The album release party at the Hard Rock Cafe last month was incredible, but I won’t lie – it was a lot of work, and after that I needed a little break.  But all good breaks are short-lived, so it was back to work.  I recently accompanied a band to Austin, TX for the annual SXSW conference.  First time in Austin, and first time at SXSW.  It was an incredible experience, if not completely exhausting.  I was part of 11 showcases over four days — including four of my own!

But now I’m back home, and back to work.  I spent much of February writing a whole cascade of new material, and Austin got a pretty good taste of it, but now ... Read More »]]> Oh goodness, it’s been a minute since I’ve last given you an update.  And that’s because I’ve been incredibly busy.

The album release party at the Hard Rock Cafe last month was incredible, but I won’t lie – it was a lot of work, and after that I needed a little break.  But all good breaks are short-lived, so it was back to work.  I recently accompanied a band to Austin, TX for the annual SXSW conference.  First time in Austin, and first time at SXSW.  It was an incredible experience, if not completely exhausting.  I was part of 11 showcases over four days — including four of my own!

But now I’m back home, and back to work.  I spent much of February writing a whole cascade of new material, and Austin got a pretty good taste of it, but now it’s Chicago’s turn.  Only one band show to announce – we’ll be at the Beat Kitchen on Wednesday, April 17th at 7:30pm (tickets are available now!), but rest assured that there are several more shows in the works between now and when Summer starts.

I can’t wait to tell you all about them!

Headliner: Jeff Brown – Indie Folk/Pop/Rock (www.jeffbrownmusic.com)

Direct Support: Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade – Folk/Pop/Rock (www.mmlbtheband.com) Tree – Folk/Pop/Rock (http://www.reverbnation.com/treeband)

Opener: Little Light – Folk/Pop/Rock

ABOUT Chicago, IL – February 15, 2013 – Chicago-based artist, Jeff Brown announces his album release show on Friday, February 15, 2013 at 8:30pm CST at the Hard Rock Cafe (63 West Ontario, Chicago, IL) with Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade, Tree, and Little Light. Event is All Ages. Tickets are $10.

Jeff Brown of Chicago, the musician-turned-music industry lawyer-turned-musician who grew up with his ears glued to Iron Maiden records and can shred electric guitar with the best of them, has partnered with CAUDog Records to explore a softer side of life with debut album ... Read More »]]> Jeff Brown’s Last Chance
Album Release Show (Folk/Pop/Rock)
February 15, 2013
8:30 PM | Tickets $10 | All Ages
Hard Rock Cafe, 63 West Ontario, Chicago, IL 60654 (www.hardrock.com)

Headliner:
Jeff Brown – Indie Folk/Pop/Rock (www.jeffbrownmusic.com)

Direct Support:
Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade – Folk/Pop/Rock (www.mmlbtheband.com)
Tree – Folk/Pop/Rock (http://www.reverbnation.com/treeband)

Opener: Little Light – Folk/Pop/Rock

ABOUT
Chicago, IL – February 15, 2013 – Chicago-based artist, Jeff Brown announces his album release show on Friday, February 15, 2013 at 8:30pm CST at the Hard Rock Cafe (63 West Ontario, Chicago, IL) with Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade, Tree, and Little Light. Event is All Ages. Tickets are $10.

Jeff Brown of Chicago, the musician-turned-music industry lawyer-turned-musician who grew up with his ears glued to Iron Maiden records and can shred electric guitar with the best of them, has partnered with CAUDog Records to explore a softer side of life with debut album Last Chance. Creating music rooted in the gentle musings of contemplative trailblazers like Carole King and James Taylor with modern touches similar to Damien Rice and Ryan Adams, the result is an album that sounds like the band is right in your living room.

Vocal duets with Austin’s Kole Hansen on tracks like “Leaving” are memorable and dramatic and the record falls into a comfortable groove. “Rain” provides a hook recalling a children’s nursery rhyme song with the feeling and power that only jaded experience can provide. Primarily folky, the album flexes its Pop muscles with the upbeat song “Harder (a song for May)”.  The song “Grace”, in itself a slow burner lighter-flicking drinking good scotch in the corner of a smoky bar and having a moment type of tune that would blow away most NPR listeners, takes an adventure of sultry and mythical jazz proportions. Mars Williams, world-famous saxophonist for bands including the Psychedelic Furs, guests solos on the song, providing a genuine jazz saxophone experience in the midst of an otherwise flat folk world.  Williams has been confirmed to join Brown at the Hard Rock Cafe to reprise his role live for the album release.

