Brakes (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Brakes


Img_capt = A 2005 promo shot
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias = brakesbrakesbrakes
Origin = Brighton, England
Genre = Indie, Folk Punk
Years_active = 2002 - Present
Label = Rough Trade Records
Associated_acts = Electric Soft Parade
British Sea Power
URL = [http://www.brakesbrakesbrakes.com brakesbrakesbrakes.com]
Current_members = Eamon Hamilton-Guitar/Vocals
Tom White-Guitar
Marc Beatty-Bass
Alex White-Drums
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Brakes are a four member band from Brighton, England, fronted by Eamon Hamilton, formerly of British Sea Power. The group formed in 2002.

Biography

Brakes formed in 2002, when Tom White (guitar) and Alex White (drums) of The Electric Soft Parade saw Eamon Hamilton perform a solo gig supporting The Lonesome Organist in Brighton. Marc Beatty (bass) of Mockin' Bird Studio [ [http://www.mockinbirdstudio.co.uk Mockin' Bird Studio, Brighton ] ] and The Tenderfoot (and who also worked with British Sea Power, engineering their debut single and recording tracks for their debut album) was also soon recruited, and the band set about recording their debut single, "Pick Up the Phone", which was released on Tugboat Records in 2004. Shortly after forming Brakes, Eamon was asked by British Sea Power to play keyboards with them, a position he held for three years.

Brakes toured extensively, and, in early 2005, recorded their debut album, "Give Blood", for Rough Trade Records, at Metropolis Studio, with producer Iain Gore. The album was released in July of the same year. They recorded and mixed the 16 track album in seven days. The album was released by Rough Trade Records to great critical acclaim, achieving five stars from The Observer Music Monthly, Time Out and from many websites, and was voted the best album of 2005 by the influential Rough Trade Shops. [ [http://www.roughtrade.com/site/chart_detail.lasso?chart_id=2005 Rough Trade Shops Top 100 of 2005] ]

Brakes toured with Belle & Sebastian in January and February 2006, Editors in February/March 2006 and The Killers in November 2006, as well as playing several European and Uk headline tours of their own. The touring commitments of Brakes made it impossible for Eamon to continue playing with British Sea Power, and he amicably left the band in 2006.

Brakes recorded their second album, The Beatific Visions at House Of David Studio in Nashville, co-producing the record with grammy award winning producer Stuart Sykes. Whilst recording the album, the band convinced the studio's owner, David Briggs (American musician), who had played with Elvis Presley between 1965-1977, to play piano on their song "If I Should Die Tonight." It was the first time Mr Briggs had played on an album for three years.

The album was released in the UK in November 2006, again to universal acclaim. Radio 1's Colin Murray hailed it as his Album Of The Year, Rough Trade Shops voted it number 4 Best Albums Of 2006, and it received four and five star reviews from many publications and websites. The album was released in the USA in February 2007 by Worlds Fair Records to great critical acclaim. The band were forced to change their name to brakesbrakesbrakes due to a Philadelphian funky rock band using the name The Brakes. While the album was released under the name "BrakesBrakesBrakes" in the US, the band will continue to use their original name throughout the rest of the world. [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/40395-rough-trade-inks-north-american-licensing-deal Rough_Trade_Inks_North_American_Licensing_Deal] Pitchfork Jan 10, 2007]

Brakes returned to North America in May/June 2007 for a sold out headline tour of the USA and Canada. Whilst they were on tour, their song All Night Disco Party was used in the hit television show Ugly Betty which gained them an even wider audience.

Brakes are currently demoing their third album, due to be released early 2009.

Discography

Albums

* "Give Blood" - 4th July 2005 on Rough Trade Records
* "The Beatific Visions" - 6th November 2006 on Rough Trade Records

Singles

* "Pick Up the Phone" - 20 September 2004 on Tugboat Records
* "All Night Disco Party" - 13 June 2005 on Rough Trade Records
* "Ring a Ding Ding" - 17 October 2005 on Rough Trade Records
* "All Night Disco Party" (remixed) - 17 April 2006 on Rough Trade Records
* "Hold Me in the River" - 4 December 2006 on Rough Trade Records
* "Cease and Desist" - 5 March 2007 on Rough Trade Records
* "Beatific Visions" - 20 August 2007 on Rough Trade Records

External links

* [http://www.brakesbrakesbrakes.com/ www.brakesbrakesbrakes.com] Official site
*
* [http://www.brotherselectric.co.uk brotherselectric.co.uk] Brakes fansite
* Worlds Fair [http://www.worlds-fair.net/brakesbrakesbrakes/ brakesbrakesbrakes] (US label)

Interviews

* [http://www.badvibes.net/viewArticle.asp?article=523654254 Brakes interview on Badvibes.net]
* [http://www.twistedear.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=407&Itemid=29 Brakes interview on Twisted Ear]
* [http://www.supersweet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=296&Itemid=27 SUPERSWEET interview]

Live video

* [http://punkcast.com/854/ PUNKCAST#854] live video from Pianos NYC on Oct 4 2005. (RealPlayer), (mp4)
* [http://punkcast.com/1166/ PUNKCAST#1166] live video from Maxwells NJ on Jun 15 2007. (RealPlayer), (mp4)

References