The Brian Stewart Band (The 8x10, 6/23)

Buy - $5.00
The Brian Stewart Band is a Baltimore-based pop-rock trio with layers. At the heart is a singer/songwriter who blends catchy hooks with lyrical honesty. Add in a bassist with both classical training and the abilityto improvise at the drop of a dime and a drummer that is as much unique as he is talented, and you’ve got a performance that is engaging, entertaining and wholly approachable.
A massive growth as a songwriter and a person spurred the creative process for the well-crafted May 2009 release, Unravel The Romance. It touches on all things human: relationships, struggles, triumphs, home, the road, etc. And it’s all been neatly tucked into one package.
Unravel The Romance is a mix of 6 multi-instrument songs and 3 acoustic songs. The centerpiece of the EP is “Shine”, a wonderfully catchy piano-pop song. The pop-rock theme continues with the uplifting “Get It Right”, the anthemic “I Will Wait For You”, the beautifully sincere “Stuck In The Middle”, and “Looking For The Light”, with witty lyrics like, ‘So now I’m out here on my own / With a steering wheel and telephone / A leaver’s guilt and a lover’s chagrin / Can’t get me out of this mess that I’m in’. Rounding out the multi-instrument songs on the EP is “The Sailor’s Serenade”, which flirts with alt-country and indie-folk themes. The EP finishes up with three great acoustic takes. Minimal production really opens these songs up and evidences Brian as a songwriter and performer. “I Don’t Need You” is a moving piano ballad touching on the post-relationship hangover and “Why’d You Leave” is seemingly a prelude to the aforementioned song, as it details the moments right after a breakup. Finally, “The Sparrow” is a reggae-tinged acoustic song with a memorable melody and clever lyrics.
On stage, these songs come to life. Ever the inspiring performer, Brian on stage by himself is captivating. Whether it’s just for the music, the down-to-earth nature that exudes or the between-song jokes, the entertainment is undeniable. When Enoch (upright bass, electric bass) and Jason (drums, percussion) join Brian (vocals, guitar, piano/keys) on stage, their energy and musicianship ignite clubs, theatres and festivals with their signature “gritty, yet glistening” tone. Their biggest triumph is when a set and an audience come together to form one entity: dancing, singing, thinking, feeling.
Brian and the band have shared the stage with many national, regional and local acts including: Jimmy Robbins (Universal/Motown Records), William Tell (of Something Corporate), Parachute (previously Sparky’s Flaw, Mercury/Island Records), Cinder Road, Luke Brindley, Justin Trawick, Evan Bliss and the Welchers, Sweet Leda, Victoria Vox, Bess Rogers, Ms. Sara and the Help, Edie Carey, Rose Cousins, Chris Smither, John Ginty, Ellis Paul and many more.
Among the many venues played, included (and favorites) are The 8x10 (Baltimore, MD), The Recher Theatre (Towson, MD), Fletcher's (Baltimore, MD), The Ottobar (Baltimore, MD), The M-Room (Philadelphia), Crocodile Rock (PA), Arlene's Grocery (New York, NY), Eddie’s Attic (Atlanta, GA), Towson University (Towson, MD), Goucher College (Baltimore, MD), Columbia University (New York, NY), and many more.
Cover of the Month - Episode 4
Matt Nathanson - Come On Get Higher
Click here to view our YouTube channel!