We first heard Brenda's "Girl Don't Grow" at the Solid Sound Festival last August - it was a standout within a set that featured mostly tunes from the band's debut Silver Tower. The band shared a demo version of the song back in January, but now we have a final version and a gorgeous video to go along with it. Great track - check out the video...
The band will be playing with Titus Andronicus on March 29 in Portland ME (Space Gallery) and March 30 in Burlington VT (Club Metronome) -- if you're in the area I highly recommend checking it out.
The guys in Portland ME's Brenda reached out to share a couple of great new demos. Their debut record Silver Tower is a blast of 90's alternative-inspired rock and comes recommended. You may also remember that the band got a big break last summer when they were asked to play at Wilco's Solid Sound Festival, performing to a large, attentive mid-day crowd.
Now the band returns with two brand new demos - check them out below and then head over to their website to buy Silver Tower or download a live recording of their set from Solid Sound.
Brenda onstage at the Solid Sound FestivalWe first became aware of Portland ME trio Brenda when the lineup of the Solid Sound Festival was announced this past spring. Being selected by Wilco to take part in the 3-day festival was enough reason to take note, but when their debut Silver Tower was released back in June it became crystal clear what Jeff Tweedy and Co. see in the band. The best of 90s alt-rock, reinvigorated with a modern indie-rock twist.
Brenda kicked-off the festivities on day 2 of Solid Sound, playing to a crowd that was clearly unfamiliar with their music. As the crowd in Courtyard C grew, Brenda played a blistering 50-minute set - a mix of favorites from Silver Tower along with a few new songs. Enjoy the full show, available below for stream or download:
Brenda Solid Sound Festival - North Adams, MA August 14, 2010
As you read this, I am most likely making the trek out to the far reaches of Western Massachusetts for Wilco's innaugural Solid Sound Festival.
Over the last 10 years Wilco has remained one of my favorite bands - one of a very exclusive group that never leaves my music rotation. They've stayed there by releasing consistently good-to-great albums, and playing increasingly epic live shows. When Jeff Tweedy announced the Solid Sound Festival from the stage at the Orpheum last April, I knew I had to be there. The chance to not only see my favorite band play a show, but curate an entire music festival in the beautiful Berkshires -- enough said.
With the great Mavis Staples, Vetiver, Brenda and more all sharing the bill with Wilco, it's sure to be a fantastic weekend of music. Not to mention comedy, interactive exhibits and contemporary art.
Expect a full report when I return, but in the meantime here's the fantastic new Tweedy-produced Mavis Staples song "You Are Not Alone":
Brenda makes classic, American indie rock - and they do it well. The Portland Maine band caught a huge break when Jeff Tweedy took a liking to their still yet-to-be-released debut record, Silver Tower, landing them a spot on the bill for the Wilco-curated Solid Sound Festival. After spending a few days with the record, I know what Tweedy sees in these guys.
Silver Tower owes a heavy debt to 90s indie rock. Packed with guitar hooks, bouncy bass lines and major-chord progressions, it's obvious that these guys have worn out their Pavement and Guided By Voices records. But, that's just one of many influences at play here - there are also hints of folk-rock, power-pop, and 60s pop melodies. Ghandi and Intro (the curiously named fifth track) are soaring anthems that wouldn't sound out of place on a Band of Horses record. Pill Hill starts with a frenetic guitar and hi-hat attack before suddenly changing into a meandering, mellow jam. Across The Bay is a swaggering slow burn that breaks down, finds a tight groove and then builds to a distorted, discordant finish. It's this build and release that makes Silver Tower so dynamic and so interesting - just when the band settles into a groove they shake things up and take a new direction. Despite the laid-back vibe, the band is tight and musicianship is fantastic.
There's a lot to like on Silver Tower; you will probably hear pieces of a lot of your favorite bands in these songs, yet they still sound fresh and new. This is elemental indie rock, music for record junkies - my kind of music. Highly recommended.
The first two tracks off Silver Tower are available for stream and download below, along with a great video for Blackout:
Silver Tower is out on Mckeenstreet Music on July 29th. Catch Brenda at the Nateva Festival in Maine on July 3rd and at Wilco's Solid Sound Festival in western Mass in August.
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 7:26AM 
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