Mason Jennings, Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, M. Ward, The Black Keys, Beck, Eels, Steve Earle, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Mississippi John Hurt, J.J. Cale, Bonnie Prince Billy, The Beach Boys, Havalina Rail Co., White Stripes, Kings of Leon, The Lost Dogs, Dolly Parton, Tom Waits, Devendra Banhart, Billy Bragg, Loretta Lynn, Jim O'Rourke, Jeff Tweedy, Loose Fur, Woody Guthrie, Tim Fite, Willy Mason, The Swirling Eddies, David Gray, Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire, Preston School of Industry, Beulah, Band of Horses, My Morning Jacket, Ray LaMontagne, Ben Harper, Holopaw, Old Crow Medicine Show, Fruit Bats, Faces, The Band, Traffic, Robert Randolph, Galactic, A.A. Bondy, G. Love, Jack Johnson, Blitzen Trapper
Sounds Like
everything you've ever heard, and nothing you've ever heard before
Branden met Bill at a local bookstore in Kalamazoo, MI. He had heard of the "one-handed bass player" and being a bass player himself, was very pleased to make his acquaintance. After talking about music for a while, Branden mentioned that he played saxophone and tinwhistle among other things, and Bill invited him to play with his aptly titled Jazz-Fusion group, The Bill Clements Group. Branden played saxophone mostly, but had been writing some new songs in 2006, after a dramatic theological shift, that he wanted to begin performing. After explaining his vision for the band, Branden asked Bill to play bass with him, and they enlisted Bill's long-time drummer, Tommy Ufkes to provide the rhythmic backbone that the music required.
The mixture of Bill's frenetic, "undergroundalienbass" style of playing with Branden's leanings toward Country and Southern Rock creates a unique sound with many levels of sonic "interestingness". Tommy has proven to be irreplacable in his interpretation of the drastically different styles and his ability to play rhythms that pull everything together.
Branden has been playing music for the majority of his life, and has been writing music nearly as long as he's been able to play it. His lyrics reflect his journey through life and his studies of religion and philosophy, and his take on the human condition. Ranging from the irreverent to the tender-hearted, his songs may offend or bring a tear to the eye. Either way, softspoken and shy in most social situations, creating music helps Branden to come to terms with everyday existence, and serves as therapy where traditional methods fail. His style is influenced by a wide range of artists including My Morning Jacket, Beck, Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, The Black Keys, Hank III, Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews, Drive By Truckers, David Bazan, and Pearl Jam.
Bassist Bill Clements, began playing at the age of 13, inspired by Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, and other prog-rock bass giants. Bill decided early on, one way or another, bass playing would be his path. Forgoing a formal musical education, Bill instead embarked on an intensive program of practice and musical research. Unfortunately, Bill lost his right hand and forearm, December 1989 in an industrial accident. This catastrophic event would seemingly have ended his promising career as a musician. Yet within three months time, Bill was gigging again, and he hasn't stopped since. Clements has long received regional acclaim for his prolific style of bass playing, and has been favorably compared to such bass legends as Rocco Prestia and Jaco Pastorius. Check out Bill's page here: myspace.com/thebillclementsgroup
Branden plays
Branden Mann & The Reprimand's Friend Space (Top 24)
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