Who is Brown Bird?Well, besides the most played band on my iPod behind Pearl Jam, Beastie Boys, and Iron &Wine, Brown Bird is a Rhode Island based duo featuring David Lamb and MorganEve Swain.
David Lamb has been synonymous with Brown Bird since its inception so many years ago. Dave was touring solo in 2008 when MorganEve Swain joined the band. A few people have come and gone since, but the current 2.0 version as they record and tour is David Lamb and MorganEve Swain. For this version 2.0, the third Brown Bird album is the April 2nd release, Fits of Reason.
At first enigmatic, Fits of Reason, via Supply & Demand music, picks up where Salt for Salt left off with a faster pace than previous Brown Bird works. Salt for Salt lyrically had more gore, darkness, and damnation than before. While "we didn't want to write the same songs that we had already written" Fits of Reason dives deeper than previous works. The album was "inspired by the writings of Omar Khayyam, Christopher Hitchens, and Plato, among others, and grapples with the human condition in a smooth but unapologetic departure from the band’s previous release"
While still featuring the same drum heavy, two part music; Fits of Reason is more complex. David Lamb left behind the banjo on the album, "writing above my ability and doing my best to play up to the new songs" with the electric guitar. MorganEve also expanded her skills, incorporating the new weapon in her arsenal, the electric bass. Long intros and interludes are featured on the instrumental heavy (two complete instrumentals and two majority instrumental tracks) album, while 60's intros and Middle Eastern influences make their appearances.
While David may question the sanity of writing above his then ability, you can't argue with the results. The captivating album is a great addition to the Brown Bird collection. The new album has the lyrics with it this time, so be ready to lay back and soak it in (you might also need a dictionary)!
As always Brown Bird is heading for the road. Featuring songs from Fits of Reason and some re-worked versions of previous works temporarily without the banjo. Touring for the new album begins the day after release date, April 3rd in Northampton, MA.
April 3 Northampton, MA Parlor Room (2 shows)
April 4 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
April 5 Providence, RI The Met
April 6 Portsmouth, NH The Press Room
April 9 New Haven, CT Lily Pad's
April 10 Harrisburg, PA Fed Live
April 11 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
April 12 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
April 13 Bloomington, IN The Bishop
April 16 Charlottesville, VA The Southern
April 17 Richmond, VA Strange Matter
April 18 Asbury Park, NJ The Saint
April 19 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
April 20 Portland, ME One Longfellow Square (2 shows)
April 28 Indio, CA Stagecoach Festival
May 24 Yosemite, CA Strawberry Festival
May 27 George, WA Sasquatch Festival
June 2 Nelsonville, OH Nelsonville Festival
My favorite track from Fits of Reason by Brown Bird 'Seven Hells'
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For previous looks at Brown Bird, check out our concert reviews at World Cafe Live and The Note.
Also be sure to review the interview with MorganEve Swain coinciding with the release of Salt for Salt.
You can also head over to NPR.org to hear their incredible Newport Folk Festival 2011 set
This will soon be added to a playlist containing the likes of Flogging Molly, The Devil Makes Three, Dan Whitner, Folk implosion, Wax tailor, et all. Welcome aboard Brown Bird.
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