The Dream Syndicate avoid midlife crisis on their great new comeback album.
The Dream Syndicate avoid midlife crisis on their great new comeback album. Chris Sikich

One of the better rock comebacks of the last decade has been that of the Dream Syndicate, catalysts in the short-lived but fertile Paisley Underground uprising in Southern California during the '80s. Extrapolating on the Velvet Underground's combustible combination of gorgeous melodies and artful noise sculpting, Steve Wynn and company created some of the most vital rock of the Reagan era with The Days of Wine and Roses (1982) and Medicine Show (1984).

UPDATE: The winner of this contest had to back out. The contest is back on. Read the trivia question after the jump to win two tickets to the Dream Syndicate's September 30 show and a vinyl copy of their new album, How Did I Find Myself Here?

UPDATE 2: We have a winner, for real this time.

Against great odds, the Dream Syndicate's new album on Anti-, How Did I Find Myself Here?, sounds more exciting than you'd expect from a band whose last studio LP came out in 1988. But anyone who caught the band's 2014 Bumbershoot performance shouldn't be surprised: The Dream Syndicate displayed a feral Contortions/Pop Group-like brilliance you wouldn't figure dudes in their 50s could summon. Some of that fiery inventiveness found its way onto How Did I Find Myself Here?, which is great news for musicians and just regular folks going through midlife crises. See, you aren't necessarily washed up!

And the other good news is, you can win two tickets to the Dream Syndicate's September 30 show at the Tractor, and also score a vinyl copy of their new album. The first person to answer the trivia question after the jump wins those coveted prizes. Send your answers to dsegal@thestranger.com, not to the comments section. Use DREAM SYNDICATE CONTEST in your subject header. Good luck!

What group did original bassist Kendra Smith join right after leaving the Dream Syndicate?