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Each week Purple Revolver will be searching the nooks and crannies of the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is modern music in search of rising stars and slept on talents to bring your iPod back from the brink.
Under our first purple spotlight are indie-folk super group Middle Brother. Made up of Dawes’ frontman Taylor Goldsmith, Deer Tick’s John McCauley and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit, the group are causing a ruckus on the live scene, bringing memories of Crosby, Stills & Nash flooding back.
Forming the band after supporting each other’s solo projects at various gigs and on tour, the three locked themselves away and released their self titled debut, Middle Brother.
The idea was an experiment, just because they could and a super group is so Rock ‘n Roll, but the result is a highly accomplished foot stompin’, hand clappin’ alt-rock album.
Each member brings their own style to the band. McCauley is caught somewhere between Dylan and Buckley, Vasqueth a country Kurt Cobain and Goldsmith is a throwback to the clear cut voice of Neil Young, albeit with a Cali twang.
The formula works. Whether on the introspective Wilderness or the rousing group sing a longs of Middle Brother and Me, Me, Me, their energy and passion for the music comes across nicely and there are no problems with sharing the microphone.
Live the trio have been whipping crowds into a frenzy. Amp riding guitar battles and mesmerizing vocal performances have led to a spot at this Summer’s Newport Folk Festival, where the audience are guaranteed an emotional roller-coaster of a performance.
As of yet there has been no news of the group heading over to the UK but with the album building momentum and a back catalog of top notch solo albums behind them (check out Deer Tick’s brilliant The Black Dirt Sessions), it won’t be long before we see them on our shores.
Until then get yourself acquainted with Taylor, John and Matt.
Middle Brother was released 1st March 2011 on Partisan Records