Chris Brazeal Band
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Chris Brazeal Band

Odessa, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF

Odessa, Texas, United States | SELF
Established on Jan, 2009
Band Country Americana

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"CD REVIEW: "Sounds Like Home" by the Chris Brazeal Band"

Right out of the gate, the Odessa, Texas-based Chris Brazeal Band “takes you by surprise” with an incredibly tuneful, snappy and overall appealing roots-pop love song called “More and More.” And you know, you find yourself wanting “more and more” after hearing it a couple of times. It’s a great song to lead off the 11-song Sounds Like Home, recorded in Lubbock.

It’s hard to believe it was three years ago when we first heard the four-piece CBB (Brazeal on vocals and guitar, Zack Neves on guitar and backing vocals, Trevor Buzbee on bass and Lilo Hernandez on drums) and their debut EP, a disc we thoroughly enjoyed. Guitarist T.J. Ballinger has since left and his replacement, Zack Neves, is a talented guy in his own right, either writing or co-writing all of the songs on this solid disc.

Compared to a lot of the Texas/Red Dirt music out right now (and I think the genre is stuck in the doldrums right now), Brazeal and the boys have really worked hard on these songs, many of which have a muscular, Heartland-rock feel replete with country textures – some steel guitar there, organ flourishes there – and themes that reflect a largely rural point of view.

Neves’ guitar playing and Hernandez’s drumming skills really compliment each other, as is evident, for instance, during a break on the mid-tempo and melancholic “Middle American Blues.” To this ear, this is a band that isn’t a “paint-by-number” Texas/Red Dirt act looking to cash in as the next “So-and-So Band” in the weatherbeaten jeans and untucked pearl-snap shirt.

Having spoken with Brazeal, he is a genuinely nice guy and has the distinction of developing his sound and style in a fairly remote area of the country – Midland/Odessa – even by Texas standards.

Like a cross between Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager, Brazeal embraces the twangy, Western swing-inspired “Am I Drunk?” This is one of my favorites on this new disc. Great for parties and outdoor barbecues, y’all.

Speaking of barbecues, “Southern Summer Nights” is a fine slice of bucolic bliss, albeit expressed with a couple of clunky lines.

There really isn’t a bad song in the bunch. I think the best songs tend to be the ones that Brazeal and Neves have co-written. And as a solid unit, the Chris Brazeal Band sounds tight, rehearsed and ready to rock with a country flair. Texas/Red Dirt fans will be very impressed with Sounds Like Home – definitely one to add to their collection.

For more information go to www.chrisbrazealband.com. - Red Dirt Report


"RDR CD REVIEW: New six-song EP from the Chris Brazeal Band"

Every time I spin the first song on the Chris Brazeal Band’s debut EP, a descriptive song called “Only In Texas,” I get mental images of wide-open skies, the browns and yellows and greens of the West Texas countryside … a very appealing image to anyone who has spent time in the Permian Basin, where the band hails from.

Based in Odessa, specifically, the Chris Brazeal Band has been getting more attention as a result of the Southern rock party tune “Beer Pong Saturday Night.” Brazeal sounds positively excited as he sings each lyric. This song is getting some positive attention on the Texas Country music scene with RadioFreeTexas.org paying particular interest in the track.

Brazeal, who leads this quartet, which also features bassist Trevor Buzbee, guitarist T.J. Ballinger and drummer Lilo Hernandez, has a plaintive voice that at times brings to mind Kevin Griffin of the New Orleans alt-rock group Better Than Ezra.

An acoustic guitar (courtesy of Brazeal) is strummed until his vocal comes in, sounding contented and thoughtful, all as the electric guitar pulls you in and then the drums begin. “Only In Texas,” with its lyrics: “Only in Texas, the sky’s so big and blue / Only in Texas do strangers smile and wave at you / Only in Texas can I drink out in a field with my friends / Only in Texas is a Chevy just as a cool as a Benz.”

Well, we here in Oklahoma enjoy many of those same things. But hey, Texans tend to be very Texas-centric.

“Austin,” the city where this EP was recorded and which Brazeal co-produced with Eric McKinney (Mark McKinney), is a mid-tempo country-rocker that will appeal to fans of Josh Abbott Band or Rich O’Toole, he of "Marijuana and Jalapenos" fame who also gets a shout-out in this song.

Some pedal steel, courtesy of Eric McKinney, peppers “Closing Time,” a “drownin’ my memories” type of song that Brazeal sings as if his life depended on it. He strains a little bit at times here but overall it works.

On “Two Steppin’, Brazeal’s vocals are a bit strong for a song that probably deserves a more subtle vocal delivery.

Losing a girlfriend is the subject of the roots-rockin’ “On My Own.”

I am really glad Brazeal contacted Red Dirt Report about his debut EP. He’s a great talent to come out of the West Texas country-rock scene and we are looking forward to the release of the CBB’s full-length album, whenever that may be.
- Red Dirt Report


"RDR CD REVIEW: New six-song EP from the Chris Brazeal Band"

Every time I spin the first song on the Chris Brazeal Band’s debut EP, a descriptive song called “Only In Texas,” I get mental images of wide-open skies, the browns and yellows and greens of the West Texas countryside … a very appealing image to anyone who has spent time in the Permian Basin, where the band hails from.

Based in Odessa, specifically, the Chris Brazeal Band has been getting more attention as a result of the Southern rock party tune “Beer Pong Saturday Night.” Brazeal sounds positively excited as he sings each lyric. This song is getting some positive attention on the Texas Country music scene with RadioFreeTexas.org paying particular interest in the track.

