Music
Press
“...this talented actor is an equally talented singer/songwriter. A folk singer heavily influenced by pop music, Joseph writes sweet, often funny, songs about small moments with big meaning. A troubador in the classic sense, Joseph is an actor, singer and songwriter of the first order.” - Chad Jones
“There is a startling completeness in Brian Joseph's songwriting. His elegant acoustic guitar fingerstylings, warm,velvety vocal phrasing, melodic ear, and knack for gracefully weaving wit, sensitivity, and insight into his lyrics, converge to yield a rich, fresh, fully formed musical document.” - Jim Kirlin
“It's the quiet nature of songs about racism, politics, hypocrites and economic disparity that is somehow so much more affecting than even the most pointed punk or rock songs. Set to intricate guitar picking and subtly disjointed rhythms, Joseph’s lyrical irony and soft-spoken vocals can most closely be compared to that of Randy Newman’s folkier offerings. Plain and simple, Brian Joseph makes thinking-man's folk.” - AJ
“Brian Joseph's songs are warm and smart and wry and undefeated. And his guitar and voice are a pleasure. If there is any justice in this world (as of this writing still very much an open question) Brian's work will quickly find its way to a wide and appreciative audience. Meanwhile you would do yourself a favor to check him out.” - Robbie Osman
“…could be Top-Ten-able. Brian’s warm, soul comforting voice and his lyrical fingerstyle guitar touches all strings of human emotions...” - FW
“Intricate arrangements and the rare ability to move the booty without sounding so...um...white, propel this major dude to the top of the list of New Folk debutantes. A textured, sexy voice and startling agility with words are just the beginning.” - ldc
“...more talent in his little finger than Gene Simmons has in his entire lizard tongue.” - SF Weekly
“In 1969 Keith Barbour nicked the Top 40 with a strange bombastic ballad called "Echo Park" - and thirty five years later Brian Joseph is the de facto ruler of that world, leading off his King Of Echo Park CD with an authoritative original "God Save The King". This opening track of his third long player resembles Elvis Costello doing a soundtrack to a Laurel & Hardy film. You don't need the back cover photo of the actor/singer fully clothed in a swimming pool to hear his tongue firmly planted in cheek on this first of four co-writes between the artist and his producer, folk veteran Wendy Waldman. The elaborate package contains lyrics and photographs stretched across sixteen pages which makes the study of his quirky thoughts somewhat easy on the eyes. Where "Walk On Alvarado" brings the sound of New Orleans to Los Angeles and works as a fine musical effort, the semi-skiffle of "Hallalujah" is a complete turnaround, Comedy/Gospel bordering on blasphemy. "Hallalujah/I Believe/ Hallalujah /Just like Adam and Eve" pushes the envelope while a line like "Baptisms in the morning/and holdups in the night" just sends it right over the cliff. Waldman's production is fantastic, the jazz/folk of their closing co-write, "God Bless The Storm", some eerie paradox questioning the Creator with drawn out slow anger. That spell is also cast over the contemplative "Nobody Misses You", the first of five solo compositions. Joseph contributes to all thirteen titles, and embellishes his music with contributions from some impressive side people - Kenny Edwards who has worked with Linda Ronstadt and Don Henley, Julie Wolf from the Dar Williams/Ani Difranco camp; Bonnie Raitt and Crosby, Stills & Nash alum Freebo among others. "Ways Of The Cool" borrows a little too much from Billy Joel's "Only The Good Die Young", but the songs surrounding it have enough originality to forgive that dreadful lapse of conscience (and/or inspiration). It's an interesting blend of talents on a satisfying and clever release by an artist who is worth the time listeners seem to have so little of these days." - Joe Viglione
“Brian Joseph’s third album, King Of Echo Park, is unpretentious, funny and insightful. A picture on the back shows the L.A.-based Joseph standing in a swimming pool wearing a black suit and a black hat with his arms open, his eyes closed and a huge grin. That exuberance is in every track. From the knucklehead romance of "Cal’s Chevy" to the criminal irreverence of "Hallelujah," Joseph has a folk-pop gift, a heap of talent and a welcoming spirit." - Tony Peyser
Discography
If I Never Sleep Again (2006)
King Of Echo Park (2003)
We're Gonna Laugh (2001)
Somewhere It's True (1999)
Photos
Bio
Brian Joseph is tall and bizarre and brilliant. He is known for not only his "exquisite tenderness and laugh-out-loud lyrics," but also for his outrageous live show, which teeters between mayhem and poignancy, hilarity and depth, great taste and less filling. He plays every musical instrument you've ever heard of, and gives a damn good shiatsu massage to boot.
Brian's fourth cd is called "If I Never Sleep Again," and is widely known to be the greatest thing in the history of recorded music. Kenny Edwards, who has been called "...one of the brilliant architects of the American Folk-Rock movement," co-produced the record, and he's a freaking genius. Listening to it is guaranteed to make you more sexually attractive, and will increase your odds of winning the lottery. Same goes for the other three awesome Brian Joseph records.
Brian gave up his job as an actor (yup that was him you saw on tv) and now he travels around all over the place singing songs for people. He works his butt off, playing over 100 shows a year, and has way more frequent flyer miles than you. He sometimes plays at big festivals and things, where he sells lots of his stuff and signs tons of autographs, and even then, it can be more or less impossible to get a decent fish taco. Ah, yes, it's a glamorous life when you're Brian.
His songs have been recorded by other folks, and he's shared the stage with loads of famous people. He's won a bunch of awards including a Shellie for Best Supporting Actor, and Most Improved Camper when he was eleven.
Brian's show is a guranteed good time. Every college where he's performed has invited him to come back and do it again. Ingenious, fun and taller than most, Brian really wants to come to your campus and freak you out.
AWARDS
Winner, Telluride Troubadour Competition
Winner, Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
Shellie Award for Best Supporting Actor
Just Plain Folks Winner
Acoustic Live Winner
Three Dramalogue Awards
NACA Mid-America Showcase (Alternate)
COLLEGE PERFORMANCES INCLUDE:
Utah State University, Logan, UT
University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
New York University, New York, NY
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Cornell University, Anabel Taylor Hall, Ithaca, NY
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
University of Wisconsin, Platteville, WI
Moraine Park Technical College , Fond Du Lac
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
PERFORMANCE REVIEWS:
“...this talented actor is an equally talented singer/songwriter. A folk singer heavily influenced by pop music, Joseph writes sweet, often funny, songs about small moments with big meaning. A troubador in the classic sense, Joseph is an actor, singer and songwriter of the first order.”
- The Oakland Tribune
“Brian Joseph is a brilliant and very engaging performer... His music is full of humor, intelligence, compassion and humanity... We can’t wait to have him back!”
- Skirball Cultural Center
“...unpretentious, funny and insightful.”
- The Santa Monica Mirror
“On stage, Joseph’s enormous talents seem endless: he switches between solo fingerpickin’ guitar, brash bluesy piano and a tiny ukelele he can play the heck out of. What’s more, I hear he used to be a Shakespearean actor. Kinda makes you feel like an under-achiever, doesn’t it?”
- Wild Blue Yonder (Frontier Airlines Magazine)
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