Submitted Photo Myles Barcomb & The Sweet Dreams playing at a Good Night Live show in the summer of 2021.

Myles Barcomb & The Sweet Dreams is a local band in Minot with an unusual start. Two years ago, an opportunity to start a group was presented to Barcomb, who has been a musician for most of his life–starting out playing guitar at the age of 12 and admiring a variety of genres and artists ranging from metal and hard rock to Snoop Dogg and Mariah Carey.

Two years ago, a friend of Barcomb’s, Jonah Lantto, the producer of local late night show Good Night Live, told him that the show needed a band to add to its atmosphere.

“I’ve known Jonah for a really long time, he actually asked me at a fantasy football draft, ‘Hey, I’m trying to do this late-night show thing, and what do you think about being a bandleader?’ I was like, that sounds really fun,” Barcomb said. “I’m kind of a nerd for late night shows and comedy anyway.”

Barcomb would form a band for the first show they were expected to play at that was, “a thrown together group,” that would eventually blossom into a distinctive cocktail of genres.

Their website described the group’s style as “a mix of funk, soul, blues, rock and pop they have woven together a unique sound with a mix of electronic instruments, a horn section, soaring vocals and gritty guitar and sick grooves.”

Barcomb said he’s always wanted to start a band with horns and had discussed the possibility in the past with Erik Anderson, who plays saxophone and keys with the group, as well as sings vocals.

“Erik had just moved back to town,” Barcomb said. “He graduated with a degree in music, and he really likes doing the composing part of things. He was the perfect guy to be a partner in that.”

Other members include drummer Austin Olson, who played in the very first show; Kellan Anderson on trombone, keys, and vocals; and Chris Basden, who plays bass.

“I was in Soulshine with [Basden] for two years. He’s an amazing musician virtuoso. He plays guitar just as well as he plays bass just as well as he plays drums. I feel really lucky to be playing with everyone in this band,” he said.

The main goal of Myles Barcomb & The Sweet Dreams is to be one-of-a-kind.

“We’re not a band that’s going to be like your typical North Dakota bar band. I want to do some more original music. I want to move towards this horn funk, R&B inspired grooves — the groove and the feel of the song is what is the basis for it. Then for North Dakota, we got to have a little country in there,” Barcomb said.

Myles Barcomb & The Sweet Dreams is holding a release party at The Original Bar Saturday night where they’ll play two new songs. Casey Black, with Adapt Audio in Minot, recorded the songs. Their new music will be available on YouTube this weekend and on all other streaming services within a week after that. The group’s website is mylesbarcomb.com and their Facebook page is Myles Barcomb & The Sweet Dreams.