Brazeal, who leads this quartet, which also features bassist Trevor Buzbee, guitarist T.J. Ballinger and drummer Lilo Hernandez, has a plaintive voice that at times brings to mind Kevin Griffin of the New Orleans alt-rock group Better Than Ezra.

An acoustic guitar (courtesy of Brazeal) is strummed until his vocal comes in, sounding contented and thoughtful, all as the electric guitar pulls you in and then the drums begin. “Only In Texas,” with its lyrics: “Only in Texas, the sky’s so big and blue / Only in Texas do strangers smile and wave at you / Only in Texas can I drink out in a field with my friends / Only in Texas is a Chevy just as a cool as a Benz.”

Well, we here in Oklahoma enjoy many of those same things. But hey, Texans tend to be very Texas-centric.

“Austin,” the city where this EP was recorded and which Brazeal co-produced with Eric McKinney (Mark McKinney), is a mid-tempo country-rocker that will appeal to fans of Josh Abbott Band or Rich O’Toole, he of "Marijuana and Jalapenos" fame who also gets a shout-out in this song.

Some pedal steel, courtesy of Eric McKinney, peppers “Closing Time,” a “drownin’ my memories” type of song that Brazeal sings as if his life depended on it. He strains a little bit at times here but overall it works.

On “Two Steppin’, Brazeal’s vocals are a bit strong for a song that probably deserves a more subtle vocal delivery.

Losing a girlfriend is the subject of the roots-rockin’ “On My Own.”

I am really glad Brazeal contacted Red Dirt Report about his debut EP. He’s a great talent to come out of the West Texas country-rock scene and we are looking forward to the release of the CBB’s full-length album, whenever that may be.
- Red Dirt Report


Discography

Sounds Like Home - 2012

Chris Brazeal Band EP- 2010

Radio Singles -
"Small Town Saturday Night" (#39 Texas Music Chart, #32 on TRRR Top 100)
Middle American Blues (#20 Texas Music Chart, #13 on TRRR Top 100, #9 TexNet Top 50)
Sounds Like Home (#28 TRRR Top 100, #38 Texas Music Chart, #25 TexNet Top 50)
Beer Pong Saturday Night (KKCN 103.1 San Angelo, TX)

Photos

Bio

The Chris Brazeal Band, formed in early 2009, takes a unique blend of influences to produce a sound all of their own. A four piece band based out of West Texas, the Chris Brazeal Band consists of Brazeal on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Zack Neves on Lead guitar and harmony vocals, Austin Grigry on bass guitar, and Lilo Hernandez on drums. Writing has always been a top priority, and the band takes pride in playing and recording their own material, with all eleven tracks on their new album, Sounds Like Home, being written by Brazeal or Neves. From the beginning, the Chris Brazeal Band has been fine tuning their live show, and with performances at legendary venues such as Dos Amigos, Filthy McNastys, Rockin Rodeo, Blaines Pub, plus many others under their belt, they have formed a live show that keeps the crowds moving and involved. The band has a brand new full length album as well as a whos who list of bands that they have opened for including Eli Young Band, Josh Abbott Band, Casey Donahew Band, Lee Brice, Tracey Lawrence, Aaron Watson, and Stoney Larue. With a diverse background of influences, strong songwriting, and energy filled live performances, the Chris Brazeal Band is making a big splash in the Texas music scene.

Chris Brazeal, lead vocals and acoustic guitar, is West Texas born and bred. During his years at the storied Permian High School, he learned to play guitar and his dream of being a professional musician began. While attending the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, he played open mic nights and any venue that would have him. While continuing to follow his dream, he pulled together a talented group of musicians that form the current band.

Chris has spent years honing his musical skills and finds song writing inspiration from a wide variety of musicians, including Robert Earl Keen, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Eli Young Band, and many of the other greats of Texas Music. He prides himself on the unique sound that mixes both the classic and contemporary sounds of Texas artists.

Zack Neves, a Monahans, TX native, plays the lead guitar and provides harmony vocals. In addition to performing in the band Zack is one half of the creative force behind the bands songwriting talent. A graduate of Monahans High School, Zack followed his musical dreams attending South Plains College and studying in their renowned guitar program, where he learned and grew as a musician.

Zack, now of Midland, TX, met Chris at a local open mic night, with the two hitting it off and collaborating on songwriting. Before long, he joined the band on a full time basis.

Zack finds musical inspiration in some of the great musicians of history such as Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, and John Prine. This mixture of musical background and life experiences helped Zack and Chris to shape the diverse sound of their new CD, Sounds Like Home.

Lilo Hernandez, an Odessa native and graduate of Odessa High, is known for his diverse experience playing the drums. He was a part of the UTPB Pep Band and has experience in metal, rock, jazz, blues, latin, and pop music as well as the Texas Country scene. Lilo taught himself to play the drums and he has been playing them for more than 14 years.

Lilo met Chris at a local open mic night in Odessa, TX. He and the group found great chemistry, and this cemented his position as a permanent member of the band.

Lilo finds his musical inspiration in the likes of Alex Gonzales of Mana, Jose Pasillas of Incubus as well as Abe Cunningham of the Deftones.

In 2013, the band parted ways with Trevor Buzbee, and welcomed their newest member, Austin Grigry. A Monahans, TX native, Austin adds to the already energetic live show and is a great addition to the Chris Brazeal Band.

Band Members