The album artwork is a photograph of the remarkable ruins of a giant broken down auditorium, symbolic perhaps of the emotional wreckage of relationships and their strange beauty. Jeff’s artistic musings on this album come from days and hours spent studying the beauty of those ruins. It ends on an uplifting note, with the message that the best is yet to come.

An adept performer, Jeff has toured locally and nationally. His stage presence, sense of humor and above all the passion with which he shares his ideas with others make him a singer-songwriter to be reckoned with. From small, intimate cafés to large venues like Chicago’s Bottom Lounge, Double Door, and now the Hard Rock Cafe, Jeff performs solo as well as with his full band.

Released on Chicago’s CAUDog Records, Last Chance is a collection of introspective acoustic indie folk songs that deliver equal parts of “desperation and hope”, much like the album title suggests.

Last Chance is produced by Ellis Clark, whose credits include American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox, Nikki Sudden (with Jeff Tweedy) and Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) as well as the eight-album CAUDog Records catalog.

I’ll let you all know when it’s posted.  In the meantime, you can listen to previous recordings at that link.

Special thanks to Dan Herman from Radio Crystal Blue for including me in his show!  Help spread the love by supporting his show.

On Friday, November 16th, the band is opening the Chicago Roots Collective Annual Festival at the Beat Kitchen.  Doors open at 7pm, and I play sharp at 8pm.  I’ll be joined by fellow CAUDog label mates The Future Laureates, as well as A Band Called Catch, Molehill, and The Ewing Theory.  Tickets are only $10, and you can get them online here before they sell out!

And just in time for the holidays, the band is happy to be a part of CAUDog label showcase to celebrate Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade’s album release!  We’re playing at the Double Door on Friday, December ... Read More »]]> The band has been added to a pair of high-profile shows to end the year — after taking the month of October off to rest and regroup, we will be performing twice before the end of the year.

On Friday, November 16th, the band is opening the Chicago Roots Collective Annual Festival at the Beat Kitchen.  Doors open at 7pm, and I play sharp at 8pm.  I’ll be joined by fellow CAUDog label mates The Future Laureates, as well as A Band Called Catch, Molehill, and The Ewing Theory.  Tickets are only $10, and you can get them online here before they sell out!

And just in time for the holidays, the band is happy to be a part of CAUDog label showcase to celebrate Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade’s album release!  We’re playing at the Double Door on Friday, December 14th, and we’ll be joined by Goodbyehome (I’ll be on double-duty playing lead guitar), and The Future Laureates.  Doors open at 8pm, and the music starts at 8:30.  Tickets are $8 at the door, BUT if you order them in advance using this link, and enter the code FRIEND, you can get them for only $5.

Hope to see you out!

First things first…

This weekend is the Coyote Festival of the Arts in Wicker Park/Bucktown.  I am lucky to be performing on Friday night as Goodbyehome, as well as with my own band on Saturday afternoon.

Friday, September 28 at 8pm, Goodbyehome will be on the Club Lucky outdoor stage at 1824 W. Wabansia.  We’ll be joined by The Puffins, Sugarcreek Road, and the Aaron Williams Band.

Saturday, September 29th at 3pm, I will be at the Double Door with the full band (featuring Eric Stafford on lead guitar).  Double Door is footsteps away from the Damen/North/Milwaukee intersection, and admission is free with a Coyote Fest wristband (otherwise it’s only $5).

Sunday, September 30th at 4pm, ... Read More »]]> It’s true!  Not only do you have three chances across the Midwest to see me perform for FREE this weekend, but I have a confirmed date and location for my Album Release!

First things first…

This weekend is the Coyote Festival of the Arts in Wicker Park/Bucktown.  I am lucky to be performing on Friday night as Goodbyehome, as well as with my own band on Saturday afternoon.

