O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Is the question I had been asking all of my life without realizing it until one fateful fall night introduced me to the band Brother.

​Disclaimer: Some might consider this a “puff piece.” I consider it a hype piece.

I was at Velour as usual. I think I was alone. I’m not totally sure. It wouldn’t be out of the question if I was. That’s who I am. I go to concerts by myself. I walk alone (I walk a - My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me). I don’t care if people think it’s weird.

​That night, Velour had a stacked lineup. They were showcasing the winners of their two previous battle of the bands (battles of the bands?). Grey Glass, fronted by guitarist and lead vocalist, Tal Haslam, had won the past winter. And Mmend (not a typo), a band consisting of the Winter siblings, had won most recently over that summer. The  opener this fateful night was a fan favorite from the battle of the bands, the band brother.

Brother. took the stage and they owned every bit of it. That night, I watched in awe. Not only did they own it when they were on the stage, but they owned that stage even when they left it. So much so that I didn’t even stay until the end of Grey Glass (sorry, Tal).

What I saw that night rings true as much today as it did back then almost five years ago. Every time I see Brother., they bring their A-game. The energy they bring, the quality of their tunes, consistently great. It’s not 60% of the time, it works every time. It’s 100% of the time, it works every time.

Their lineup is one for the ages. Chuck E. Cheese Emery is the leader. With the charisma of Johnny Bravo, he conducts the symphony. Though a master of guitar, he only occasionally shreds the cheese with which he has been so graciously bestowed. His true talents lie on his ability to take command of an audience as well as any general. When he shouts hallelujah you echo with jubilance.

Dr. Nathan P. Standage may be a doctor of love, but he has got a groove that cannot and will not quit. Being the soft and sentimental one of the group, Dr. Standage will having you leaving their shows swooning. As a sexier modern-day Cupid, whether on bass, guitar, or keys, the Doctor’s melodies will strike you right in the bootay. You’ll be falling in love in no time and asking for more.

Erika Jeans, as she’s know by her fans, is the secret rock of the group. Chuck thinks it’s him (typical frontman behavior) but Erika is the real backbone of the band. Without her, they’d be up a dry creek with no hope in sight. They might as well put it to bed that anyone else keeps this train chugging along as well as her. I was going to say something about her being the beauty of the group, a rose amongst the thorns, but that so clearly goes to the Doctor. I must not tell lies.

We have Elias Pratt on bass. Elias might sound like a biblical prophet, and I assure you that he is - a prophet of rhythm and funk. With the way he slaps that bass, he can slap my ass any day of the week.

Last but not least is Scottage Cheese. As the known bad boy of the group, he’s a chunkier cheese than Chuck (he’s a sharp cheddar), but Scotty lays beats better than Dwight Schrute. Any band is limited in their potential by their drummer’s ability, but luckily for Brother., the sky’s the limit with Scotty 2 Hottie. I once had an environmental economics class with him, and just like his drumming, he was always on time.

Now that I've written this, I am realizing that both Elias and Scott were in Grey Glass at the time that I first saw Brother. So, I guess I also owe those two an apology as well. Sorry, broskies. 

I might be slightly biased (I mean, Chuck did call me their biggest fan once), but Brother. is going places. Their silky smooth melodies with even smoother beats will carry you away on a magic carpet ride that will change your life. It  gives you the exact same feeling as when the scissors start to glide across the paper. You know when they go sktch sktch sktch skkkrrrrrrrrrrrrr. When you finally come down off this musical high, you’ll find yourself wanting more.

​Luckily for you, it’s an addiction that can be curbed easily by injecting that sweet, sweet music directly into your veins with all three varieties. Volume I with an indie folk tinge, Volume II will take you back to the future with classic indie rock vibe, and a forthcoming Volume III so electric it will knock your socks off.

​If you’re looking for song recommendations listen to all of it. Their latest single, “EZ”  is the a living, breathing definition of easy listening, pun 100% intended. Watch the video below, and give them a follow on Instagram here.