a Band named Brian profile picture

a Band named Brian

raw acoustic songs with passion, wit and wisdom

About Me

"Brian Madigan writes pithy, cynical, piercing songs about life – they make you think, they make you laugh – then he hits you with an edgy lyric that could easily make you cry." Tim Carroll, FolkWords.Think Billy Bragg meets Johnny Cash with Rolf doing the introductions and the Levellers shouting abuse from the shadows. Brian’s performance style is direct, open and engaging. He speaks from the heart and lays himself bare before his audience, leading them through tales of love, loss, celebration and psychosis, then pricking their social conscience with a twinkle in his eye.The new ’Band named Brian’ line-up brings with it a wealth of experience from the worlds of Irish, Breton and English folk; translating these influences into contemporary acoustic grooves that have a rawness to match the songs’ all-important lyrics.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/21/2006
Band Website: brianmadigan.com/bnb
Band Members: Brian Madigan - vocals, guitar; Pat Randal - guitars, vocals;Josh Clark - drums;Giles Brown - bass, accordion, vocals;Zoe Stephenson - fiddle, vocals
Influences: I'm hugely inspired by performers who deliver their own material from the bottom of their heart, without dissappearing into the heart of their bottom (but don't mind a bit of high camp/melodrama as well!). Influences include - but are by no means limited to - Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Jon Ottway, Tom Robinson, Billy Bragg, Damien Rice, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Marc Almond, Elvis, Toyah Wilcox, The Who, Radiohead, The Streets, Air, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Yes, Deep, Purple, Queen, Robbie Williams, Natalie Umbruglia (no, really), Nick Cave, Elvis Costello, Crazy Jane, 'planet' Bob Cairns, The Clash, The Band, Kangeroo Moon, Aphex Twin, Gavin Bryars, Philip Glass, Led Zepellin, Charles Ives, Art Brut, Day One, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Sounds Like: "ballroom-blitz meets the levellers with a sprinkling of neil innes" Mike Peter Read, Film Director. "Sort of like an Acoustic/Folk version of Tom Lehrer; good tunes, funny lyrics and intelligence." Ian Kerridge, Writer.
Record Label: Madmusik
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Glastonnotdeadandburyed

Another year, another Glastonbury and still I celebrate the fact that I chose to be born on the last weekend of June. What better way to celebrate your birthday than with friends old, new and not...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 06:22:00 PST

Brighton Showcase

What's going on? I travelled down to Brighton last Thursday to play a support slot for the fantastic Phoenix Williams' album launch at the Sanctuary Cafe in Brighton/Hove. As it was only a half-hour s...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:17:00 PST

Glastonbury Cheer

I don't know about the rest of you but I thought Glastonbury was amazing this year. OK, it's always amazing, but this year I felt as though everyone was on the same frequency and basically out to enjo...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 01:58:00 PST

Fergus Read

Fergus Read was one of the most extraordinary musicians and influential people I ever met. The song on this space 'Don't Be Fooled' is about and for him. I've posted it today to mark the anniversary o...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:02:00 PST

New Song

This one is still in its infancy but pretty much finished, I think. I was talking last night to my friend and fellow songwriter, the inspirational Crazy Jane (www.myspace.com/crazyjane666  )...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Tue, 27 Mar 2007 03:23:00 PST

Bad Joke of the Day

That Suggs and his mates have just re-hashed some of their old hits: " My Girl's Mad At Me" has become "My Partner Is Understandably Agrieved and We Are Seeking a Mutually Agreeable Solution" and "I L...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:29:00 PST

Bad Joke of The Day

I hate f**king dogs... I suppose I should stop doing it really
Posted by a Band named Brian on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:57:00 PST

Bad Joke of the Day

I'm really on edge: I know I've got a bag of ball-shaped chocolates waiting for me. It's pre-Minstrel tension.
Posted by a Band named Brian on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 05:29:00 PST

Well done Rondo

Just want to publically congratulate Andy Burden at the Rondo Theatre in Bath for his success in making the Rondo one of the top small-scale theatres in the country. Thanks too for putting on a g...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 02:56:00 PST

Gas Bills Killed The Radio Star

Earlier this week, they were running a piece on Radio 4's consumer affairs program 'You and Yours' on people who've lived abroad, so I sent them my song 'Heimweh Lied' (Homesick Song). I got a ca...
Posted by a Band named Brian on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 06:03:00 PST