Brakes (band)
Encyclopedia
Brakes is a four member band from Brighton
, England
. The group formed in 2003. It consists of Eamon Hamilton (vocals, guitar), Thomas White (lead guitar), Marc Beatty (bass), and Alex White (drums, percussion).
and Alex White
of The Electric Soft Parade
saw Eamon Hamilton
perform a solo gig supporting The Lonesome Organist
in Brighton
. Marc Beatty of Mockin' Bird Studio and The Tenderfoot (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.
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 Sikes
. Whilst recording the album, the band convinced the studio's owner, David Briggs, 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 Briggs had played on an album for three years.
The album was released in the UK in November 2006. BBC Radio 1
's Colin Murray
hailed it as his album of the year, Rough Trade Shops voted it number four in their Best Albums of 2006, and it received four and five star reviews from many publications and websites. The album was released in the United States
in February 2007 by Worlds Fair Records. The band were forced to change their name to "BrakesBrakesBrakes" in the U.S. due to a Philadelphian funk rock band using the name The Brakes
. While the album was released under the name BrakesBrakesBrakes in the U.S., the band will continue to use their original name throughout the rest of the world.
Brakes returned to North America
in May and June 2007 for a sold out headline tour of the U.S. 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 a wider audience.
Brakes recorded their third studio album, Touchdown
, at Chem 19, Hamilton, with Paul Savage (formerly of Glaswegian band The Delgados
). It was released by Fat Cat Records on 20 April 2009.
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The group formed in 2003. It consists of Eamon Hamilton (vocals, guitar), Thomas White (lead guitar), Marc Beatty (bass), and Alex White (drums, percussion).
Biography
Brakes formed in 2003, when Thomas WhiteTom White (musician)
Thomas White is a Brighton, England-based musician, producer and visual artist. Educated at Davigdor Infants, Somerhill Juniors and Hove Park schools, he began learning the piano at the age of 5, picking up the violin a year later and teaching himself guitar, drums and clarinet in his early teens...
and Alex White
Alex White (musician)
Alex White is a multi-instrumentalist who, along with brother Tom, forms the nucleus of Brighton band The Electric Soft Parade. Alex also plays drums in Brakes...
of The Electric Soft Parade
The Electric Soft Parade
The Electric Soft Parade are an English psych-pop band from Brighton, comprising brothers Alex and Thomas White, the creative core of the band, as well as a number of other musicians with whom they record and perform live, most recently including Andrew Mitchell and Damo Waters, as well as...
saw Eamon Hamilton
Eamon Hamilton
Eamon Hamilton is frontman of Brakes and formerly played keyboards for British Sea Power.-Biography:Eamon Peter Hamilton is the singer and songwriter for the band Brakes, born on 19 April 1974 in Stewart, BC, Canada and raised in Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK.Hamilton moved to Brighton in 2000 and in...
perform a solo gig supporting The Lonesome Organist
The Lonesome Organist
The Lonesome Organist is the One-man band side project of Jeremy Jacobsen, keyboardist for Chicago Post-rock combo, 5ive Style. He has released three albums on Chicago indie label Thrill Jockey.-Style:...
in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. Marc Beatty of Mockin' Bird Studio and The Tenderfoot (who also worked with British Sea Power
British Sea Power
British Sea Power are an indie rock band based in Brighton, England, although three of the band members originally come from Kendal in Cumbria. Critics have likened their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live...
, 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
Pick Up the Phone
"Pick Up the Phone" was the debut single from Brakes. It is a political rant bemoaning the failure of the world's leaders to sort out major issues. It implores the leaders of Israel, Palestine, America and the United Kingdom to simply "pick up the phone" and talk to each other...
", 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
Give Blood (Brakes album)
Give Blood is the debut album from the Brighton-based band, Brakes. The album was recorded onto 2" tape and mixed onto 1/4" tape in January 2005. Brakes and their 22-year old producer, Iain Gore, also removed all computer screens from the studio for the week and all the tracks were recorded live,...
, for Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
, 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
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
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.
Brakes toured with Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian
Belle and Sebastian are an indie pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996. Belle and Sebastian are often compared with influential indie bands such as The Smiths, as well as classic acts such as Love, Bob Dylan and Nick Drake. The name Belle & Sebastian comes from Belle et Sébastien, a 1965...
in January and February 2006, Editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
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
The Beatific Visions
The Beatific Visions is the second album by Brakes. It was released in November 2006. The Rough Trade Shop named it the fourth best album of the year.-Track listing:#"Hold Me in the River" – 2:00#"Margarita" – 2:06#"If I Should Die Tonight" – 2:01...
at House Of David Studio
David Briggs (American musician)
David Briggs is an American keyboardist, record producer, arranger, composer and studio owner....
in Nashville, co-producing the record with Grammy Award winning producer Stuart Sikes
Stuart Sikes
Stuart Sikes is an American recording engineer.He has won a Grammy Award in 2005 in the Best Country Album category for engineering the album Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn. He also produced critically acclaimed singer Cat Power's 2006 Shortlist Music Prize- winning album The Greatest.-External...