Friday, September 28 at 8pm, Goodbyehome will be on the Club Lucky outdoor stage at 1824 W. Wabansia.  We’ll be joined by The Puffins, Sugarcreek Road, and the Aaron Williams Band.

Saturday, September 29th at 3pm, I will be at the Double Door with the full band (featuring Eric Stafford on lead guitar).  Double Door is footsteps away from the Damen/North/Milwaukee intersection, and admission is free with a Coyote Fest wristband (otherwise it’s only $5).

Sunday, September 30th at 4pm, I will be performing solo (with a special guest or two lined up) at the Fall into the Froth Festival at 11 N. Allen St. in Madison, WI.  Music goes from 11:30am until 8pm, and I will be performing during the 4pm hour.

But the moment that I’ve been waiting for (and hopefully you as well)…

Chicago Acoustic Underground and CAUDog Records

proudly presents

The Official Last Chance Album Release Party

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Hard Rock Cafe

63 West Ontario

Chicago, IL

Be there, or risk missing out on a night of astounding awesomeness…

More information coming soon!

“Brown’s vocals — which I suspect are modeled after James Taylor’s attempts to sound unpolished — work best when surrounded with others’ voices. Also, the songs from “Grace” onward are more musically adventurous — ranging between jazz, classical, and roots, the sheer inventiveness of these compositions deserve your attention.”

Check out the full review here!

“Self described indie-folk artist, Jeff Brown has a lot going for him musically. His voice is smooth and windy, his lyrics haunting … Backed by an acoustic guitar, a violin and a divine female voice, melancholy lyrics …  still sound lovely amid the delicate harmonies and meandering string riffs. Brown’s 11-song album, Last Chance, is well worth the listen”

Check out the full review here!

As of 12:00am this morning, it is available digitally on Bandcamp, itunes, and cdbaby.  Unfortunately, none of the sites are carrying physical copies just yet, but that will change soon. Until then, there are two ways to get physical copies.  You can find them at any Chicago Acoustic Underground sponsored show.  Check out the schedule at www.chicagoacoustic.net.

Additionally, physical copies are available through me directly.  Send a message to jeff @ chicagoacoustic.net  and I will send you a payment address.  For $18 (covers the album cost, shipping, and the 2 mile round trip to the post office) I ... Read More »]]> After a little over a year since we first began recording drum tracks, my very first album of original material on CAUDog Records is real.  It’s so real that it’s sitting in a box in my living room.  And now you all can have one!

As of 12:00am this morning, it is available digitally on Bandcamp, itunes, and cdbaby.  Unfortunately, none of the sites are carrying physical copies just yet, but that will change soon. Until then, there are two ways to get physical copies.  You can find them at any Chicago Acoustic Underground sponsored show.  Check out the schedule at www.chicagoacoustic.net.

Additionally, physical copies are available through me directly.  Send a message to jeff @ chicagoacoustic.net  and I will send you a payment address.  For $18 (covers the album cost, shipping, and the 2 mile round trip to the post office) I will send you a bright shiny copy of my brand new album. Upon request, I’ll sign it and send you a charming handwritten note because I’m that kind of guy…

I accept Paypal too! Isn’t technology neat?

What’s more, I’m currently in discussions with a major Chicago venue to set up an official release party in September, and I’ll be revealing details on that as soon as they are all confirmed.

For now, I hope that you can enjoy this album.  I had a lot of help from very dear friends and musical partners to make this real.  Michael Teach, Christine Knodle, Jim Lordeman, Michael Narvaez, Ellis Clark, Mars Williams, Barrett Tasky, Leyla Royale, Marley Dzis, Kole Hansen, and Alexis Booth for starters.  They all appear on the record, and make it amazing.

 So yes, go forth, little album.  Do good things.

And if you buy it and listen to it and like it, please tell me.  And then tell the world!

…because the world needs music.

The album will be available for download as a whole, and as individual tracks on iTunes.  It will also be available for download on Bandcamp and CDBaby.  If you want a physical copy, they will be available online via CDBaby, or in person at any Chicago Acoustic Underground show.

Links will be posted tomorrow for ease.

Thank you all for being fans!  Looking forward to spreading this beautiful album across the world!