tunes, with an occasional crowd-pleasing cover song. Their style is like that of the bands they grew up with and enjoy — Motley Crue, Aerosmith and Guns ’n Roses.?In fact, Adkins said Guns ’n Roses and Velvet Revolver helped inspire the name Dreamcult.

“Velvet Revolver had just had a big hit and I was trying to think of something soft with a heavy word,”?Adkins, 32, of Ashland, said. “Some edgy word with a soft, happy word.”

As for writing, they follow the example of their favorite bands, too. “The idea is to write the kind of songs we’d like to have at a party and to listen to and to be ourselves and be the band on stage we want to be,”?Counts said.

The band and the original music has been well received, especially by the music scene in Huntington.

“With the college, there’s a built-in crowd,” Counts said. “As the band has gotten better, the crowd has gotten bigger. It’s nice to play a full house.”

Baldridge, 21, of Ironton said the first live show drew a good number of people. “Since then, it’s always been more people at every show.”

Counts agreed. “People treat us real good, singing along and hollering our names,”?he said. “It’s all good.”

Dreamcult’s eight-song EP, regularly $10 and available digitally, will be on sale at tonight’s show at Shamrock’s in Huntington, for $7. More information about the band is available at reverbnation.com/dreamcult and on the band’s Facebook page.

LEE?WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.


- Lee Ward

March 10, 2011 @ 12:00 AM


The Herald-Dispatch

BAND: Dreamcult

BIO: The local band Dreamcult features four members who were born and raised in Huntington. The group has been playing at different clubs and events in Huntington for the past couple of years. The band is looking to increase its number of gigs in the near future.

MEMBERS/DAY JOBS: Clint Adkins (vocals)/AT&T Customer Service and Sales Associate; Myron Hogan (guitar)/sound system engineer; Morton Counts (bass)/construction and Kyle Baldridge (drums)/manager at Penn Station.

BASED IN: Huntington

INFLUENCES: Aerosmith, Led Zepplin, Guns n Roses, cheap Trick as well as some heavier bands like Black Sabbath and Shadows Fall.

INFORMATION: www.myspace.com/dreamcult or the group is also on Facebook.

- Robin Ryson

March 10, 2011 @ 12:00 AM


The Herald-Dispatch

BAND: Dreamcult

BIO: The local band Dreamcult features four members who were born and raised in Huntington. The group has been playing at different clubs and events in Huntington for the past couple of years. The band is looking to increase its number of gigs in the near future.

MEMBERS/DAY JOBS: Clint Adkins (vocals)/AT&T Customer Service and Sales Associate; Myron Hogan (guitar)/sound system engineer; Morton Counts (bass)/construction and Kyle Baldridge (drums)/manager at Penn Station.

BASED IN: Huntington

INFLUENCES: Aerosmith, Led Zepplin, Guns n Roses, cheap Trick as well as some heavier bands like Black Sabbath and Shadows Fall.

INFORMATION: www.myspace.com/dreamcult or the group is also on Facebook.

- Robin Ryson