I have seen The Brew live a few times, and every show
astounded me. The band’s solid dynamic on stage adds so much to their tightly constructed songs filled with improvisational surprises. The band dynamic is partially fed by the crowd energy, so I was interested to see The Brew perform on-air, where the audience is not visible.
The Brew opened the set with their new song “Hard Enough to Break.” The song was more of a slow tune rather than a “rager” as the band would describe. Dave Drouin’s smooth guitar melodies rolled over Chris Plante’s dreamy piano riffs while Joe Plante’s bass and Kelly Kane’s drums added a very crisp sound to the tune. Topped off with some impeccable vocal harmonies, the song generated sonic comfort. However, the band was feeling the energy through their bodies, constantly swaying and dancing around to reflect every note word they hit.
The energy level in the studio hit a summit as they went into a Boston cover: “Feelin’ Satisfied.” The studio exploded with the excitement of the Live Mix staff members, who kept yelling out “I can’t believe it,” and “These guys are ridiculous.” The Brew did not only nail the lively feel of the song but also added their talent and energy to it, which made everyone in the studio dance with huge smiles.
The Brew has been tirelessly touring from their northeast home to the Midwest and never intends to stop. Soon they will be in Virgin Islands as well, and the band is slowly yet definitely building up followings everywhere they go. With such intense touring, it is impressive they find time to write such complex music.
“Someone writes a tune and then they bring it to the band and all four of us help tweak it up and put our ideas out,” Chris Plante explained when I asked about the song-writing process, “It’s full-on democracy. If somebody has an idea, we are obligated to try it no matter how bad we think it might be at first.”
“We tweak arrangements, melodies, concepts, ideas, and sometimes lyrics,” added Joe Plante, “Everything changes throughout the whole process to be something that is sometimes a lot different than what it was originally in the first place.”
The Brew never plays the same set list twice, which makes each of their shows equally special. During two long sets, the band often plays the songs that are not featured in their studio albums - songs that are sometimes more favored than their studio tunes. The band explains that the record company makes the decision of what goes on studio albums, which they do not mind. The Brew’s open taping policy also makes it possible for fans to archive favorite non-album songs played at shows.
“The great part is, though, that we are still writing the songs and what they pick is still good with us because we wrote them,” said Drouin. “If you start recording what other people write, then you’ve got a problem,” added Joe Plante, appreciating the fact that The Brew is able to release the music that was solely created by the band.
The Brew finished the set with their classic “Change for Reaching.” The built-up momentum carried through the funky riffs of the song, and it convinced everyone in the studio to go see The Brew live the next time they were around Boston. Without a doubt, The Brew successfully conveyed their passion and musicianship over our airwaves, and the fans of the touring band will only continue to grow. The Brew is currently working on their live album, getting hyped up for the festivals in the summertime.
Words by Lily Jeong
Photo by Meaghan Ford
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