BRAHMS Play Glasslands in Brooklyn, Heading to SXSW

Last night, the Brooklyn trio known as BRAHMS took the stage at the GlassLands in Brooklyn, New York to reintroduce themselves. Not as something other than the drummer-less band we have come to know and love, but as more mature, confident gentleman who have really found their place in a world full of bands trying to find their place. Supported by Acrylics, New Moods and a Tanlines DJ set, the night was packed full of swaying, rhythmic beats and appreciative fans, drinkers and just plain passer-bys.

BRAHMS are Cale Parks, Eric Lyle Lodwick, and Drew Montag Robinson. They are the funkiest, most interesting band you have never heard of, and in talking to vocalist Cale, they’re aware of that. “An overall good sound experience. It’s difficult to say what the crowd should take away from seeing us. It’s such a personal thing. It’s probably different for another person in the band. It could be like ‘I want someone to dance or go home and create a song.’ I can’t really say. It’s to the point, that it’s an exercise of your feelings. I want people to take away what they want that. It’s almost like listening to a noise record and asking about it… What do you take from a Black Dash record versus a Celine Dion song? You can’t force things on people,” said Parks.

It is difficult to describe BRAHMS in a word, let alone a show review. They don’t have an album out, but you may have seen their videos on Stereogum. They’re working on a full length. They are a band who are evolving before your eyes on stage. But who are they? What do they sound like? “We have to do that all the time for people. We say we’re electronic rock or electro-pop music. But the it’s like ‘oh, like what? Like New Order?’ Well, it’s like New Order, with a MIDI-keyboard synched to a drum machine, or guitar-based drums, with samplers and sythesizers.”

I laugh. People aren’t going to get that, but Cale explained the struggle of being different–or the same–as any other band. “It’s hard when you’re a electronic band trying to make it. Some people don’t get it. The backlash can come from those questions, like, who are you? Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors? People think we just press buttons… But it’s actually very musical, and it is very difficult.”

And it’s beautiful to watch and to be a part of. If you can catch BRAHMS on tour, please do.

The rest of their schedule is posted below, starting tonight in Boston.

Feb 25 – Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA *
Feb 26 – Casa Del Popolo – Montreal, QC *
Feb 27 – Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON *
Feb 28 – Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL *
Mar 17 – Street Entry Minneapolis, MN *
Mar 3 – The Palace Lounge – Missoula, MT *
Mar 4 – Chop Suey – Seattle, WA *
Mar 5 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC *
Mar 6 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR *
Mar 8 – Bottom Of The Hill – San Francisco, CA *
Mar 9 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA *
Mar 10 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
Mar 11 – Neon Reverb Festival – Las Vegas, NV
Mar 12 – Detroit Bar – Costa Mesa, CA &%
Mar 13 – Trunkspace – Phoenix, AZ &%
Mar 16-19 – SXSW (check sites for full details soon) – Austin, TX
Mar 20 – The Mink – Houston, TX !
Mar 22 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA ~
Mar 23 – Casbah – Durham, NC
Mar 24 – Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, DC #+