Thursday, October 30, 1997
Exhibiting eclectic talent, Brad rocks House of Blues
MUSIC: Band radiates contagious energy, tours to promote new
album
By Michael Nazarinia
Daily Bruin Contributor
Playing to a packed House of Blues crowd on Friday night, the
Seattle band known as Brad delivered an hour and 20 minute set that
left the crowd in awe, proving just how contagious their energy
is.
Performing a fresh mixture of songs from their current release,
"Interiors," as well as material from their first release, 1993’s
"Shame," frontman keyboard and vocalist Shawn Smith resonated with
high energy and fresh stage moves on songs like "Secret Girl" and
"Lift."
Brad is comprised of Smith, drummer Regan Hagar, bassist Mike
Berg, and guitarist Stone Gossard. Hailing from Washington, the
band formed in 1993 as a side project between members of the band
Satchel, Hagar and Smith, bassist Jeremy Toback, and Pearl Jam’s
Gossard. After releasing "Shame," the band managed a few shows but
never really toured until this year, in support of "Interiors."
After Toback decided not to tour with Brad in order to promote
his own solo work, Berg was added, conveniently because he is also
in Satchel.
The Friday night show left little doubt as to this band’s
prowess when it comes to playing live.
"It took us about three weeks to record the album," Hagar said
in an interview before the show. "We all came in with cassette
(tapes) of stuff we’d done over the past few years that were just
parts or ideas that we liked, and we made those ideas into 20
songs, 12 of which made it onto ‘Interiors.’"
Whereas Satchel is softer and more easy going at times, Brad can
truly rock the house with thunderous grooves laid down by Hagar,
Berg and Gossard. When Smith’s rich falsetto hits the highs and
sustains the chorus on songs like "The Day Brings" while the piano
holds a nostalgic moment, the skill and proficiency of this quartet
is clear.
"Stone brings a different take on things when we are playing
with him," Hagar said. "He’s an amazing guitarist with the ability
to phrase things beautifully. His melodic sense is incredible and
everything he does, he does well."
Since Satchel’s guitarist quit the band last year because of
personal issues, the future of Satchel has been in limbo.
"I just want to turn and hide. I really don’t want to audition
anybody, but would rather have it fall in to our laps," Hagar said
of adding a new guitarist.
"There’s even some confusion at the label (Epic) about whether
we’re Satchel or Brad or if we’re really the same band," Hagar
added. "Ideally, I would like to see a Brad album come out one year
and a Satchel album the next, but that’s speaking
idealistically."
Brad’s blend of soulful Stevie Wonder-esque lyrical style mixed
in with the charging straight-ahead guitar work of Gossard and
Hagar’s wide range of rhythmic abilities creates a diverse and deep
repertoire of songs that are hardly limiting.
At the House of Blues show, Brad covered tunes from Satchel and
Hagar’s former band Malfunkshun
"We’ve got another Brad album coming out next year that we’ll
come out and support." Hagar added. "I’d love to see us sell more
records, because that has always been the one thing that has eluded
us. It’s really hard to keep putting out albums if they aren’t
selling, and right now the music industry is scared because the big
acts aren’t selling, so they get more conservative and try to stick
with what is safe.
"That makes it harder for bands like us. I love what I’m doing,
and I’m not in it for money, but with a family to support, you have
to be careful."