Band ReviewTHE BROTHERS AND SISTERSriyl: gram parsons, townes van zandt, the mamas and the papaswords: john buglewicz / photo: press

God damn it I love pedal steel guitar! Two instruments possess the possibility to emulate drunkenness, the first is the pedal steel guitar, and the second is the violin. If only there were a band that had both of these instruments…oh wait, how about Brothers and Sisters from Austin?


Yes that’s right, a violin, pedal steel, and lyrics about booze and loss. Plus I should mention that the violinist on the full length is none other than Conrad Keely from ...Trail of the Dead. With a new release on Calla Lily, you can get your 70’s era country fix with a little of that “alt” sprinkled in there as well. Brothers and Sisters, as the name suggests, contains an actual brother and a sister, oh and gents, incidentally, the sister plays an autoharp. No, you’re not mistaken, that is a wet spot on your jeans, and a desire in your heart to drink Lone Star and commiserate with Brothers and Sisters live. The sound strikes me as similar to just about anything Gram Parsons was involved in (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers) but there is a bit of The Kinks’ Muswell Hillbillies in there as well. However, I should warn you that listening to Brothers and Sisters will make you grow a beard and wonder why you ever called your Dad lame for trying to force that Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album on you.
information: Band Website / Band Myspace