While the music just released may be new, Burn Bros Forever is an EP that’s been a long time coming.
Comprised of Cincy fixtures Josh Muddiman (bass/vocals), Joshua Howard (guitar), James Funk (guitar), Dylan Waters (guitar/vocals), Danielle Kuntz (percussion/vocals), and Tim Brown (drums), Burn Bros has been around in one form or another for 18 years now. Muddiman, Howard, and Funk comprised the once and future core of the group, who then added Muddiman’s son Waters, as well as Kuntz and Brown, to start playing shows here and there - as well as record a funky, 70’s rock soaked EP.
Burn Bros Forever makes sense when you know the overall pedigree. Muddiman and Brown regularly work with producer Jacob Tippey under the moniker The Racket Club. Howard plays in Lost Coast, while Funk and Kuntz both play in Moonshine & Wine. Waters has his own thing, too, Dilly & The Doves. It feels like an album ever so slightly out of time, sure, but that’s sort of built into the DNA of it all. Nothing over the top, but it’s layered and multifaceted that really makes you appreciate the production prowess of the folks playing, laying it all out, and putting it together.
Opener “Tell Me” has Waters on vocals, with an impassioned chorus and some really lovely guitar work throughout. “If Only That Were True” and “Drop Me A Line” are both led by Muddiman, whose understated, raspy delivery is giving a bit of The Boss, while “Beat of My Own Drum,” led by Kuntz, has a twangy Fleetwood Mac vibe and a chorus that sashay’s more than it swaggers, but is no less memorable for it. Each track works on its own, but as a whole, it really sings. Forward thinking but not afraid to wade in waters previous generations had a lot of fun splashing around in, it’s always interesting to hear a fresh take on older sounds.
The band recently celebrated the release of Burn Bros Forever at the inimitable Southgate House Revival, and I have to imagine they’ll be back to do it again sooner rather than later. It seems like they’re having too much fun not to.
Check out the EP here, and keep an eye out for the next time the fates align and bring these folks to a stage near you. You won’t want to miss it.
