Dream City Film Club
Dream City Film Club were a North London rock band founded in July 1995.
Their sound was difficult to categorize in that it encompassed tortured lovelorn balladry, avant-garde flourishes, Tin Pan Alley, straightforward rock and gospel yearnings in both lyrics and subject matter. Ultimately, Dream City Film Club failed to find enough of an audience to sustain them.
Vocalist Michael J. Sheehy had been working as a solo singer/songwriter for several years when he met Alex Vald and Laurence Ash, who quickly began writing songs with Sheehy. Upon the demise of another local group, Breed, bassist Andrew Park joined. The band's name came from a news story Sheehy had seen about an arsonist who had burned down a members-only porno theatre. They played their first gig as Dream City Film Club on July 31, 1995.
They released a single, "Crawl" for the underground fanzine, the Organ in early 1996. Soon after, they were contacted by Beggar's Banquet and recorded their eponymous debut album in late 1996.
According to Sheehy, the English press reaction to the first single, "Perfect Piece of Trash", was almost unanimous in its derision. After parting with Vald, DCFC continued on as a three piece, recording its second and final album, In the Cold Light of Morning featuring a more expansive sound best realized on the epic "God Will Punish the Pervert Preacher".
The group disbanded in 1999. Michael J. Sheehy has since recorded three solo albums for Beggar's Banquet and two for Glitterhouse, and has fronted Saint Silas Intercession with his brother Patrick.
Line-up
- Michael J. Sheehy vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Andrew Park: Bass guitar, keyboards, guitars
- Laurence Ash: Drums, percussion
- Alex Vald, guitar (until 1997)
- Patrick McCarthy Guitar From 1997
Discography
- Dream City Film Club 1997 (Beggar's Banquet)
- In the Cold Light of Morning 1997 (Beggar's Banquet)
- Stranger Blues EP 1999 (Beggar's Banquet)
Michael J. Sheehy solo albums:
- Sweet Blue Gene 2000 (Beggar's Banquet)
- Ill Gotten Gains 2001 (Beggar's Banquet)
- No Longer My Concern 2002 (Beggar's Banquet)
- Ghost On The Motorway 2007 (Glitterhouse)
- With These Hands: The Rise and Fall of Francis Delaney 2009 (Glitterhouse)