Over the past couple of months the Edible Onion has continuously been sending wonderful music to the Great Pumpkin, and I haven’t had a way to share it with you until now (one of the advantages of being at gprecs.com!).
The main thing that has been catching my ear has been Br’er.
Br’er was formed in 2006 by Benjamin Schurr and Christian Mirande and in 2007 were were joined by multi-instrumentalist (Harp, Singing Saw, Organ) Darian Scatton. Since then Br’er has under gone several line up changes enlisting many musicians in and around the Philadelphia area. The current line up includes Benjamin Schurr, Darian Scatton, Keith Hampson, and Roger Alejandro Martinez.
Earlier this year Br’er released the “I’m a Kid Again”/ “I’m Sorry from Mom” 7″ on the Edible Onion. The Edible Onion specializes in small run, hand painted, glued, screen printed, sewn, and overall delicately constructed records and releases. When I say that the Edible Onion does hand crafted releases I’m not kidding…on this release:
each record jacket has a hand painted outer jacket, with vellum windows cut out to reveal a hand painted inner jacket. The painting was done with a mixture of acrylic and watercolor paint on oak tag (outside) and American Masters printmaking paper (inside). All of the text is handwritten.
On this record Br’er bridges the gap between indie pop with a healthy does of beautifully orchestrated chamber-esque music while incorporating unique aspects of ambient, almost mechanical, background noise. Here is the A side:
[mp3] br’er- “I’m a Kid Again (Geltabs Version)”
Buy the 7″ here.
Next month on October 6th the Edible Onion will be re-issuing Br’er’s formerly cassette only release titled Filled With Guilt & Diamonds…this re-issue will be on 180 gram vinyl and:
The record is packaged in a screen printed, double gatefold sleeve with the lyrics laid out inside surrounded by ink drawings. This release includes a bonus track called ‘Centralia.’ Only 400 will be available!”
On top of this amazing packaging Br’er gives us a slightly different look into their musical world with a well orchestrated EP that brings a similar vibe as the 7″. While staying true to the pop and chamber like aspects of the 7″ Br’er expands on the noise elements not only in the background of the songs, but also as part of the intricate pop structure. From the handful of tracks that I have heard, and from description of the packaging, this record is for fans of both well orchestrated indie pop music, and DIY packaging alike.
This EP also features Nat Baldwin (occasional Dirty Projector) on stand up bass on the track “Painted Lady,” and that track can be heard right here:
[mp3] br’er- “Painted Lady”
Pre-Order the Filled With Guilt and Diamonds 12″ EP here.
Br’er is one of those bands that brings to mind comparisons to some bigger name indie acts, but to name drop those bands would be doing Br’er an injustice.
Br’er is taking it’s music to the road, and will be appearing in Brooklyn this Thursday, September 24th at Death By Audio. This show will be part of the current Maze installation…also playing at that show will be Sam Hilmer/Arrington De Dionyso (Old Time Relijun), Charlie Looker (Extra Life), Total Bolsheviks, & Daniel Carter Quartet. Br’er also have many other tour dates to come all over the US.
- 09 23 – Philadelphia @ Danger Danger Gallery
- 09 24 – Brooklyn @ Death by Audio
- 09 25 – Troy, NY @ Ground Zero
- 09 27 – Montreal @ Cafe Lezard
- 09 28 – Portland, ME @ 176 Coyle Street
- 09 29 – Jamaica Plain @ Whitehaus
- 09 30 – Sarah Lawrence @ TBA
- 10 01 – Toronto @ 225 Sterling Ave
- 10 02 – Detroit @ 515 S. Washington
- 10 03 – Athens @ TBA
- 10 04 – Bloomington @ Rockit Pizza
- 10 05 – St. Louis @ LEMP
- 10 06 – Lawrence @ Replay Lounge
- 10 07 – Lincoln @ Duffy’s Tavern
- 10 08 – Iowa @ Public Space 1
- 10 09 – Chicago @ TBA
- 10 10 – Carbondale @ The Swamp
- 10 11 – Madison @ Project Lodge
- 10 12 – Ames @ Ames Progressive
- 10 13 – Minneapolis @ Bedlam Theatre
- 10 14 – Fargot @ TBA
- 10 15 – Minot @ Pangea House
- 10 17 – Missoula @ TBA
- 10 18 – Seattle @ The Black Lodge
- 10 19 – Olympia @ Finger Complex
- 10 22 – Monterey @ Lounge Underground
- 10 23 – Sacramento @ 2423 V Street
- 10 24 – San Francisco @ TBA
- 10 25 – Oakland @ TBA
- 10 26 – Los angeles @ Tribal cafe
- 10 27 – Irvine @ Acrobatics Everyday
- 10 28 – Encenitas @ Andrews Gallery
- 10 29 – Prescott @ Calavera Board Supply
- 10 30 – Tucson @ TBA
- 10 31 – Albequerque @ Abq House
- 11 01 – Santa Fe @ Meow Wolf
- 11 02 – Denver @ TBA
- 11 03 – Tulsa @ TBA
- 11 04 – Denton @ TBA
- 11 05 – Abilene @ TBA
- 11 06 – Austin @ TBA
- 11 07 – Fayetteville @ TBA
- 11 08 – Shreveport @ TBA
- 11 10 – Birmingham @ Magic City Wholesale (With Little Teeth)
- 11 11 – Charleston @ TBA
- 11 12 – Atlanta @ TBA
- 11 13 – Winston-Salem @ TBA
- 11 14 – Charolette @ Yauhaus
- 11 15 – Asheville @ Pearson II
- 11 16 – Nashville @ Little Hamilton Collective
- 11 17 – Willington NC @ TBA
- 11 18 – Richmond @ TBA
- 11 19 – College Park @ Miracle on 34th
- 11 20 – Baltimore @ TBA
By the sound of the recordings Br’er will be very powerful live, and I am really hoping to make it out to Death By Audio to catch them… also I’m sure they will be carrying with them some of the wonderful Edible Onion releases.
