The Brobecks
Encyclopedia
The Brobecks is an American indie rock band, and a project of singer/songwriter Dallon Weekes. The band is unsigned and is based in Salt Lake City, Utah
and Los Angeles
, California
. The band's sound uses a wide variety of instrumentation and attributes its influences to artists such as George Gershwin
, The Beatles
, and Elvis Costello
. Referred to by some as "19th Century Indie pop", Weekes has received critical acclaim from both Spin
and URB magazine, but remains widely unknown. Weekes is the only permanent member, enlisting the help of friends to play during a live set. Weekes also performs regularly as bassist for multi-platinum act Panic! At The Disco
.
missionary. The group's name was inspired by a person from Dallon's school days. The original line-up consisted of Weekes, photographer/producer Matt Glass
and another friend from high school. After a few years of recording basement demos, touring and line-up changes, the band was offered a contract from an imprint of Drive-Thru Records
, and Weekes was offered solo record contracts by Sony BMG, Interscope Records
, and a smaller indie label if he would drop his band mates. Weekes declined.
Shortly after, The Brobecks received Salt Lake City's local "City Weekly" award for 2008 Indie Pop Band of the Year, repeating their win of the year before (2007). In 2008, the single "Second Boys Will Be First Choice" was added to the daily rotation of Salt Lake City radio station X96, something which had never been done with an unsigned act in the station's 20-plus-year history. The song rose immediately to the station's top ten daily songs. Within two days of the addition, the song hit #1 on on the daily top songs list, where it stayed for 13 consecutive days. It stayed in the top 10 for several weeks, and frequented the number one spot several times more. The song was also put into rotation at PacSun stores across the nation.
In May 2009 Violent Things was released exclusively on iTunes. The album was produced by Casey Crescenzo
of the band The Dear Hunter
and features Darren Robinson
of Phantom Planet
on guitar. The drums on the record were performed by frequent Brobecks drummer Drew Davidson. Prior to the albums release, the songs "Love at First Sight", and "Second Boys Will Be First Choice" appeared on X96's Top Ten daily songs list. With "Second Boys" reaching number one on the station, and staying there for several weeks. Despite this, the band still remains independent and unsigned. In September 2010, Dallon posted a free online download of "Skid Row", a song from the film/play Little Shop of Horrors
, featuring Brendon Urie
and Ian Crawford
. The song can be found at: DoesItHaveToBeHuman.com.
Since 2009, Weekes has provided bass, synthesizer and back-up vocals for Panic! at the Disco
. In a January 2011 issue of Alternative Press Magazine, an article published on Panic!'s new album named Weekes as a likely candidate for permanent membership in the band.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The band's sound uses a wide variety of instrumentation and attributes its influences to artists such as George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
. Referred to by some as "19th Century Indie pop", Weekes has received critical acclaim from both Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
and URB magazine, but remains widely unknown. Weekes is the only permanent member, enlisting the help of friends to play during a live set. Weekes also performs regularly as bassist for multi-platinum act Panic! At The Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
.
Band name origin
Taken from The bands LiveJournal:
The name 'Brobecks' is an homage to the unpopular. Growing up, there was a particular student at school (Lets call him/her 'X' Brobeck.) who, every morning was called to the administrative office over the loudspeakers. Never mind the reason, but this went on for years. For all anyone knew this person didn't even exist. That was a romantic idea to me, and to a degree I had always identified with that. An anonymous person being in a crowd, but not really a part of it.
A 'Brobeck'.
History
The band began as a weekend hobby for Dallon Weekes shortly after he returned to Utah after living in Oklahoma for two years as a MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
missionary. The group's name was inspired by a person from Dallon's school days. The original line-up consisted of Weekes, photographer/producer Matt Glass
Matt Glass
Matt Glass is a photographer living in Utah. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Weber State University and is currently an MFA candidate at the -Photography:...
and another friend from high school. After a few years of recording basement demos, touring and line-up changes, the band was offered a contract from an imprint of Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records
Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. It has produced various pop punk bands, many with a distinct SoCal sound....
