By Raymond Bill
Modern. Retro. Revival. This is how one would describe The Dreamboats. Whether on stage or in the studio working on original music, this local band captures those three elements and absolutely delivers.
It was in 2009 in Mississauga, Canada when founding band members Ritchie Hummins and Johnny G Wiz met in a jam session playing hits from The Beetles. After one day playing together, they knew they had something special. With a passion for golden era music of the ‘50s and ‘60s, and inspiration from the movie series, Back to the Future, The Dreamboats were born.
They first began on the open mic scene and the local bars immediately began booking them for weekend shows and even worked with other venues to share bookings. They attribute their quick fame to their unique style that included flashy velvet suits, eye-catching choreography, and three-part harmonies; The Dreamboats had created a vibe that no other band was offering.
But how did this Canadian Band find their way to the Coachella Valley and would they strike gold twice? As luck would have it, in 2017, platinum sponsor of Modernism Week, Mike Hetherman was urged to see them perform live and that’s just what he did. They were quickly sponsored and brought to California to play for the opening party of the annual event. Their performance was a huge success and a momentous booking was made when Frank Goldstein invited them back for the following year.
During their first two weeks in the desert, The Dreamboats were playing sold out venues like The Copa in Palm Springs, and they knew then that their calling was to stay in the Coachella Valley. Following their arrival, the founding bandmembers were joined by videographer, Eric Soto, who has been gathering content for their web series, “Keep It Dreamy” and documenting the ups and downs of their musical journey.
The Dreamboats boast traditional covers but continue to produce original work in the same classic style, something that hasn’t been replicated with nearly as much success as they have achieved. You can watch their new video for their hit, “Lights Down Low” featuring the desert’s own DJ Tina Turntables, released February 14th, on all social media platforms. This hit is from their previous EP, “Back to the Start” which can be found on Spotify. Their new single, “Sweet Nothings” from their newest 6-track EP of the same name is set to be released in March.
Nothing beats seeing The Dreamboats live! Ritchie and Johnny will be joined by fellow bandmates, Justin Zoltek and Kyle O’Donnel Thursday February 16th at Tio Leo’s in San Diego and again back in the desert February 21st at Oscar’s in Palm Springs as well as February 24th at the Hyatt Palm Springs for Modernism Week. You can also catch them on the first Saturday of each month at the New Agua Caliente Casino in Cathedral City. Doors will open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm.
