Good Brother Earl

Good Brother Earl

The Globe Pequot Press, 2001

…

Good Brother Earl

Good Brother Earl

The Globe Pequot Press, 2001

It’s hard to describe the kind of music Good Brother Earl plays. It’s a little bit of rock, a little bit of country and a little bit of jam, all mixed together to make an incredible sound. The combination of music is hard to compare to any other music released today. And all of this comes from right here in Pittsburgh.

Formed in 1998, GBE started playing the college circuit, working hard to get its name out there. The band members moved around the Northeast, playing at various venues in Ohio, New York and Maryland. Last summer, they played Lollapalooza when it came through Pittsburgh. They have also shared the stage with Maroon 5, Guster and Marc Broussard at the Big Shindig.

While the band was playing a show in Washington, D.C., Dave Matthews Band violinist Boyd Tinsley joined them onstage and jammed alongside the band members for three of their songs. And they joined in for one of Boyd’s songs, “True Reflections.”

Needless to say, GBE has made a name for itself already, and is working on expanding on that reputation as it releases its new, self-titled album tonight, at a record-release party at Hard Rock Cafe.

Some of the songs on this album were released on earlier albums, but GBE feels that this is the sound it has been looking for all along. The release is powered from track one to track twelve with a lyric-driven rock sound that takes you on an emotional ride you don’t want to stop.

With the deep and sometimes raspy vocals of front man Jeff Schmutz, the emotions are heartfelt through every song, especially on the tracks “Another Rainy Day” and “How Many Times.” These songs remind you of the emotional vocals and lyrics of The Clarks’ Scott Blasey.

With songs that swing with smooth rocking guitars like “The Stranger” — which also has a very prominent piano part playing right behind the guitars — GBE mixes different sounds through all of its songs. The result is an eclectic sound that never gets boring.

Songs that rock with driving guitars and hard-hitting drums like “Waking Up in the Same World” and “Six” keep the music driving forward. They don’t lose a beat and keep your toes tapping at the same time. All of the songs have powerful lyrics like in the chorus of “Six” Schmutz wails, “It gets lonely in this place/ there’s a boy behind that face/ I’m in need of some kind of miracle/ return my heart to gold/ always falling down is growing old.”

And GBE even has the sweet songs that resonate along with the powerful rocking tracks, songs that are laid back and have lyrics that make you think. One example of this would be the track “Firefly,” where Schmutz sings about remembering his younger years when there were care-free times, late in the summer spending time catching fireflies.

The last track of the album, “Lonely Heart,” is an upbeat love song, filled with strings strumming through the verses and ringing loud in the chorus. Schmutz sings about finding love by chance and having to deal with distance in a relationship. “It’s a timeless tale of boy and girl and chance encounters/ throw in an airport gate an empty slate and send some flowers/ so I hear that absence makes a lonely heart grow fonder/ is there no limit to where a lonely man will wander?”

Through the years, Good Brother Earl has gathered a strong fan base right here in the City of Pittsburgh. And the band members have worked as hard as any other band in the industry to increase that fan base. With this solid album — crisp sounding, wispy vocals and powerful heartfelt lyrics — GBE looks like it’s on the right foot to move forward in an industry that needs a make-over in the form of great, original music.

The self-titled album is available at CD Warehouse in Oakland or online at www.goodbrotherearl.com. Or better yet, go to the CD release party tonight at Hard Rock Cafe, and pick up a copy from the hands that put it out there.

Catch Good Brother Earl tonight as they celebrate their CD release in festive fashion at Hard Rock Cafe. The 21+ show starts at 9:30 p.m. with tickets set at $5. For more information, call (412) 481-7625.