Buzz- Blurring the lines: Local songwriter Brian Patrick releases debut
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For local award-winning songwriter Brian Patrick, nothing is more important than connecting to a gre...For local award-winning songwriter Brian Patrick, nothing is more important than connecting to a great song. He’s not referring to that moment when an audience realizes they are hearing their favorite Journey cover; in fact, his Brian Patrick Band refuses to play any covers unless they are obscure, personal favorites— and yet his audiences have recently been clamoring for more. But winning over audiences only wanting to hear Lynyrd Skynyrd remakes is all in a day’s work for the winner of Rapunzel’s 2009 Songwriter’s Contest— a feat he hopes continues with the release of his debut solo album, Nowhere Left to Fall.
“It was the first time I allowed myself to put all of my influences in one basket— it’s kind of eclectic, but it’s exactly who I was when I wrote and recorded it,” he says. “Regardless of what other flavors there are there, it is rock ‘n’ roll music, seasoned with folk, country, and blues.”
Patrick references the work of folk rock greats Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty as inspirations for his own writing. The sophistication of both artists doesn’t mar the common-man appeal of their songs, allowing the blending of country and rock nuances to speak to wide audiences. Patrick, with Ohio, Philadelphia, and Austin roots, finds a similar need to blend blues, folk, and rock— a convention he finds appreciation for in Charlottesville.
“In Ohio, within circles of rock ‘n’ roll music, country music was very uncool— that’s just not true in Charlottesville,” Patrick notes. “It wasn’t until being in Charlottesville that it was okay to synergize [country] with rock ‘n’ roll, it’s okay to blur those lines— that’s what I love about here.”
Twangy guitar riffs and country basslines accompany Patrick’s musings on lost dreams, hard working waitresses, and relationships— much as Nowhere Left to Fall represents the first time the songwriter has struck out to focus on his own career. As a guitarist and songwriter for Austin-based band Mr. Goldtooth and Charlottesville ensemble Modern Epic and soul/country outfit The Misery Brothers, Patrick fell into the team player role, relegating his original pieces out of the spotlight to support the larger goals of his bands.
“I like contributing to other people’s songwriting as much as I like doing my own,” Patrick says. “I’ve spent a lot of time over the years being involved in other people’s projects, but now I’m at the point where I wanted to focus on my own.”
Gathering his Ohio childhood friends to help him record his debut, Patrick combined his solo-songwriting self of the mid-2000s with the collaborative arranger of today. It may not have taken him long to discover his musical interests— a sprinkling of blues here, a dab of folk there— but connecting with his audience is a skill he has refined over his nine years in Charlottesville. After entering the Rapunzel’s contest three years in a row, he finally emerged victorious in a competitive field of songwriters last year.
“It was a shock to win— there were a lot of people who could have had first place and deserved it,” he says. “I must be doing something that people can emotionally attach themselves to.”
Nowhere Left to Fall may be just that— an everyman album with a sophisticated sheen.
Brian Patrick Band's Baptism of Nowhere Left to Fall
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January 22, Brian Patrick Band released their first full length compilation, Nowhere Left to Fall. ...January 22, Brian Patrick Band released their first full length compilation, Nowhere Left to Fall. When I learned the Southern Café and Music Hall, formerly the Gravity Lounge, would be the site for the CD release party, it was fate I should attend. Located on the Downtown Mall, The Southern formally opened in October 2009 and is currently owned by Andy Gems and Lauren McRaven. It was a sweet space with a nice stage, bigger than some venues; yet, smaller than the JPJ and the Jefferson. The Southern provided a comfortable arrangement for the listeners and the musicians, which in turn provided a cool scene for a memorable, music-filled, Saturday.
When the Gravity Lounge closed, I was disheartened along with many who felt the resonating effects of losing another crucial venue in town. However, since the openings of both The Southern and The Jefferson, I had anxiously awaited my chance to check out these venues; each being such a precious asset to our musical community. It was the icing on the cake that I had the opportunity to see the Brian Patrick Band perform on such a celebratory occasion.
The opening acts were noteworthy and included Andy Friedman, the duo Carl Anderson and Carleigh Nesbit, and the Rogan Brothers. Most impressive was the performance by the Brian Patrick Band. Their intricate web of sound, a blasting energy, an enriching stream of vocals and instrumentation, and a consistent rhythm section, held my attention the entire evening. Members of the Brian Patrick Band executed extreme precision upon their instrumentation and in their vocal presentation. Several influences I found within their sound were elements ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bruce Springsteen, and Dire Straits. The Brian Patrick Band also exuded electric charged, smashing blues, Americana, with a rock and roll edge.
