The Brilliant Mistakes

The Brilliant Mistakes are an American rock band based in New York City known for their well-crafted songs and an eclectic mix of pop, rock, folk and soul styles. The critically-acclaimed group was formed in 1994 by singer-songwriters Alan Walker, a New Yorker, and Erik Philbrook, a transplant from Bangor, Maine, who met while working together at Penguin Books in Manhattan. The band’s moniker comes from a song on Elvis Costello’s "King of America" album. Other original members of the group included drummer Mickey Wood and guitarist Andy Resnick. The band’s lineup changed with drummer Paul Mauceri replacing Wood in 2000. The group also began using alternating guitarists, including Cameron Greider, John Putnam, Greg Beshers and Keith Tasker, to record and perform. The Brilliant Mistakes have released three full-length studio albums on their own label, Aunt Mimi’s Records: "All Hands and the Cook" (1999), "Dumb Luck" (2003) and "Distant Drumming" (2008); one EP, "Lost Luggage" (1995) and contributed music to "Lowe Profile: A Tribute to Nick Lowe" (2005) on Brewery Records.

History

The Brilliant Mistakes formed in 1994 in New York City when singer-songwriter-keyboardist Alan Walker met songwriter-bassist Erik Philbrook met while they were both working in book publishing at Penguin USA. Walker, raised in New York City, and Philbrook, a transplant from Bangor, Maine, were two book lovers who also shared a yen for classic pop songwriting, and bonded over an appreciation of such musical artists as Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Nick Lowe, Joe Jackson, Squeeze and Crowded House. Joining the band was drummer Mickey Wood, who had played in Walker’s previous band, Club Iguana, as well as New York guitarist Andy Resnick. Taking their name from an Elvis Costello song, they recorded an EP, "Lost Luggage", in Portland, Maine that same year and began playing the club circuit in Manhattan.

In 1999, The Brilliant Mistakes recorded their first album at Coyote Studios on North Sixth Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, which was then a desolate strip of industrial warehouses. They released that album, "All Hands & The Cook", on their independent label, Aunt Mimi’s Records, and received critical acclaim and considerable airplay on non-commercial and college radio stations around the country. The album brought them to the attention of some of New York City’s most discernible music lovers. As a result, they were featured on DJ Vin Scelsa's cult radio show "Idiot's Delight" on WFUV-FM/NY and were also featured as part of the legendary New York club The Bottom Line's "Required Listening" series, hosted by WFUV’s Rita Houston. Performances at New York City’s Fez Club cemented the group’s reputation as a crowed-pleaser.

The band’s second album, "Dumb Luck", was released in 2003. Produced by producer/bassist Lincoln Schleifer, who has worked with Levon Helm, Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Solomon Burke and Buddy and Julie Miller, the album was recorded over several months in Lincoln’s basement studio, affectionally dubbed "Lincoln’s Log Cabin," in the Irish Woodlawn section of the Bronx. The band was joined by some incredible guest musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (longtime Bob Dylan guitarist who has also worked with Paul Simon, Ron Sexsmith, Shawn Colvin, Elvis Costello, Levon Helm and others) as well as percussionist extraordinaire Marc Quinones (The Allman Brothers Band, David Byrne, Tito Puente) and guitarist John Putnam (Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky). In addition to bringing out the best of the band’s distinctive harmonies, piano-rock approach and the dynamic work of drummer Paul Mauceri, Schleifer expanded their musical palette to include everything from Hammond B3 organ, Wurlitzer and a Fender Rhodes to pedal steel guitar, banjo, timbales, horns, and a string quartet. The result is a rich tapestry of moods, both light and dark.

The band continued to work the Northeastern circuit and gained greater exposure performing throughout the country in clubs and on college campuses, including high-profile spots at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

WFUV-NY/FM featured the band on their City Folk Live series and radio host Darren DeVivo described their music as "clever, pure pop - New York City style.” And added that “The Brilliant Mistakes make intelligent, well crafted music filled with instantly memorable hooks in the tradition of greats like Joe Jackson, Marshall Crenshaw, Richard Barone and others."

"Dumb Luck" received accolades in such publications as "The Village Voice", "The Boston Globe", "Performing Songwriter", "The Boston Phoenix", the "Portland Press Herald" (Maine), "Mojo", "Harp", "The Baltimore Sun" and in numerous other publications.

In 2005 the band contributed a track, “Everyone,” to "Lowe Profile: A Tribute to Nick Lowe", on Brewery Records.

In the fall of 2008, the band is set to release their third album, "Distant Drumming". Produced by Lincoln Schleifer, the album marks a distinct evolution in the band’s sound. Incorporating more acoustic guitar, lush harmonies as well as a wide array of vintage keyboards, including Farfisa, Hammond B3 and Hammond Aurora Classic organs, upright piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, and a variety of percussion instruments, the album is more organic with greater emphasis on grooves, dynamics and textures. The album also features guests such as singer-songwriter Mike Viola, frontman for the Candy Butchers who is also one of the songwriters behind the hilarious musical comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, as well as guitarist Larry Campbell and guitarist Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega).

Inspiration

The Brilliant Mistakes have been inspired by a wide variety of artists and styles including early Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Squeeze and Crowded House as well as classic groups like the Beatles, the Byrds, the Beach Boys, the Kinks and Big Star. Initially considered strictly a power-pop band, The Brilliant Mistakes sound has evolved into a rootsier blend of classic American folk, R& B and rock musical styles with more modern experiemental flourishes exemplified by such groups as Wilco, The Jayhawks, the Pernice Brothers and My Morning Jacket.

Discography

Albums

"All Hands & The Cook" (Aunt Mimi's Records; CD; 1999)

"Dumb Luck" (Aunt Mimi's Records; CD; 2003)

"Distant Drumming" (Aunt Mimi's Records; CD; 2008)

EPs

"Lost Luggage" EP (1994)

Compilations

"Lowe Profile: A Tribute to Nick Lowe" (Brewery Records; CD; 2005).

They contributed a cover of “Everyone,” which was itself a cover on Lowe’s 1985 "The Rose of England" album

Current Members

Erik Philbrook

Alan Walker

Paul Mauceri

Former and Sometime Members

Mickey Wood

Andy Resnick

Greg Beshers

John Putnam

Cameron Greider

Keith Tasker

External links

http://www.thebrilliantmistakes.com/

http://profile.myspace.com/brilliantmistakes

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brilliant-Mistakes/27165122505

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/14321/brilliantmistakes-dumbluck/

http://www.harpmagazine.com/reviews/cd_reviews/detail.cfm?article_id=2305

http://absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com/search?q=Brilliant+Mistakes