Lucky me. I am currently playing in 2 line-ups. The BCE (The Brad Cole Electric) plays rock n roll: a little funky, a little folkie, poppy but soulful, features myself (Treatment, The Second Story)and the unstoppable Sandy Lee on Vox, Derek Crawford (Starchmartins, Dick Prall) on Drums, Paul Stebner (Strachmartins, Dick Prall) on guitars and Jeff O'Connor on Bass.
In addition I do an acoustic singer song writer in the round with 2 other great ssw's I met at The Old Town School of Folk Music. We bill ourselves as The Three Troubadours and features myself, Jeff Libman (www.jefflibman.com) and Terry MacNamara (need to get a website dude!)...with the Inevitable Jeff O'Connor joining us on bass.
Influences
writing? Patty Griffin, Amiee Mann, Van Morrison, Marley, Lennon. Playing? its pretty all over the place, a much as I take the lyrics seriously, what ever I play, It gotta move, you gotta feel it.
Sounds Like
The Illinois Entertainer says:
"Tuneful and uplifting, Brad Cole embodies the best of the pop/rock songwriting tradition and is immediately familiar without ever becoming formulaic."
The BCE is kinda like Counting Crows, Wallflowers, even BoDeans-ish. I am working currently with producer Josh Shapera from Black Sheep Music in Chicago and he has been twisting me into a more delicate sound (as heard on sampler Exile Part 1), but when The BCE plays, we move, cant sit still.
1988
Brad was lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Chicago-based Treatment which featured a reggae rock and Ska sound. Treatment shared the stage with many bands back then including Material Issue, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nic Tremulous, Dick Holiday, The Bonedaddys, and Timbuck 3. Released an EP called "Musical Therapy". He played all over Chicago from Club Stodola to the Limelight to Cabaret Metro to Park West and had a great time but went their separate ways in ’91.
1990
The Treatment’s “Aint No Sign of Life” was featured on WXRT's compilation "Best of Chicago".
1992 to 1996
Brad formed Psycholove with Frankie Hill (Heavy Manners, P-1) which played kind of an afro-pop sound, very danceable. They played numerous gigs around Chicago.
2001-2005
Brad was lead singer and principal songwriter for The Second Story, a more straightforward folkie-rock sound. They played all over Chicago and a West coast tour where they headlined at The Viper Room in LA in July of 05. Brad produced the EP, "Mercy Graymoor".
In 2001, Brad started hanging out at the Old Town School of Folk Music with the First Friday Singer Songwriter Collective which is a mentoring group for songwriters. Brad continues to work with some of the best contemporary writers in Chicago.
2004
Brad joined NY based The Subscribers as a vocalist and percussionist, a straight up rock-cover party band that did a number of great charity gigs across the US and London. They recorded a self titled album of originals over a hot weekend in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
2006
After doing numerous solo singer songwriter gigs, Brad started working with Chicago based singer songwriter, Jeff Libman, doing a number of shows in the Chicago area and in 2007 was joined by another superb singer songwriter, Terry MacNamara. Together they have done a series of acoustic shows around the Midwest under the moniker of The Three Troubadours.
2007
Brad completed the LP, "Highway 200", his first full album of originals. He recorded at Rax Trax in Chicago with Rick Barnes and Josh Shapera as engineer and producer. A number of great players appear on that album including Grant Tye on guitars and Alain Berlaint on bass.
2008
Brad launched a 4 piece rock ensemble called The Brad Cole Electric to support the 2008 release of "Highway 200".
2009
On January 25th & 29th, Brad Cole was a featured artist on WXRTs "Local Anesthetic".
Currently
Brad is playing with The BCE around the Midwest. He's laying plans for a summer mini tour and working with Josh on the next Brad Cole release, "Exile".
Heyyyy hey thanks for the friendship... what's up!? Check out my music I hope you like it. I just put up a new video for my song Amazing let me know what you think
Great to see you here in MySpace-land... you're sounding great. I've been listening to your sampler CD -- I love it! I believe "Summer Leaves" is my new favorite. best, Sue
