Ask devoted fans of The Brew what they love about the popular Amesbury band, and chances are you’ll hear the word jam somewhere in the answer. As newbies on the Merrimack Valley music scene seven years ago, The Brew’s four members – all classmates at Amesbury High School at the time – built a reputation for extended improvisation during their live shows.
However, one listen to the band’s latest album, Back to the Woods, and the word jam never comes to mind. Self-released in April 2008, Back to the Woods is a collection of concise, radio-friendly tunes that are the antithesis of the extensive meandering normally associated with jam bands. According to vocalist and keyboard player Chris Plante, the sound on Back to the Woods comes from a natural evolution the band has experienced since getting serious about their music.
“We realized somewhere along the way that we’re pretty good at playing music together,” he says, “and our songs turned from ‘out there’ and ‘experimental’ to much more focused.” With passages that can still be expanded in a live setting (and sometimes are), Back to the Woods doesn’t abandon the old Brew model completely. In fact, the band continues to live up to its name, mixing diverse genres like jazz, reggae, classic rock and orchestral pop into their unique recipe.
But with polished production courtesy of veteran saxophonist Bobby Read and lyrics that tackle serious themes like man’s destruction of the planet, Back to the Woods is a snapshot of a band getting comfortable in its skin and maybe even aligning the stars for a future masterpiece.
“It’s about building something that attracts people,” says Plante, whose brother Joe plays bass in the band. Plante feels the band’s next album will be their strongest, judging from the three songs they recently cut in L.A. with well-known producer (and former Whiskeytown member) Mike Daly.
In agreement is guitarist Dave Drouin, who’s been playing with Brew drummer Kelly Kane since they were 13. Drouin offers his opinion of how the band has been able to surround itself with a higher caliber of collaborators and support since releasing Back to the Woods. “I think you have to focus on being the best you can be, and if you can get that to a point, then managers and booking agents come out of the woodwork.”
From their early days renting VFW halls in the Merrimack Valley to their current success opening for artists like Bruce Hornsby and playing larger venues like their upcoming April 18 show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, the Brew have never had a reason to stop making music. “If we weren’t steadily building a fan base, we’d probably figure we’re not doing something right,” explains Plante, “and that would discourage us from continuing on, but it’s kind of been the opposite.”
“You never think your music would become a soundtrack to somebody’s life,” adds Drouin, “but for someone out there, it is. If we could do that for a couple of people and be remembered for it, that’s enough.”
For more information about The Brew, including streams of their latest songs, visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/thebrew1.
Musician Profile – The Brew – March / April 2009
Ask devoted fans of The Brew what they love about the popular Amesbury band, and chances are you’ll hear the word jam somewhere in the answer. As newbies on the Merrimack Valley music scene seven years ago, The Brew’s four members – all classmates at Amesbury High School at the time – built a reputation for extended improvisation during their live shows.
However, one listen to the band’s latest album, Back to the Woods, and the word jam never comes to mind. Self-released in April 2008, Back to the Woods is a collection of concise, radio-friendly tunes that are the antithesis of the extensive meandering normally associated with jam bands. According to vocalist and keyboard player Chris Plante, the sound on Back to the Woods comes from a natural evolution the band has experienced since getting serious about their music.
“We realized somewhere along the way that we’re pretty good at playing music together,” he says, “and our songs turned from ‘out there’ and ‘experimental’ to much more focused.” With passages that can still be expanded in a live setting (and sometimes are), Back to the Woods doesn’t abandon the old Brew model completely. In fact, the band continues to live up to its name, mixing diverse genres like jazz, reggae, classic rock and orchestral pop into their unique recipe.
But with polished production courtesy of veteran saxophonist Bobby Read and lyrics that tackle serious themes like man’s destruction of the planet, Back to the Woods is a snapshot of a band getting comfortable in its skin and maybe even aligning the stars for a future masterpiece.
“It’s about building something that attracts people,” says Plante, whose brother Joe plays bass in the band. Plante feels the band’s next album will be their strongest, judging from the three songs they recently cut in L.A. with well-known producer (and former Whiskeytown member) Mike Daly.
In agreement is guitarist Dave Drouin, who’s been playing with Brew drummer Kelly Kane since they were 13. Drouin offers his opinion of how the band has been able to surround itself with a higher caliber of collaborators and support since releasing Back to the Woods. “I think you have to focus on being the best you can be, and if you can get that to a point, then managers and booking agents come out of the woodwork.”
From their early days renting VFW halls in the Merrimack Valley to their current success opening for artists like Bruce Hornsby and playing larger venues like their upcoming April 18 show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, the Brew have never had a reason to stop making music. “If we weren’t steadily building a fan base, we’d probably figure we’re not doing something right,” explains Plante, “and that would discourage us from continuing on, but it’s kind of been the opposite.”
“You never think your music would become a soundtrack to somebody’s life,” adds Drouin, “but for someone out there, it is. If we could do that for a couple of people and be remembered for it, that’s enough.”
For more information about The Brew, including streams of their latest songs, visit their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/thebrew1.