Bad/Dreems Celebrates 10 Years with ‘Dogs at Bay’ Anniversary Tour

Ten years ago, Bad//Dreems made a significant mark on the Australian music scene with their album Dogs at Bay. This debut album established them as one of Australia’s essential guitar bands. Now, the Adelaide-based group is gearing up for a national tour to commemorate this milestone by performing the album in its entirety.

The ‘Dogs at Bay 10th Anniversary Tour’ will showcase their celebrated 2015 album alongside a selection of beloved tracks. Fans can grab tickets starting Friday, July 4th at 10 AM local time, while a pre-sale starts the day before, on Thursday, July 3rd.

In anticipation of this tour announcement, the band teased fans with a cryptic Instagram post, stating, “BIIIIIIG Baddies announcement coming at 10 am AEST TOMORROW! We’re looking forward to looking back and getting up close ‘n’ personal with our DAY ONE RIDE OR DIES. You best pop your details down on our mailing list at BADDREEMS.COM for first dibs at whatever this mysterious, amazingly randy thing is.”

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Reflecting on Dogs at Bay

This album was more than just a debut; it marked a pivotal moment in Australian rock, characterized by loud instrumentation and deep, poignant lyrics. Tracks like “Cuffed & Collared,” “Hiding to Nothing,” and “My Only Friend” resonated with the complexities of suburban life and offered a fresh take on masculine vulnerability when few dared to.

Guitarist and songwriter Alex Cameron shared, “I was never convinced that people really understood the band or our songs at the time. Then again, I don’t know if we really did either. After our early releases, some pseudo-cultural elites wrote us off as ‘pub rock’.”

Exploring Australian Identity

This label, although dismissive, became a badge of honor for the band. “It proved an interesting vehicle to explore many of the themes that underpin the Australian identity, which is something we have always been drawn to,” Cameron continues. Dogs at Bay set the stage for a complex journey full of twists and turns. Many songs from the album still hold a place in their shows, demonstrating its lasting impact.

“We wanted to show that it was okay to like football and poetry,” Cameron remarked, encapsulating the spirit of Bad//Dreems and its unique contradictions.

Recent Works and Celebrations

Since their inception in a warehouse in Adelaide in 2012, Bad//Dreems has introduced three more critically acclaimed albums: Gutful, Doomsday Ballet, and the recent Hoo Ha!, which received a nomination for ARIA’s Best Rock Album. Still, it’s Dogs at Bay that remains a cornerstone of their discography.

As part of the tour celebrations, the band is releasing a limited edition Dogs at Bay 10th Anniversary vinyl, featuring standout tracks available in two striking color themes: ‘Bogan Brick’ and ‘Hume Blue’.