BROTHER

It's said there are no mistakes or coincidences and I happen to subscribe to that philosophy which again was proven true last night with the serendipitous performance of BROTHER. I happened to stumble into them during sound check, learning they were the headlining that night at the Coach House, OC's hot spot of live talent in San Juan Capistrano. So, after a brief chat with the band and checking out their unusual instruments and a little of their sound check, I was in. For $15 bucks this was a deal hard to beat for one of the most unique, creative and primal trips I've ever experienced in a live performance. Completely off the beaten path, BROTHER is comprised of three musos, each an integral component to the sound and make up of BROTHER’s vibe. Think Braveheart & majik, with solid vocals that verged on Bono-like with a U-2 sound at times mixed with soulful moans that call up hints of Peter Gabriel or a tribal Shaman and in between a little snip of a lighter Matchbox20-ish sound without the empty lyrics. This was an enthusiastic crowd, many of which were obviously long time fans as we were called upon by Angus, the lead singer/guitarist/bagpiper to join in while the 'didg' was wielded one handedly by Drew as he also worked the keys. Angus fiercely wailed on the pipes striking an impressive stance with the pipes and their strange tentacles over his shoulder, guitar slung to his side as he cued us when to repeat a verse or chant. Very multi-tasking they are. The ever present and incredibly hard hitting yet intricate and exuberant tribal drum work of Dalbo was impossible not to respond to. It got you in the gut at a primal level and took over. Seldom does a drummer stand out like this and with stiff competition from all of these historic instruments, skillfully played, it was still impossible to miss Dalbo's masterful ability with the percussion and drums which many times took the forefront rather than supply the backbone of the songs. BROTHER is: Angus Richardson : Vocals, Bagpipes, Didgeridoo Dave "Dalbo" Allen: Drums and Percussion DidgeriDrew Reid: Didgeridoo and Keys as well as the Telecaster played by Angus as he'd flip from one instrument to the other. There were such a variety of song types all played with heart, soul and skill which made this performance such a fascinating and visceral experience that it must be seen and heard to fully get the whole picture. There wasn't a single fluff tune in the entire performance, even the upbeat tunes because there's meaning in each of them. There was nothing fluffy about BROTHER, unless you count the furry pieces hanging off the bagpipes. In fact the band attired in kilts of leather and heavy boots put out an earthy, hearty vibe that gave me the impression of warriors, yet the message was one of a simple, spirit/soul connection to life, love and meaningful existence. The message was peaceful yet ferociously protective of that which is sacred to them in life. Very soulful, full of depth, intelligence and other intangibles that words fail to define as one would have to know their history for that. One song in particular about a lost friend called "Someday I will Return", had a line which struck me, 'When all the lines are drawn, your prayers will lead me home'. The entire energy from the stage was primitive, yet hip, dark yet light, spacey yet lucid, heavy yet joyous, and took me on a trip back in time. Their musical influences were apparent and their instrumentals from another time and place, that past time and place being a mix of Aborigine, Celtic and Native Tribal with an eclecticism that works marvelously. Could this have something to do with the name BROTHER? At one point hearing a line from Pink Floyd..'We don't need no thought control…' combined with Midnight Oil's …'The time is now, to say fair's fair, to pay the rent, to pay our share', mixed with the sounds and energy of the individuals on that stage left me with the overall feeling that there is more to this band than some funky tribal groove, though it's certainly there. They have their heart and soul in their music and I took away from this night that BROTHER is not just a name but a lifestyle and statement. BROTHER’s website is BROTHERmusic.com and from there you'll find their myspace page to check out their tour itinerary. They are a band to keep on your radar and if you have the opportunity do not miss this band. They are an extraordinary experience. - No Cover Orange COunty Even Guide

Does anyone else out there have the guts to
throw two distinctly varied regional instruments
such as the didgeridoo and bagpipes together
and test the results?
"We get that all the time," Angus Richardson
said, "But we also get, 'Wow, I'm so amazed at
how well it goes together.' They're two very
primal instruments, and they blend together very
well."
Hailing from Australia, Richardson's band
BROTHER has been throwing the wailing of
pipes and the guttural shake of the didge
together for the past 15 years. Celtic music fans,
by and large, enjoy the results.
"I'm always astounded by how well the band
goes down," Richardson said. "The crowds are
great. They're the people that really love the
pipes; they're there because it's in their blood."
BROTHER will be right at home at Hooliefest, a
"Half Way to St. Patrick's Day" celebration set
for Saturday in Sonora. The event features food,
drink, Viking gatherings, fire dancers and music
from the likes of not only BROTHER but also
Black Irish Band, Crazy Ivan, Culann's Hounds
and Northern California stalwarts Mumbo
Gumbo.
Richardson, who was once called "Jimi Hendrix
with bagpipes," has been playing pipes since his
high school days Down Under with his
BROTHER Hamish. After the two moved to the
States on a whim after touring with Joe Walsh,
people really began to take notice, even when
BROTHER was playing on the streets to pay the
rent.
"They told us our harmonies would go down
really well," Richardson said. "My BROTHERs
and I played pipes in school and we also had a
rock band, so we did the rock independently.
"When we came over here, we decided they're
both a big part of what we are. We just started
experimenting with different ways to bring them
together and people were really drawn to the
sound.
"It's been a long, winding and amazing road," he
added. "There's definitely been times where we
had to work out just how to pay the rent and they
were challenging times, but that's what led us to
the sound he have now."
In addition to Richardson, BROTHER features
Dave "Dalbo" Allen and Drew Reid.
Richardson recently relocated from Southern
California to the Catskill Mountains of New York
and is putting the finishing touches on a trance
meditation-type album that the group recorded in
a remote bush area of Australia. It's all in a day's
work when you run an independent label, as
BROTHER has from the start.
"Our first inclination was to come over and get a
big record deal, but we were always pretty
different, the industry never really got us,"
Richardson said. "(Being independent) gave us
a lot more autonomy to control what we do." - Special to the Record