Exhibiting eclectic talent, Brad rocks House of Blues

Published: Thursday, October 30, 1997

Thursday, October 30, 1997

MUSIC: Band radiates contagious energy, tours to promote new album

By Michael Nazarinia

Daily Bruin Contributor

Playing to a packed House of Blues crowd on Friday night, the Seattle band known as Brad delivered an hour and 20 minute set that left the crowd in awe, proving just how contagious their energy is.

Performing a fresh mixture of songs from their current release, "Interiors," as well as material from their first release, 1993's "Shame," frontman keyboard and vocalist Shawn Smith resonated with high energy and fresh stage moves on songs like "Secret Girl" and "Lift."

Brad is comprised of Smith, drummer Regan Hagar, bassist Mike Berg, and guitarist Stone Gossard. Hailing from Washington, the band formed in 1993 as a side project between members of the band Satchel, Hagar and Smith, bassist Jeremy Toback, and Pearl Jam's Gossard. After releasing "Shame," the band managed a few shows but never really toured until this year, in support of "Interiors."

After Toback decided not to tour with Brad in order to promote his own solo work, Berg was added, conveniently because he is also in Satchel.

The Friday night show left little doubt as to this band's prowess when it comes to playing live.

"It took us about three weeks to record the album," Hagar said in an interview before the show. "We all came in with cassette (tapes) of stuff we'd done over the past few years that were just parts or ideas that we liked, and we made those ideas into 20 songs, 12 of which made it onto 'Interiors.'"

Whereas Satchel is softer and more easy going at times, Brad can truly rock the house with thunderous grooves laid down by Hagar, Berg and Gossard. When Smith's rich falsetto hits the highs and sustains the chorus on songs like "The Day Brings" while the piano holds a nostalgic moment, the skill and proficiency of this quartet is clear.

"Stone brings a different take on things when we are playing with him," Hagar said. "He's an amazing guitarist with the ability to phrase things beautifully. His melodic sense is incredible and everything he does, he does well."

Since Satchel's guitarist quit the band last year because of personal issues, the future of Satchel has been in limbo.

"I just want to turn and hide. I really don't want to audition anybody, but would rather have it fall in to our laps," Hagar said of adding a new guitarist.

"There's even some confusion at the label (Epic) about whether we're Satchel or Brad or if we're really the same band," Hagar added. "Ideally, I would like to see a Brad album come out one year and a Satchel album the next, but that's speaking idealistically."

Brad's blend of soulful Stevie Wonder-esque lyrical style mixed in with the charging straight-ahead guitar work of Gossard and Hagar's wide range of rhythmic abilities creates a diverse and deep repertoire of songs that are hardly limiting.

At the House of Blues show, Brad covered tunes from Satchel and Hagar's former band Malfunkshun

"We've got another Brad album coming out next year that we'll come out and support." Hagar added. "I'd love to see us sell more records, because that has always been the one thing that has eluded us. It's really hard to keep putting out albums if they aren't selling, and right now the music industry is scared because the big acts aren't selling, so they get more conservative and try to stick with what is safe.

"That makes it harder for bands like us. I love what I'm doing, and I'm not in it for money, but with a family to support, you have to be careful."