NYC Scene Report – The Dream Eaters, The Thing, & ChumHuffer

This week’s NYC Scene Report features The Dream Eaters requesting “program me, I’m a machine,” The Thing lamenting about who’s watching “Dave’s TV,” and ChumHuffer with a song for everyone who’s “Burning” to break free.

* Very few bands could create a humorous pop song about bodily autonomy, that also takes shots at the dangers of AI, but that’s exactly what The Dream Eaters have done with their latest single “program me, I’m a machine.”

The synthy gem is off the duo’s just-released EP, The Dream Eaters Quarterly Report: Q125, and of course, since this is The Dream Eaters we’re talking about, there’s a wonderfully bizarre video for the song.

Discussing the clip in a statement, The Dream Eaters’ Elizabeth LeBaron said, “Our drummer/dancer Steve Fugitt’s dancing was particularly strong that day (when isn’t it perfect, though?), and I shimmied quite a bit myself – poor robot moves and all.”

Click play on the video for “program me, I’m a machine,” and break out your own robot dance moves … just remember to return to being a person when it’s over!

And for even more of The Dream Eaters, check out our Stacking The Deck interview from earlier this year.

* Keeping things electronics-based, at least thematically, up next is indie rock outfit The Thing, and their recently released single, “Dave’s TV.”

Explaining the song in a statement, the band said, “(It’s) about being in love with someone who is in love with someone else. She’s watching Dave’s TV.”

“Dave’s TV” is the first A side single off their upcoming third album, which will be self-titled, and it marks the beginning of a unique release schedule for The Thing. The entire album is going to be released via A side / B side singles every month for six months, culminating in the August 8th release of the album.

As the singles start to see the light of day, The Thing will be seeing various countries overseas, as they have a European tour slated to begin May 29th, that will run through June 21st.

Until then, click play on “Dave’s TV,” and don’t change that channel!

* Long Island-based punk rock outfit ChumHuffer will be releasing their next EP, Slaughterhouse Five, in May, and the latest single from it will leave you “Burning.”

Discussing the song in a statement, singer Shawn Refuse said “Burning,” “is about fighting the loop of insanity, realizing when you’re stuck in the same patterns, and the frustration of breaking free.”

He continued, adding, “It’s a reflection of personal battles, but also speaks to the collective experience of anyone who feels trapped by their circumstances.”

That’s a feeling pretty much everyone can relate to, and the high energy of “Burning” gives all of us an excuse to completely let loose for 90 seconds.

Just a warning, if you play this song at work you may get so hyped up you’ll throw your computer at your boss. ChumHuffer cannot be held responsible if you do that … even if they might secretly be proud.

For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.