The Beach Boys from Birmingham
One of the most magical things about music for me in this day and age is the unbelievable access to massive libraries of it. No matter what your preferred platform is, you can seamlessly transition between music from today and music from decades ago. The impact of that on emerging bands is undeniable.
The Brook and the Bluff is a prime example of this, and they have catapulted up my playlists recently. The Birmingham-born, Nashville-based group has “quietly” been making a name for themselves across the U.S. Iconic artists throughout history have clearly influenced them, but they still manage to spin their own yarn. The choral nature of many of their songs helps to exemplify what I feel to be two of their most obvious influences, and both happen to be favorites of mine.
Before I delve into those influences, I want to take a minute to mention one of the main reasons I came across this band, and another way that incredible music finds its way to us today. If you aren’t familiar already, you should make it a point to check out Sofar Sounds. Sofar started in 2009, during a period when I was studying abroad and becoming much more vested in music outside of the U.S.
Sofar is as an acronym for “songs from a room,” and it was originally devised as a way to position artists in front of crowds who are there for the right reasons. These are no overcrowded shows with loud and/or drunken audience members tarnishing the experience for everyone else. They are typically small, intimate experiences in very unique locations, and to this day, they remain one of my favorite ways to find new music. The Brook and the Bluff have played loads of Sofar shows in the past, and that has helped to launch their career as well as my discovering them.
It seems like if you read any musician’s bio, there is typically a mention of The Beatles influencing them in some way, shape, or form. While most bands typically credit their inspirations for impacting their style or sound, The Beatles’ work quite literally inspired the lyrics behind The Brook and The Bluff’s “Father McKenzie.” The song was written by lead singer, Joseph Settine, as a different story to one of his favorite Beatles songs, “Eleanor Rigby.” “Father McKenzie” starts very of matter of fact, but it branches into haunting vocals and reinforces the focus on lamenting love that is shared by “Eleanor Rigby.” It is difficult to explain much more than that with adequate words, so the best route is to just give the song a listen.
The second group that has clearly (and in my opinion, equally) influenced the band is The Beach Boys. They are one of the few U.S. bands that survived and flourished before, during, and after the British invasion of the U.S. music scene in the 1960’s. I think it is only fitting that The Brook and The Bluff’s style is a combination of one of the most iconic bands from the U.S. and the most iconic band from the U.K. in that same time. If you take some time to listen to the album, the vocal prowess of each member of the band and their unique, sophisticated arrangements will immediately bring to mind some of the works produced by Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.
The Brook and the Bluff released their debut album, First Place, late last year, and I have logged hundreds of hours listening since. It is rhythmic and soothing, and somehow manages to lift you up while calming you down. As with the majority of music that is inspiring me as of late, the album is characterized by a heavy dose of soul, and they boast a “groovitational" pull (their word) that will draw you in and have you yearning for more. They have harmonies for days, and regardless of who is singing on a track, it is guaranteed to be a gift for your ears.
We all miss going to concerts, and unfortunately a timeline to when we can once again attend live shows continues to elude us. When that does finally happen, The Brook and The Bluff will be near the top of my list. Until then, Josh and I will continue to try and provide some of our discoveries to the masses here. If your taste is anything like mine, these guys will immediately be placed in your regular rotation.
Happy listening friends.
Spread the music. Spread the love.
Cheers,
Travis
This is a long video, but I wanted to include it because it was a recent live stream via Sofar and because it includes a cover of “Don’t Worry Baby” by The Beach Boys (15:28), their own Beatles-inspired “Father McKenzie” (18:45), and a cover of “Here Comes the Sun” (29:42).
Speaking of The Beatles, quarantine with the band has kept us entertained with a series of covers. Their take on “Ticket to Ride” is one of the highlights for me.
A secondary star of this piece has been Sofar, an organization that I cannot show enough appreciation for. Here is an example of what the shows are like featuring a song from their 2018 EP.