"They managed to get the 300 or so happy customers sitting on the floor and swinging their arms from side to side. They showed why they deserved the prize by feeding us a blend of rhythm and power pop songs with an electric cello matching very cleverly the overall sound."

-- Emergenza.net, June 2004

Biography

In the dark hallways of their college's performing arts building, budding singer/songwriter Keith Center approached music composition major Jeremy Rodgers. Tipped off that Rodgers played bass, Center asked if he might be interested in forming a band. Rodgers, whose passion for music was evident from the bands he was already in, quickly responded with a resounding no...

Since then, practically every member of the group initially refused to join. But just like Rodgers, after hearing the Dreamscapes Project brand of folk rock for the first time, they quickly changed their minds.

There was something refreshingly disarming, perhaps it was in the intimacy of the lyrics, or the intensity of their performance. Whatever it was had a raw, natural potential; a potential that required just a few key ingredients.

After several changes in the lineup, those ingredients were discovered in the form of cellist Ben Guy, drummer Gordon Shankman, and percussionist Eric Sanford. Within the dark, haunting overtones of the cello, and pounding world-beat grooves, the Project found direction and gained momentum.

"[the dreamscapes project] has built up one of the most loyal followings of any group on the local club circuit."

-- The Washington Post

These successes garnered the attentions of producer Ted Comerford (Lucktown, Virginia Coalition, Red Wanting Blue, Army of Me) and engineers Jeff Juliano (Dave Matthews Band, Lifehouse, John Mayer) and Paul Hager (Avril Lavigne, Dixie Chicks, Goo Goo Dolls, Hoobastank) who lent their talents to the Project's latest album, "Pity in a Heartbeat," released in October 2007.

Honors Received

• "Still Love" received over 10,000 plays on MySpace within two weeks of its release -- MySpace.com, September 2007
• Ranked the #1 folk-rock band in Virginia and #13 in the country -- MySpace.com, September 2007
• Highest ranked unsigned, original act in DC -- Washington Post "Best Bets" 2006
• Editor's Choice -- mp3.washingtonpost.com, August 2004
• #1 in the Washington, DC Region by popular vote. Acheived one of the highest popular votes in the nation, overtaking almost 100 other regional acts for the title. -- Emergenza International Battle of the Bands, June 2004
• Washington, DC Regional Finalist -- Emergenza International Battle of the Bands, June 2005
• Runner-up in the Washington, DC Regional Finals and only act to reach the DC Finals twice -- Emergenza International Battle of the Bands, June 2005
• Best Bassist in the Washington Region -- Emergenza International Battle of the Bands, June 2005
• Washington, DC Regional Finalist -- Emergenza International Battle of the Bands, June 2004
• Best Rhythm Guitarist in the Washington Region -- Emergenza International Battle of the Bands, June 2004
• First Place in the DC area's largest head-to-head battle featuring almost 200 area bands and $10,000 in prizes -- Jaxx Battle of the Bands, October 2002

Bands Booked With (partial list)

• Pat McGee (Giant/Warner Brothers)
• 10,000 Maniacs (Rhino)
• Good Charlotte (Epic)
• Push Stars (33rd Street Records)
• Gaelic Storm (Higher Octave Records/Virgin-EMI)
• Eddie From Ohio (EFO/Virginia Soul)
• The Nields (Razor and Tie)
• Virginia Coalition (bluhammock music)
• Steven Kellogg and the Sixers
• Fighting Gravity
• Juniper Lane
• No Second Troy
• The Kelly Bell Band
• The Lloyd Dobler Effect
• Welbilt
• Rude Buddha
• Agents of Good Roots
• Ulu
• Fat Mama
• The Original Drifters

Venues Played (partial list)

• 930 Club (Washington D.C.)
• Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.)
• The Lions Den (New York, NY)
• Arlene's Grocery (New York, NY)
• Middle East (Boston, MA)
• Harpers Ferry (Boston, MA)
• The Funk Box (Baltimore, MD)
• The State Theater (Falls Church, VA)
• Iota (Arlington, VA)
• Jammin' Java (Vienna, VA)
• Kahunaville (Wilmington, DE)
• Outback Lodge (Charlottesville, VA)
• Bottom Line (Richmond, VA)
• Bubes Brewery (Mount Joy, PA)
• Borders Books throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

Colleges Played (partial list)

• University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
• University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
• George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)
• Catholic University (Washington, DC)
• Southampton College (Southampton, NY)
• James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA)
• University of Richmond (Richmond, VA)
• Long Island University (Brookville, NY)
• Shenandoah University (Winchester, VA)
• Mary Baldwin College (Staunton, VA)
• Radford University (Radford, VA)
• Shepherd University (Shepherdstown, WV)

Discography

Pity in a Heartbeat (Figmental Records, 2007)

Recorded at Low Watt Studios, Raleigh, NC

Produced by Ted Comerford (Lucktown, Virginia Coalition, Red Wanting Blue, Army of Me)

Engineered by Matt Boswell, Jeff Juliano (Dave Matthews Band, Lifehouse, John Mayer), and Paul David Hager (Avril Lavigne, Dixie Chicks, Goo Goo Dolls, Hoobastank)

There Are No Safe Words (Figmental Records, 2005)

Engineered by Scott Spelbring (Jason Mraz, SR-71)

...a lot more colors in my world (2002)

Recorded live at Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA

Stage Right Studios & Walton Studios

Focusing the Madness (1999)

Neptune Studios & Walton Studios

Links

• The Dreamscapes Project
• The Dreamscapes Project on ReverbNation
• The Dreamscapes Project on MySpace
• The Dreamscapes Project Online Press Kit
• TDP Elite on MySpace