The Return of JEFF the Brotherhood with The Greenhornes
Marc's Rock Blog
The music over the sound system cuts out and there they go up on stage again just the two of them -- Jake and Jamin Orrall.
It starts.
Strong guitar riff, pounding drums. Energy. The sound that’s way too big to come out of a drum kit and a guitar with three strings. JEFF the Brotherhood.
Already I’m grinning.
I was there the last time they came and I was so floored by their show that I had to come back. I take Lindsey as part of our date. She didn’t go last time and tonight her friends joined us – Lisa, Celina, and David - who’s a dead ringer for Tim Roth – the evening’s running joke. They met us before the set and hung at the bar, while I took Lindsey to the front.
We let their sonic assault wash over us and enjoy the show.
Pounding pulse beats.
The floor packed, heads banging along to the relentless pumping beats.
Work light around the drummer Jamin Orral’s neck.
Guitarist Jake Orral (they’re brothers) stepping down from the stage, working the crowd.
The drummer grinning beatifically.
That’s JEFF the Brotherhood.
JEFF the Brotherhood are signed to Warner Bros. Records. Watching them live for the second time in a row, in a small venue as far removed from their home turf, or any musical hotspot like Austin, Nashville, where they could have easily phoned their performance in, it’s easy to see why. They brought all their energy and passion and balls-out rock attitude to last night’s set.
In fact, these two brothers have more energy than some four- or five-piece long-standing acts that are mainstays on the Laredo rock scene. They loved us last night, they brought it again, and we in return, loved them back.
Fanlove.
Where JEFF the Brotherhood was a straight-forward, pulse-pounding early Black Sabbath/Ramones sonic rock aural assault, the near legendary The Greenhornes were a lava-like slow ooze of late-sixties, early seventies Doors-like roadhouse grooves that built into a whirling dervish-like crescendo.
I mean, c’mon – these are the frickin’ Greenhornes. Jack White played with them. Of the White Stripes. These guys have talent and cred to spare.
Their sound references such hard and heavy pop rock British faves like The Who and The Kinks -- and that’s evident in the catchy hooks and vocals that are weighted down by trashy-thump drums and garage grungy riffs.
Craig Fox, Patrick Keeler, and Jack Lawrence – members listed on their MySpace profile were present, along with a back-up musician. The Greenhornes started off with some mellow numbers peppered with some bouncing sixties-style mod beat numbers reminiscent of The Animals. The highlight of the night was the excellent extended jam played at the finale – a psychedelic whirling dervish powerhouse that rose and fell and rose and fell and rose and fell again. The crowded pumped, jumped, swayed and rocked to the hypnotic pulse like a living thing.
It was truly a pleasure watching master musicians reveling in their craft. This was rock and roll heaven and a twofer treat for the ages. Thanks B Live Promotions.
Glad I went.
Glad Lindsey enjoyed it.
Glad her friends did, too.
And I hope you did as well.
I hope you made it.
And if you didn‘t, hope you make the next one.
What I’m listening to now: You’re a Wolf by Sea Wolf
