Brother Keeps It All in a Family

By Adam Friedrich
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It was hard to maneuver through the near capacity crowd at Milwaukee's Shank Hall on a recent mild night. Fans had gathered long before Brother was set to take the stage. Everyone was sipping drinks and anxiously awaiting the headliners. Fans were so diverse, that chain wallets brushed up against Coach purses and cell phones on dress slacks mingled with bandanas on faded jeans. They gathered with one thing in common: an enthusiastic appreciation for the creative, inventive and engaging sounds of Brother. 

That diversity was a direct reflection of the many different inspirations and backgrounds that the band melds into an emotionally charged musical experience. With ancestors hailing from the highlands of Inverness who sailed Down Under, brothers Hamish and Angus Richardson grew up on the farms of Australia. "Our experience was very different from others interested in music," said Hamish, who does acoustic guitars and bagpipes. 

With lively stage performances — including bagpipe solos that rival the intensity of an Angus Young guitar-thrashing — plus brilliant compositions mixing aboriginal wind instruments, intense guitars and driving drums all touched up with DJ-like samples, rapping and keyboards, it's no doubt why Brother has earned such a devoted following. The combo creates a haunting and invoking sound

Fueled by the inspiration of fellow Australian '70s rockers Cold Chisel, the two real brothers have made their way across the world and planted their flag in the musical landscape. They've settled in L.A., which Hamish stated is a lot easier than "the long commute from Australia for the last 10 years." 

Joining them is a trio of talented musicians from all over the music spectrum, each adding his own influence to the evolving mix. Rick Kurek's driving lead guitars and on stage persona are complemented nicely by newcomers, Derek (Dez) Stewart (samples, keyboards, rapping) and 'T' Xiques (drums). 

The sibling front men have survived and succeeded due to their sharing of a collective goal. As Angus put it, "We haven't known anything else. This partnership works really well." When asked if there was ever any friction between the two, Hamish stated, "We've had our moments and locked horns, but we generally agree to disagree." They then move on "sharing a dream." Keyboarder Stewart is amazed by the brother's collaboration, saying, "As a firsthand witness, it's inspirational. Their definition of family is enlightening." 

Their attitude concerning their success is refreshing, considering that they are seasoned veterans of a music industry that, according to Angus "can bite you in the ass." Down to earth, casual, friendly and eager to entertain can best describe Brother as they sat around backstage prior to the show, sharing a bottle of Pinot Noir. The group recently spent a weekend camping on a northern California beach, dieting on In and Out Burgers' Protein Style/Animal Style sandwiches. As in once voice, they all explain that was a hamburger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun. 

As Kurek noted, "We're a health conscience band and eat good as a band." The men shared a laugh about T's infamous "sand nachos" experience during their campout. The bond between the group is undeniable and genuine, perhaps surprising since this current lineup has only been in place since January.

While the band isn't formally on tour, it played a few dates in the Midwest before heading back to L.A. to finish work on an upcoming CD. Though the members didn't indulge much information about the new album, they did say that it would follow in the band's legacy of constantly forging new sounds and creating new ways to express themselves. 

"When we listen to tracks for the new album, we ask ourselves, 'Have we heard it before" said Hamish. "We want to offer something totally new." Angus added, "With the new record, we have a new band, new sound, and new direction." T offers his own preview of the album, "It's gonna be cool!"

There couldn't be a better name for a band that emulates the kind of community, acceptance and familial support that Brother does. In fact Angus and Hamish aren't the only siblings in the band. Dez and T's wives are sisters, making them brothers-in-law. Each with two children, they hope to bring their families on the road with them on future tours for a "gypsy caravan." 

Perhaps this inviting sense of community is the reason why their crowds are growing larger and more diverse. But to Brother, crowd size isn't necessarily the barometer of success. To them success is not being stagnant, to not be categorized and avoid industry standards. Success is to achieve balance, rather than balancing checkbooks and to continue to make a living expressing themselves creatively. 

As Kurek summed it up, "'Day job' is not a term in our vocabulary." 

The large crowd at Shank Hall was definitely thankful for that philosophy.