Dreamtrybe was borne of Velvet Hammer, the all-female progrock band out of Houston, Texas. As founding VH members left to pursue other projects, the music took on a different energy and thus, a different name.
Many fans still think of the band as Velvet Hammer, regardless. The four original members were Ginger Doss, Lynda Millard, Dana Davis and Katrina Lassberg. The four of them had, by 1989, already created a web of former projects between them. Lynda and Katrina were in a progressive rock cover band called 'At a Theatre Near You', and toured nationally together for three years. Ginger and Dana met in the seventh grade, and again at Houston's High School for the Performing Arts. Dana and Lynda became a popular acoustic duo and went on to form a heavy metal band called 'Blacksheep', with Marzi Montazeri and Blas Elias, who would later become the drummer for the band 'Slaughter'.
The four women joined forces in 1989 and, with the help of their friends in the band 'King's X', almost immediately landed a publishing deal with Polygram. Shortly thereafter, the decision was made to add another good friend and great guitarist, Robin Beacham.
By 1991, the industry was wreaking havoc on the original vision of the group and splintered the creative direction. The pressure on an all-female group at the time was to emulate the Bangles, The Go-Go's or Vixen, but Velvet Hammer was more progressive than those bands and finally walked away from the major label game.
Ginger and Lynda relocated to Austin, Katrina and Robin moved to L.A. and Dana to Seattle. A few years later, the four original members found themselves trying it again on their own terms in Austin, as 'Avalon', then as Velvet Hammer again.
In the years to follow, Katrina left and Joel Duhon was added on drums. Dana left to pursue a side project with Rick del Castillo (now of the band Del Castillo) and currently records and performs as 'Wyrdgrl' and 'Holli Day'; Joel was replaced by drummers and percussionists Tawnney, Nighthawk, and Lynda's son, Tabber Millard. Leo Starwind was on guitar for a time, and Sam Moses (whom everyone agrees the band could not have lived without) was occasionally on violin. The sound of the band had become much more 'tribal' with the addition of djembe's and additional percussion, and the name of the band was changed to 'Dreamtrybe'. Eventually, Tabber became the sole drummer, on kit. Bekah Kelso sometimes joined the band on vocal harmonies.
Dreamtrybe has been known for many years now as Ginger Doss, Lynda Millard and Tabber Millard. The band has been on hiatus as Ginger does her solo album and tours (also with GBMojo and Traveling Fates). Tabber has toured internationally with VAST and in the states with 'The Kin'. Dana and Lynda sometimes perform their duo material as 'Diamonds and Rust'.
Stay tuned. There is always something exciting happening with the members of this widespread family, and you can find out by keeping up with us and the 'Top Friends' on this page !
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