It all starts with the dream and the drive. Imagination begets action and action equals reality. And so you dream. And then you wake up in Bed-Stuy with no money, an empty fridge and a pounding headache. “What do I do now?” you ask. “Where are my pants?” you wonder. But then you pick yourself off the futon and get crackin’.

The Dirty Gems stampeded their way onto the New York rock scene with an energy and undeniable appeal that leaves bands with 10-times more revolutions around the sun wonde...