Gil Mantera's Party Dream took root on New Years Eve 1999 in Youngstown, OH. Brothers Gil Mantera and Ultimate Donny were attending a local rock show booked by one of their friends, but a holiday snowstorm had sidelined the lineup. The two brothers enlisted the help of a friend and took the stage as Party Dream, playing retro ‘80s-styled dance music to a surprisingly encouraging crowd. When the third member departed the group, Mantera and Donny changed the group's name to Gil Mantera's Party Dream and began honing their live shows (which have since become notorious for costume changes, furniture destruction, trampoline acrobatics, and "invading the audience").

The duo's two self-released EPs, Best Friends (2000) and Once Triangular (2004) helped solidify a deal with Audio Eagle Records in 2005. Bloodsongs, the group's first major release, hit stores in 2006 with distribution by Fat Possum Records.

Bloodsongs
Fat Possum
2.7.2007

Christ, will you look at these guys? They've really got the whole package. And no, we're not referring to that kind of package, although Gil's tight-fitting gold pants certainly leave little to the imagination. We're talking about the musical package: the energetic live show, the chemistry between Gil and Ultimate Donny, the seamless integration of live instruments and electronic programming, the constant flow of danceable music… Not to mention Donny's ability to double-fist two beers, slam them down, pick up the electric guitar, play some tranced-out riffs, get groped by the audience during the solo, finish the song, somehow obtain additional beers, and then repeat the process. That is the package we're talking about.

- Andrew Leahey

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www.partydream.com/