, and Weekes was offered solo record contracts by Sony BMG, Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, and a smaller indie label if he would drop his band mates. Weekes declined.
Shortly after, The Brobecks received Salt Lake City's local "City Weekly" award for 2008 Indie Pop Band of the Year, repeating their win of the year before (2007). In 2008, the single "Second Boys Will Be First Choice" was added to the daily rotation of Salt Lake City radio station X96, something which had never been done with an unsigned act in the station's 20-plus-year history. The song rose immediately to the station's top ten daily songs. Within two days of the addition, the song hit #1 on on the daily top songs list, where it stayed for 13 consecutive days. It stayed in the top 10 for several weeks, and frequented the number one spot several times more. The song was also put into rotation at PacSun stores across the nation.
In May 2009 Violent Things was released exclusively on iTunes. The album was produced by Casey Crescenzo
Casey Crescenzo
Casey Crescenzo is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, most notably for the bands The Dear Hunter and The Receiving End of Sirens...
of the band The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter
The Dear Hunter is an indie rock band originating in Providence, Rhode Island. It began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo, formerly of post-hardcore band The Receiving End of Sirens...
and features Darren Robinson
Darren Robinson (musician)
Darren Robinson is an American guitarist and background singer in the Californian band, Phantom Planet. He helped form the band during his teenage years with the lead singer Alex Greenwald, and ex-band member Jason Schwartzman, in 1994...
of Phantom Planet
Phantom Planet
Phantom Planet are an American alternative rock band from Southern California. Formed in 1994 in Los Angeles, the band consists of Alex Greenwald , Darren Robinson , Sam Farrar and Jeff Conrad . The band is best known for its track "California", which became the theme song for the Fox TV series,...
on guitar. The drums on the record were performed by frequent Brobecks drummer Drew Davidson. Prior to the albums release, the songs "Love at First Sight", and "Second Boys Will Be First Choice" appeared on X96's Top Ten daily songs list. With "Second Boys" reaching number one on the station, and staying there for several weeks. Despite this, the band still remains independent and unsigned. In September 2010, Dallon posted a free online download of "Skid Row", a song from the film/play Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors
Little Shop of Horrors may refer to:* The Little Shop of Horrors, a 1960 film directed by Roger Corman* Little Shop of Horrors , a 1982 musical based on the 1960 film...
, featuring Brendon Urie
Brendon Urie
Brendon Boyd Urie is an American musician and the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter of Panic! at the Disco. He also plays drums, bass guitar, accordion, organ, cello, violin, and trumpet.-Early life:...
and Ian Crawford
Ian Crawford
Ian Crawford is a musician from Auburn, Washington. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of American pop rock band The Cab, as well as for his involvement in various side projects such as Stamps. On June 1, 2009 The Cab's lead singer Alexander DeLeon announced on his blog that guitarist...
. The song can be found at: DoesItHaveToBeHuman.com.
Since 2009, Weekes has provided bass, synthesizer and back-up vocals for Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
. In a January 2011 issue of Alternative Press Magazine, an article published on Panic!'s new album named Weekes as a likely candidate for permanent membership in the band.
Discography
- Understanding The Brobecks (2003)
- Happiest Nuclear WinterHappiest Nuclear WinterHappiest Nuclear Winter is an album by American rock band The Brobecks. It was self-recorded, and produced by Matt Glass and The Brobecks and released in 2005.-Track listing:...
(2005) - Goodnight and Have a Pleasant Tomorrow (2006)
- Small Cuts EP (2008)
- Violent ThingsViolent ThingsViolent Things is the first studio album by rock band The Brobecks. It was released on May 18, 2009.-About the record:Violent Things was written by Dallon Weekes and recorded by producer Casey Crescenzo in his home basement studio in Boston, MA over a period of two weeks...
(2009) - Your Mother Should Know EP #1 (2010)