. Whilst recording the album, the band convinced the studio's owner, David Briggs, who had played with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
between 1965–1977, to play piano on their song "If I Should Die Tonight". It was the first time Briggs had played on an album for three years.
The album was released in the UK in November 2006. BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Colin Murray
Colin Murray
Colin Murray is a Northern Irish sports and music radio and television presenter. He is the current host of the BBC Television show Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two, and the BBC Radio 5 Live shows 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk, as well as a show on BBC Radio Ulster. He has previously hosted regular...
hailed it as his album of the year, Rough Trade Shops voted it number four in their Best Albums of 2006, and it received four and five star reviews from many publications and websites. The album was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in February 2007 by Worlds Fair Records. The band were forced to change their name to "BrakesBrakesBrakes" in the U.S. due to a Philadelphian funk rock band using the name The Brakes
The Brakes
The Brakes are a rock band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States in 2002. The original five members were Zach Djanikian, Matt Kass, Derek Feinberg, Josh Sack, and Adam Flicker. In 2006, they performed at SXSW Showcase, as well as many festivals such as All Good, High Sierra and...
. While the album was released under the name BrakesBrakesBrakes in the U.S., the band will continue to use their original name throughout the rest of the world.
Brakes returned to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in May and June 2007 for a sold out headline tour of the U.S. and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Whilst they were on tour, their song "All Night Disco Party
All Night Disco Party
"All Night Disco Party" is a song by Brakes. It was the band's second single and the first to be released on Rough Trade Records as opposed to its spin-off label Tugboat. The song showed Brakes progress from being a side project to a serious proposition as it picked up airplay, especially with the...
" was used in the hit television show Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
which gained them a wider audience.
Brakes recorded their third studio album, Touchdown
Touchdown (Brakes album)
Touchdown is the third album from the Brighton-based band Brakes, released in 2009.-Track listing:#"Two Shocks" - 3:49#"Don’t Take Me To Space " - 2:41#"Red Rag" - 1:33#"Worry About It Later" - 2:03#"Crush On You" - 3:14...
, at Chem 19, Hamilton, with Paul Savage (formerly of Glaswegian band The Delgados
The Delgados
The Delgados were a Scottish indie rock band from Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The band was composed of Alun Woodward , Stewart Henderson , Paul Savage and Emma Pollock .-Biography:...
). It was released by Fat Cat Records on 20 April 2009.
Albums
- Give BloodGive Blood (Brakes album)Give Blood is the debut album from the Brighton-based band, Brakes. The album was recorded onto 2" tape and mixed onto 1/4" tape in January 2005. Brakes and their 22-year old producer, Iain Gore, also removed all computer screens from the studio for the week and all the tracks were recorded live,...
- 4 July 2005 on Rough Trade Records - The Beatific VisionsThe Beatific VisionsThe Beatific Visions is the second album by Brakes. It was released in November 2006. The Rough Trade Shop named it the fourth best album of the year.-Track listing:#"Hold Me in the River" – 2:00#"Margarita" – 2:06#"If I Should Die Tonight" – 2:01...
- 6 November 2006 on Rough Trade Records - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#180 - TouchdownTouchdown (Brakes album)Touchdown is the third album from the Brighton-based band Brakes, released in 2009.-Track listing:#"Two Shocks" - 3:49#"Don’t Take Me To Space " - 2:41#"Red Rag" - 1:33#"Worry About It Later" - 2:03#"Crush On You" - 3:14...
- 20 April 2009 on Fat Cat Records - Rock Is Dodelijk - 2 November 2009 on Fat Cat Records (live album)http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=300
Singles
- "Pick Up the PhonePick Up the Phone"Pick Up the Phone" was the debut single from Brakes. It is a political rant bemoaning the failure of the world's leaders to sort out major issues. It implores the leaders of Israel, Palestine, America and the United Kingdom to simply "pick up the phone" and talk to each other...
" - 20 September 2004 on Tugboat Records - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#82 - "All Night Disco PartyAll Night Disco Party"All Night Disco Party" is a song by Brakes. It was the band's second single and the first to be released on Rough Trade Records as opposed to its spin-off label Tugboat. The song showed Brakes progress from being a side project to a serious proposition as it picked up airplay, especially with the...
" - 13 June 2005 on Rough Trade RecordsRough Trade RecordsRough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
- UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#67 - "Ring a Ding Ding" - 17 October 2005 on Rough Trade Records - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#86 - "All Night Disco Party" (remixed) - 17 April 2006 on Rough Trade Records - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#76 - "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
- "Hey Hey" - 2 March 2009 on Fat Cat Records
External links
- www.brakesbrakesbrakes.com Official site
- Worlds Fair brakesbrakesbrakes (US label)
Interviews
Reviews
- Live Review Fazermagazine.com, October 2009
Live video
- PUNKCAST#854 live video from Pianos, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 4 October 2005 (RealPlayerRealPlayerRealPlayer is a cross-platform media player by RealNetworks that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, Windows Media, and multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo formats.-History:...
), (mp4) - PUNKCAST#1166 live video from Maxwells, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
on 15 June 2007 (RealPlayer), (mp4)