The Dream Syndicate Expand 1984 Sophomore Album 'Medicine Show'

08-25-2025

(IAMM) After a long-protracted debate with Universal Music Group - Dream Syndicate announced today that it has earned the right to reissue their sophomore album Medicine Show as a new, 42 song 4-CD box expanded collection featuring 29 unreleased recordings from the bands 1983-84 era via their own Down There label, distributed by Fire Records. A U.S. fall tour entitled The Dream Syndicate Presents Medicine Show was also confirmed.

This expanded deluxe edition CD collection features previously unreleased 1983-84 live recordings, radio sessions, rehearsals, demos and other unreleased from the band's archive. A stand alone classic original album will also be available on vinyl.

"Let's see-it took 6 months to make and over 30 years to get Medicine Show back in print," said Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate. "I'd like to think that in both cases it was worth the wait. I can't wait to get out there and revisit, inhabit and play the whole album on stage every night."

What this new box set reveals in its unreleased tracks - is that as a live band - between Steve Wynn's (then) new songs and his animated vocal performances, Karl Precoda's expanded guitar playing (taking it to outer space), new bassists (Dave Provost, then Mark Walton holding it down (while pumping it up), and Dennis Duck holding it rock steady and the brief, but unique inclusion of Tommy Zvoncheck's keyboards - The Medicine Show era was the sh*t! As proof, this set offers for the first time ever, the complete WXRT radio broadcast from the master tape, (the original A&M Live LP was truncated) - plus rehearsal and live tapes of original bassist Kendra Smith - just before she exited the band.

The unreleased tracks are part of the untold story of Medicine Show - early primitive versions of original songs, cover songs that the band mangled into new forms, finding themselves along the way. No longer, can anyone say "you should have heard the original 1982 lineup on stage" - no, if you skipped the band performing 1983-84, you missed out. Shows from CBGB's, Zaders, Soap Creek - reveal incendiary magic. In addition to the live shows, the remastered studio album (from the original analog tapes), now sounds as Steve recently declared, "as I remember hearing it while we mixed it"

Like many other psychologically complex albums upon their release, Lou's Berlin, Neil's On the Beach, Big Star Third, John Lennon's solo debut Plastic Ono Band, The Who's Quadrophenia, Dylan's Blood On The Tracks - it takes a while, sometimes a long while to let it marinate into the psyche of the listener. The Medicine Show has arrived - long overdue.

For those who have read Steve Wynn's recent memoir I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True (Jawbone Press, 2024) - you know about the 'breakdown' he suffered while recording this album. The load was heavy, his dreams beyond control; major label debut, intense record producer, novella songs, friction between band members. Yet, the band emerged with a maverick result. This box set proves it.

Reissue producer/band historian Pat Thomas listened to dozens of rare tapes, choosing what needed to be mastered, listening again to the mastered material - trying to make the whole thing blend. It was inspired frustration - moments that were artistically gorgeous and cathartic from the beauty of the music and discovering lost gems.

Frankly, it leaves The Days of Wine & Roses debut album in the dust - and we say that while still declaring that album one of the Top 20 records of the 1980s. This one is on the list as well - sandwiched between Double Nickels On The Dime and Zen Arcade.

A Fall tour of the U.S. is confirmed with European dates to follow. Click here to purchase tickets:

NOV 1, 2025 BELLINGHAM, WA @ SHAKEDOWN
NOV 2, 2025 SEATTLE, WA @ TRACTOR TAVERN
NOV 3, 2025 VANCOUVER, CANADA @ RICKSHAW THEATER
NOV 4, 2025 PORTLAND, OR @ MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS
NOV 6, 2025 SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ BOTTOM OF THE HILL
NOV 7, 2025 PIONEERTOWN, CA @ PAPPY AND HARRIETS
NOV 8, 2025 LOS ANGELES, CA @ ZEBULON / SID THE CAT
NOV 9, 2025 SAN DIEGO, CA @ SODA BAR
DEC 9, 2025 HAMDEN, CT @ SPACE BALLROOM
DEC 10, 2025 BOSTON, MA @ CRYSTAL BALLROOM
DEC 11, 2025 NEW YORK, NY @ LE POISSON ROUGE
DEC 12, 2025 PHILADELPHIA, PA @ JOHNNY BRENDA'S
DEC 13, 2025 WASHINGTON, DC @ UNION STAGE
DEC 14, 2025 RICHMOND, VA @ RICHMOND MUSIC HALL