Gunslinger's Dream was born in 2003 when Chai Abdennabi, Mike Krasowski, Gordon Higgason and, former keyboard player, Nick Wygonik began holding regular rehearsals and gigs under the name Orpheus. Simultaneously, Chai and Tim Cartland were writing songs and rehearsing as an acoustic project. Orpheus needed a singer and Tim needed a band. It was the fall of 2004 when the two came together. With the meshing of the two projects, it was clear that Orpheus no longer described the mission. Gunslinger's Dream was officially in full swing.
All of the band members met at Illinois State University in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois. Trying to knock out some degrees and keeping a band running at capacity was tough. After some grueling school work mixed with long all-night rehearsals, all the members graduated with degrees ranging from theater to media to business and back again.
After school, Gunslinger's Dream looked around to find they had built a steady fan base in the Bloomington area. Their jam/rock/funk style was well-received by the college population. Feeling the momentum, they set their target on Chicago. All of the members were from the Chicagoland area which made the transition easy. But it wasn't as easy as it could have been.
In the winter of 2005/2006, as the members were gearing up to move back home, Nick decided he had other ventures that he wished to pursue. Losing one of the main songwriters was a gut check for the band. Questions surfaced about the longevity of the band and the direction Gunslinger's Dream was going to follow. They had just laid down tracks for an EP entitled "Love Free Work" with the keyboard player. Without him, what was next?
Early in 2006, Gunslinger's Dream, with Hedroom Productions, played a show in Des Plaines at a bar called Excueses. It was quite a party. They had originally cancelled the show because of the loss of the member, but were reinstated at the last minute due to the cancellation of another band. The show could not have gone better. The sound worked; the originals, the covers, the crowd and the band. It all came together like it should. It was then and there that Chai, Mike, Tim and Gordon reopened their big dreams.
A consistent gig schedule would follow but some things needed to be addressed. The set list was looking pretty slim after the keyboard player left with his songs. 2006 held room for growth. Gunslinger's Dream had a new sound without the organ/piano. It was a sound that was based on their original concepts but was evolving into something better.
This concept is a mixture of upbeat and danceable rock with reggae and house. The music surrounds a positive vibe with lyrics that not only pose questions and problems, but attempt to come to conclusions and solutions. Socially conscious, but down to earth, Gunslinger's Dream is a democratic process that yields "real" songs. After writing numerous songs throughout the winter and spring, they decided to take that new sound back to the studio.
Gunslinger's Dream flew in producer Brandon Hickey from his job as an instructor at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona. They met at Studio Chicago for a weekend and squeezed out four more songs. Sitting in on percussion was a friend of Gordon’s. He goes by the name Peter Yi. Things were clicking together. The intense, non-stop work paid off with an EP entitled "Wrecking Ball."
2006/2007 proved to be a foothold in their careers. Armed with a beefed up set list, new covers and an ambitious sound, Gunslinger’s Dream pulled off everything from dive-bar shows around Illinois and Wisconsin to bigger music venues in Chicago. They have always been asked to come back making three appearances at Duffy's original band night and returning to Wise Fools Pub for their CD release pary in November. They came back to ISU's Springfest for the third year in a row, opening for Lucky Boys Confusion, and held down two shows a month in Algonquin for more than six months running. Gunslinger's Dream was also recieved as the "best experience" at Camped Out, a rave in Wisconsin, where their blend of originals and live house music jams drew a crowd.
And things keep getting bigger. Consistently producing a high-energy show that is sure to draw the attention of everybody in ear-shot, Gunslinger's Dream keeps the crowd alive in any time slot in any venue in any city...
a Gunslinger's Dream history lesson:
Chai Abdennabi
Ibanez AWD83 Artcore Hollow Body, Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul Standard, VOX
Chai was raised in the beautiful city of Chicago, IL before eventually settling in the suburb of Tinley Park (home to First Midwest Amphitheater formerly the World Music Amphitheater). Interest in music began at an early age. He was given a toy guitar at age 5 and could not get enough of Ritchie Valens. By age 9 he began taking piano lessons. At 11, his curiosity led him to join his jr high band and play clarinet. He later became influenced by rock music and took up the drums until finally, the guitar stuck with him at the age of 14. His first gig was a jr. high talent show. His band came in 3rd place but he knew from that moment that playing guitar in a band was all he ever wanted to do. He took private lessons for a number of years but credits his guitar teacher in college, Trefan Owen, for really opening up the instrument for him. Chai studied theory and composition under Trefan who received his Master's from Berklee School of Music and commanded much respect and admiration among local musicians. Currently the lead guitarist for the band, Chai can't be happier playing with this group musicians. The chemistry that exists between them and their ability to communicate to each other make this band truly unique. Chai's influences range from jazz and classical to metal and hip-hop and everything in between. It is the ultimate goal to take those influences and to find a voice all his own.
