NIGHTBIRDS

Before the invasion of the formulaic pop artist and musicians marketing their work in pursuit of fame and fortune, bands formed with singular intents: to fulfill a persistent internal need to express a passion within them. These days, such artists are a rare breed.

Brenden John, a folk songwriter and quintessential tortured soul, recently to Portland from the East Coast. He is a modern throwback to those glory days of emotive musicianship sans agenda.

After disappointing attempts to work well with others, John followed his impulses to the City of Roses, this time flying solo. For the past six months he’s been crafting his self-proclaimed “other” music, inspired by those pieces of the world that haunt and engulf him. He’s inspired by the romance of film and the irony of an artist’s life. The resultant songs are dark, story-based compilations of extreme emotional context and minimal distraction. It becomes a chronological soundtrack to a life ridden with a certain frailty, sensitive to a clandestine vulnerability. Attentive listeners can feel the authenticity bleeding from his experience.

Despite having already secured a loyal Portland following, John and bassist Dan Stein focus their energies toward the communicative power of music, rather than aiming to please a target market or two. They refuse to compartmentalize, to produce or protect an image, or to work in accordance to anyone’s preferences but their own.

Indulging in a Brenden John song is embracing a window into the heartbeat of its author. Each song he writes may be the last or the first in an entirely new series. Those who appreciate his stripped-down pieces are surely of kindred madness and introspection, privy to that same burning need to express something intangible. His voice quivers as he sings, framing a sad poetry, claiming he knows no other way to speak.

Stein acts as a concerted backbone, offering support as needed and admiring John’s vagabond means of production. Modest by nature, Stein happily shadows John in the project, displaying his own talents through creative flier design and capable musical contribution.

The two act as compliments, creating a sound that is illusive yet coherent. Though the duo has not yet released a record, an EP is on the way and the music is available online.

This is not the sort of music you play on headphones while working out in the gym, or that you could see premiering at No. 1 on MTV. It will not lend a catchy phrase to repeat in your head for days, or showboat instrumental talents that leave you in awe. It ignores trends, bends styles and irreverently disobeys the laws of the modern music industry.

Instead, it is of a layered, intrinsic nature. This is the sort of music you sit with patiently, allowing yourself to connect, recognizing that another human being has translated some cobwebbed corner of your emotional health into a beat and melody.

John and Stein’s live performances are slowly taking over the city, welcomed by the herds of hapless romantics with a possible slight chemical imbalance. Through his enigmatic vocal offering and raw sentimental charge, John has mastered a strange ability to convince you he not only knows your darkest secret, but is performing it for all to hear.

One can’t help but listen.

Stephanie Fine Sasse, Portland Vanguard Newspaper



PRESS RELEASES:

I really enjoy your songs.You have something to say!

-Isaac Brock, Modest Mouse



John has mastered a strange ability to convince you he not only knows your darkest secret, but is performing it for all to hear. One can’t help but listen.

-Stephanie Fine Sasse, Portland Vanguard



Poetic, clear and concise while projecting from a sound that fits gently alongside the likes of legends such as Neil Young, early Bob Dylan, and Jeff Buckley, like it or not, it’s true. Except that the band does not strive for these lofty aspirations. They are effortlessly themselves, and while one may attempt to classify them, it is as though these comparisons set out only to draw people to them, helping them to be heard, because really, they should be heard.

-Taylor Bratches, Northeast Performer Magazine



Ghostly vocals and guitar riffs from the depths totally encompass any room they enter. California will know they are serious.

-Adena, The Deli Magazine



You guys are seriously awesome!!!

-Katie, Skratch Magazine



Kicking off with "White Light," the band delves into a sound not unlike that of early Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. The rapid electric and acoustic riffs with almost ghostly lead vocals give the music a sexy, dusky feel. They maintain a great contrast between wavering, light melodies and syrupy guitars on the following track, "Nightmares," evoking vibes of looming danger and impending doom.

-Miriam Lamey, Northeast Performer Magazine



The price of gas alone seems like a fair enough reason for bands from Vermont to avoid trekking all the way out to Denver. But the Burlington outfit are nonetheless coming to town for a two night stand (Fri 6/20-Sat 6/21.) They specialize in quavering, drenched-in-mystique psychedelia- that still manages to come on as gently tuneful.

-The Onion Denver, Colorado



A while back, I caught the band in the intimate confines of Radio Bean and was immediately struck by Brenden's aching tenor. His voice is simply gorgeous.

-Dan Bolles, Seven Days



EP-

Swaggering, tremulous vocals and heart-on-sleeve distress that wash over you like warm rain. A near perfect brand of sadness. Brenden swaggers and croons like a young Jeff Buckley.

-Vermont Times



I would like to use the track "White lights" I am digging the Song!

-No Cover Magazine



Speaking of talked-about, The band garnered attention on the Burlington scene this year thanks to this five-song EP that sets a mysterious indie-rocking mood with spacey guitars and Brenden John's haunting vocals. They’ll be reaching ears outside of their hometown in January with a tour of the East Coast and the Midwest.

Brent Hallenbeck, Burlington Free Press



The bands sound is reminiscent of Pink Floyd's early psychedelic years with singer/songwriter Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett.

Sarah Webster, Asbury Park Press



The band will be celebrating the release of their Debut EP. With hints of Tom Waits, early Dylan, and Beck, and the energy of the Ramones, the night will surely rock into the late evening.

-Monkey House



Everyone knows that on stage, Brenden is the active, unpredictable one: swiping at the drums with his guitar, tempering hardcore yells with soft, passionate pleas, and collapsing onto the floor as layers of emotion leave his body exhausted.



-Tonya West, Towncraftmovie.com



I will go and tell them how good they were. "Live on WRUV radio"

-Jeremy Ayers, Burlington Free Press



Meshing well is no minor accomplishment, due to John’s one-of-a-kind vocal style. He sings like a resurrected Jeff Buckley, with an operatic, tremulous wail that adds sweetness to the snares and riffs, and a haunting quality to the acoustic numbers.

-Colin Ryan, Williston Observer