Brass Bed: Artist You Should Know

From KCRW DJ Eric J Lawrence:

Last week, my pals Kevin & Zach of Park the Van Records invited me out to see one of their latest signings, Brass Bed. For a small label, Park the Van has a killer roster, which includes Dr. Dog, Generationals, and Pepi Ginsberg, so I knew I was in for a treat.

But oh, what a treat!

This Lafayette, Louisiana-based power pop quartet have that perfect balance of snappy cutting-edge rock & roll tunes with retro touches and echoes. Their sonic mix recalls the dynamic, ever-evolving pop symphonics of bands like The Flaming Lips and Neutral Milk Hotel, anchored by a high-energy, straight-ahead approach to rocking, kicking out the jams in a style reminiscent of Cheap Trick or labelmates The High Strung (mustachioed, tie-wearing keyboardist Andrew Toups even reminds me of an ivory-tickling version of Cheap Trick’s Bun E. Carlos).

Frontman Christiaan Mader’s vocals veer between being subtly sensitive, world-weary and sly, often in the same verse. “Begs Me Not To Beg” (video below!) is one of the highlights from their new album, Melt White, just release last week. Check them out while they criss-cross the country on tour this fall, but be sure to bring an extra pair of socks, because they just might knock the ones you’re wearing clean off!

— Eric J Lawrence