Band members include Brian Patrick (Vocals, Harmonica, Electric/Acoustic Piano and Guitar), Steve Sutton (Electric Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar), Brian "Boogie" Thomas (Bass), Matt Fortune (Acoustic Guitar, Vocals), and John Alietta (Drums). There were also two guest appearances, Michael Bishop (Bass), and Cory Tietelbaum (Electric Guitar).
With such a spectrum of abilities, I hardly know where to begin. As a lead singer, Patrick has such an intense energy during his performance you know he sings from a deep place of experience and emotion. Although lyrical compilations and rhythm are important to establishing a general mood to the performance, the manner of his performance is equally important. Patrick possesses a particular attitude in which his personality and his rendition are indicative to the tone of the show. This is evident when he plays electric guitar, piano, and harmonica. His skills upon the chords of the electric guitar amplified his energy, his fingers upon the piano keys were fluid and poised, and the harmonica along with the Sutton's pedal steel resonated sounds that were captivating and echoed in the very depth of my mind. Sutton extracted a winding voice from the pedal steel guitar which accented all the other instruments exceptionally well. It uttered a western, folk influence along with a hint of an electric guitar/ violin combination that was fondly familiar.
Thomas on the bass along with Alietta on the drums were consistent and steadfast in their ability to enhance the energy from the electric guitars and keep the beat moving smoothly. I really enjoyed watching the bass and the drums compliment each other. If they made any mistakes, they were unknown to me and they made it look effortless, which is a clear sign of playing, playing, playing...
Thomas ignites a pulse that projects throughout the room. He has such a relaxed composure in which it seems he was meant to be on stage, and his ability to maintain focus is undeniable. This is also true of Alietta. His entire body seemed buoyant with the beat. As Patrick stated, "he's the one keeping us all together."
I witnessed not one beat that was out of place. Guest bassist Michael Bishop was an unexpected compliment. He had a similar expressive nature to that of Patrick. Every movement he made was purposely ferocious, his fingers in unison, and every element of expression was in tune to those movements.
Speaking of ferocity, the guitarists in the Brian Patrick Band were equally striking. In fact, I thought the electrical guitarists were the most electrifying part of the entire show! The guitarists, Patrick, Sutton, and Tietelbaum offered an array of riff changes that were like little sparks of attitude upon the beat creating a song that was very complex in its composition. When Tietelbaum accompanied Michael Bishop towards the end of the evening, their skill together was remarkable. He played with an intensity that sped fast and furious. As soon as he touched the strings, it was as if there was instant fire upon his guitar. When the sounds broke through, it was like electric wheels on a screaming, train track.
As Patrick stated, "it was an honor to have them play that night."
He was right; it was indeed an honor for everyone. When I saw the sunkissed lights shine down upon the electric guitars as their music surged through, they glazed red. To see such a sweet sequence of rhythm, sound, and power emerge was intoxicating. When one of Patrick's strings broke towards the end of one song, he stated perfectly, "you know you've had a good night, when the guitar strings break."
When Patrick and Fortune sang together, the vocals were equally complimentary. Patrick possesses a raw, edginess, whereas Fortune has a softer, harmonic quality. When Fortune performed an original song, he stood out as a solo vocalist, also adding variety to a particular consistency of the previous songs and taking me in an unexpected direction. There is always something that makes the ambiance of the band a little less predictable, within a performance, which Fortune exhibited. His beautiful voice provided a fine undertone for the electric guitars, the pedal steel, and bass, and his acoustic guitar gave Brian's piano movements a crisp texture, inspiring an eloquent union with the drums.
I'd recommend that anyone catch the Brian Patrick Band very soon, particularly if you like to dance. They bring diversity, intense energy, and a superb presentation and delivery. You can let your hair down and rock out with them; I promise you will not be disappointed. They are fine musicians and it was an honor talking with them.
"Rain on My Window" was my favorite track off Nowhere Left to Fall, but they are all worth checking out. You can find further information about the Brian Patrick Band's music, gig listings, photos, profiles, and much more on their website.
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