Chai was raised in the beautiful city of Chicago, IL before eventually settling in the suburb of Tinley Park (home to First Midwest Amphitheater formerly the World Music Amphitheater). Interest in music began at an early age. He was given a toy guitar at age 5 and could not get enough of Ritchie Valens. By age 9 he began taking piano lessons. At 11, his curiosity led him to join his jr high band and play clarinet. He later became influenced by rock music and took up the drums until finally, the guitar stuck with him at the age of 14. His first gig was a jr. high talent show. His band came in 3rd place but he knew from that moment that playing guitar in a band was all he ever wanted to do. He took private lessons for a number of years but credits his guitar teacher in college, Trefan Owen, for really opening up the instrument for him. Chai studied theory and composition under Trefan who received his Master's from Berklee School of Music and commanded much respect and admiration among local musicians. Currently the lead guitarist for the band, Chai can't be happier playing with this group musicians. The chemistry that exists between them and their ability to communicate to each other make this band truly unique. Chai's influences range from jazz and classical to metal and hip-hop and everything in between. It is the ultimate goal to take those influences and to find a voice all his own.
Tim Cartland
American Fender Stratocaster HH S-1, microKORG Synth, VOX
Tim was raised north of Chicago in Harvard, IL. He started playing the piano when he was in third grade and by the time he graduated high school, he had made the transition to guitar. He started writing solo songs in his teens and continued it through college until joining the musicians who would later be known as Gunslinger's Dream. His passion for writing poetry balances his love of musical storytelling. Tim listens heavily to bands like Pink Floyd and Umphrey's McGee but loves everything that is GOOD music (and is very opinionated on what constitutes "good" haha). He considers himself just another lucky musician who gets to make music professionally.
Tim was raised north of Chicago in Harvard, IL. He started playing the piano when he was in third grade and by the time he graduated high school, he had made the transition to guitar. He started writing solo songs in his teens and continued it through college until joining the musicians who would later be known as Gunslinger's Dream. His passion for writing poetry balances his love of musical storytelling. Tim listens heavily to bands like Pink Floyd and Umphrey's McGee but loves everything that is GOOD music (and is very opinionated on what constitutes "good" haha). He considers himself just another lucky musician who gets to make music professionally.
Gordon Higgason
Modulus Quantum 4-String Bass
Gordon was raised in Des Plaines, IL and has been involved with music since he was 10 years old. He began by playing the viola in his jr. high orchestra while still in fifth grade. When he was 14 he began playing piano but it wasn’t until he was 19 years old that he first picked up a bass guitar. He spent the majority of his long college career attempting to perfect the art of playing bass and, in the process, found himself playing with a group of musicians that would later become Gunslinger’s Dream. He has been influenced by such bands as Sublime, Rancid, Pink Floyd and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Gordon continues to immerse himself in the music industry and is currently a live sound and recording engineer in the Chicagoland area.
Gordon was raised in Des Plaines, IL and has been involved with music since he was 10 years old. He began by playing the viola in his jr. high orchestra while still in fifth grade. When he was 14 he began playing piano but it wasn’t until he was 19 years old that he first picked up a bass guitar. He spent the majority of his long college career attempting to perfect the art of playing bass and, in the process, found himself playing with a group of musicians that would later become Gunslinger’s Dream. He has been influenced by such bands as Sublime, Rancid, Pink Floyd and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Gordon continues to immerse himself in the music industry and is currently a live sound and recording engineer in the Chicagoland area.
Mike Krasowski
PDP LX Series Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Roland SPD-20 Electronic Drum Pad, VOX
Mike Krasowski was born and raised in Tinley Park, a south suburb of Chicago. Mike always had a strong passion for art and music, and began his musical oddessy playing trumpet in his elementary school band. During jr. high he would find his true calling playing rock and roll in a Beatles cover band. In his first gig at a jr. high talent show his band would take 2nd place, beating Chai's band (teehee). In high school Mike would join forces with his brother and Chai to form the band Solid State. This band would last throughout high school and into college surviving through numerous bassists and an ever growing/expanding sound and style. Mike Krasowski attended Illinois State University as an art major with a concentration in photography. It was here that he began to jam with the musicians that would form Orpheus, which would later become Gunslinger's Dream. A self-taught drummer, Mike draws on his many influences such as rock, blues, jazz, classical (just about anything with a good beat) to inform and challenge his own drumming. He also dabbles in guitar and bass, as well as maintaining an interest in photography and painting.
Mike Krasowski was born and raised in Tinley Park, a south suburb of Chicago. Mike always had a strong passion for art and music, and began his musical oddessy playing trumpet in his elementary school band. During jr. high he would find his true calling playing rock and roll in a Beatles cover band. In his first gig at a jr. high talent show his band would take 2nd place, beating Chai's band (teehee). In high school Mike would join forces with his brother and Chai to form the band Solid State. This band would last throughout high school and into college surviving through numerous bassists and an ever growing/expanding sound and style. Mike Krasowski attended Illinois State University as an art major with a concentration in photography. It was here that he began to jam with the musicians that would form Orpheus, which would later become Gunslinger's Dream. A self-taught drummer, Mike draws on his many influences such as rock, blues, jazz, classical (just about anything with a good beat) to inform and challenge his own drumming. He also dabbles in guitar and bass, as well as maintaining an interest in photography and painting.
