Massachusetts-based quartet The Brew cook up a musical melting pot on their brand-new, self-released album, Back to the Woods, that combines their roots in classic rock, adding ingredients of prog, jazz, reggae, world beat, indie, funk and orchestral pop, sometimes in the course of a single song.
The band has been busy building a fan base by touring the northeast, playing events like the Gathering of the Vibes in Connecticut and the Up North Festival in Maine and headlining Boston’s famed Paradise Rock Club. They opened for Bruce Hornsby in 2006, and again in 2008, and were voted Best Opening Act by his fan site. This year, the band was nominated for the “Best New Groove” (Best New Artist) award at the Jammy’s in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
The Brew has that indefinable "it" that is the distillation of talent, execution and unconditional commitment to the dream of living up to their abilities. That commitment explains why folks drive hundreds of miles to shows and female fans are sporting Brew tattoos. The band's commitment to their music is total, and in a flavor-of-the-month world of commercialism, they are a walk-the-talk example of succeeding on your own terms.
“I feel like we would be doing this no matter what, but to have so many people validate what we believe in so deeply, it makes it something really special,” says Chris Plante, the keyboardist for the group, who joined high school classmates, guitarist Dave Drouin and drummer Kelly Kane, with his brother, bassist Joe, to form The Brew.
And while the band is grateful for their success with the jam band crowd, Chris says the big advance in Back to the Woods is in being able to write and record real songs, with beginnings, middles and ends, like the classic-rock idols his dad turned him on to, bands like Steely Dan and artists such as Paul Simon.
Their eclectic stylistic palette can be heard clearly on Back to the Woods, from the tribal world beat and prog-rock of “Seen It All” and the reggae rhythm of “Looking Down” to the jazz-funk and Sting-like vocal ..,” the lush Beach Boys a cappella harmonies of the title track and the Queen-like overkill of “Castle Walls” and the climactic “Chance Reaching.”
“We can’t write songs about something we’re not passionate about,” says Kane. “Music is a sacred thing to us; we all take this very seriously.
I’ve seen the effects lyrics can have on people," echoes Joe.
You can hear that maturity and confidence coming together on Back to the Woods set pieces like “Castle Walls” and the epic closing “Chance
Reaching,” which has presented itself as the album’s first single, and is already receiving airplay on Sirius Satellite Radio.
“We were just trying for that kind of overkill,” laughs Dave. “Building up to 10 notches past where you thought the song should be able to go.”
“Our goal is to get our songs out there to as many people as we can,” concludes Chris. “How it all ends up depends on how far the music will take us. We’re insanely devoted to this. As cliché as it sounds, for us it really is all about our fans.”
wonderful set up on the Hill fellas, so glad to see you up there again... and that drums jam was f'n SWEET. one of the tightest performances i've seen you do
Oh and if you guys could let us all know what shows are 21 plus that would be awesome. because I drove three hours to get turned down at the down at your show in the old port...I was really bummed.
what an amazing show at the hill...so glad you guys played back up there i mean yea it was a 4 hour drive for me and it was raining like hell all weekend but after seeing that show and rocking with those people i wouldn't trade that for anything thanks for the awesome show..
I heard you guys were playing the national anthem for the red sox game so I watched the beginning of the game but they didn't show it. I was very disappointed as was Gail Gibley. I am hoping to find it on youtube.What a great opportunity for you guys. Oh and by the way nice cooking show...haha
