The Brothers Creeggan
Encyclopedia
The Brothers Creeggan is a Canadian
alternative rock
/jazz
band composed of Jim Creeggan
(upright bass, guitar, bass guitar, vocals), Andy Creeggan
(guitar, piano, accordion, percussion, vocals) and Ian McLauchlan (drums). The group has released four albums: The Brothers Creeggan (1993), The Brothers Creeggan II (1997), Trunks (2000) and Sleepyhead (2002).
, brothers Jim and Andy Creeggan started in music by recording cover songs
of James Brown
and George Thorogood
on a rented 4-track
.
As teenagers, the pair performed in several groups, including the Synthetics, an a cappella
quartet that won a 1987 Canadian talent contest in which Alanis Morissette
was runner-up.
The brothers went on to become founding members of Barenaked Ladies
. Andy left Barenaked Ladies in 1995 to pursue a musical composition degree at McGill University
, while Jim continued as the band's bassist.
The Brothers Creeggan released their self-titled debut album in 1993. The song "Places" features backing vocals
by Alanis Morissette.
The album was "was almost a demo
thing," according to Andy. "We finished it up and sent it to some friends."
A second album, The Brothers Creeggan II, followed in 1997. Three years later, the duo added a third member, drummer Ian McLauchlan, and released their third album, Trunks. Andy said the album was "definitely a natural evolution from the first two albums," as the songs on Trunks "were more accessible and more continuous to each other." Jane Stevenson of Jam!
called the album "a delicate and sweet-sounding effort that combines the best of folk and jazz with gentle lead vocals from both Jim and Andy."
Allmusic's Theresa E. LaVeck described it as "an extended evening lullaby: soft, sweet, and sleepy (think Simon & Garfunkel lite)."
The group's fourth album, Sleepyhead, was released on Nettwerk
in 2002. Barenaked Ladies member Ed Robertson
and singer-songwriter
Sarah Harmer
guest on album track "Anna on the Moon".
Tom Semioli of Allmusic said that with the album, "the Brothers Creeggan have slipped a contemplative masterpiece into our midst."
On July 13, 2009, drummer Ian McLauchlan died from complications following heart surgery in Toronto.
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...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
/jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band composed of Jim Creeggan
Jim Creeggan
James Raymond Creeggan, better known as Jim Creeggan , is the bassist for Canadian band Barenaked Ladies...
(upright bass, guitar, bass guitar, vocals), Andy Creeggan
Andy Creeggan
Andy Creeggan is the former Piano player, percussionist and occasional guitarist for the Canadian pop band, Barenaked Ladies, from 1990–95...
(guitar, piano, accordion, percussion, vocals) and Ian McLauchlan (drums). The group has released four albums: The Brothers Creeggan (1993), The Brothers Creeggan II (1997), Trunks (2000) and Sleepyhead (2002).
Biography
Growing up in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, brothers Jim and Andy Creeggan started in music by recording cover songs
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
and George Thorogood
George Thorogood
George Thorogood is an American blues rock vocalist/guitarist from Wilmington, Delaware, United States, known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone" as well as for covers of blues standards such as Hank Williams' "Move It On Over" and John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One...
on a rented 4-track
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
.
As teenagers, the pair performed in several groups, including the Synthetics, an a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
quartet that won a 1987 Canadian talent contest in which Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
was runner-up.
The brothers went on to become founding members of Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
. Andy left Barenaked Ladies in 1995 to pursue a musical composition degree at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, while Jim continued as the band's bassist.
The Brothers Creeggan released their self-titled debut album in 1993. The song "Places" features backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
by Alanis Morissette.
The album was "was almost a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
thing," according to Andy. "We finished it up and sent it to some friends."
A second album, The Brothers Creeggan II, followed in 1997. Three years later, the duo added a third member, drummer Ian McLauchlan, and released their third album, Trunks. Andy said the album was "definitely a natural evolution from the first two albums," as the songs on Trunks "were more accessible and more continuous to each other." Jane Stevenson of Jam!
Jam!
Jam! is a Canadian website, which covers entertainment news. It is part of the CANOE online portal, owned and operated by Quebecor through its Sun Media division....
called the album "a delicate and sweet-sounding effort that combines the best of folk and jazz with gentle lead vocals from both Jim and Andy."
Allmusic's Theresa E. LaVeck described it as "an extended evening lullaby: soft, sweet, and sleepy (think Simon & Garfunkel lite)."
The group's fourth album, Sleepyhead, was released on Nettwerk
Nettwerk
The Nettwerk Music Group is the umbrella company for Nettwerk Management, Nettwerk Records, Nettwerk One Publishing, Nutone Records, and Artwerk. With over 150 employees, the Vancouver-based company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Boston, Nashville, and Hamburg...
in 2002. Barenaked Ladies member Ed Robertson
Ed Robertson
Lloyd Edward Elwyn Robertson , better known as Ed Robertson, is the Canadian lead singer, as well as a guitarist and songwriter in the band, Barenaked Ladies...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Sarah Harmer
Sarah Harmer
Sarah Harmer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and activist.-Biography:Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Harmer gained her first exposure to the musician's lifestyle as a teenager, when her older sister Mary started taking her to concerts by the well-known Tragically Hip. At the age of 17, she...
guest on album track "Anna on the Moon".
Tom Semioli of Allmusic said that with the album, "the Brothers Creeggan have slipped a contemplative masterpiece into our midst."
On July 13, 2009, drummer Ian McLauchlan died from complications following heart surgery in Toronto.
Discography
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Brothers Creeggan | 1995 |
| The Brothers Creeggan II | October 1997 |
| Trunks | January 18, 2000 |
| Sleepyhead | 2002 |