Artist description Imagined, written, recorded and produced in a basement studio built, primed and painted by Braam. A band of brothers - three blood and one soul - who decided to take this record into their own hands and mold it their way. Sixteen months from a misty ride on the Blue Line through the hammer and nails of riffed melodies, crumpled lyrics and broken guitar strings. Now we are sending it out to anyone cares to spend a few minutes or a full fifty-four with James, Michelle and Meadow. Three people struggling to get by on the streets of Chicago, weighted by gravity and fighting for the right to fly.

Music Style Rock

Musical Influences Whiskeytown, Cheap Trick, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young

Similar Artists Wilco, The Replacements, Cheap Trick

Group Members Peter Drefs - drums Mike Braam - bass Tom Braam - vocals Scott Braam - guitars

Instruments drums, bass, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals

Albums Gravity & the Right To Fly

Press Reviews (Three Stars) "Led by brothers (vocalist Tom, guitarist Scott and bassist Mike) and named for their surname, Braam debuts with an ambitious, exquisitely crafted concept album that charts the intertwining, turbulent love affairs of three typical Chicago slackers. It's set against a jangling, folk-rock background that brings to mind the California sound of the early 70's (Eagles, Jackson Browne) -no easy feat to pull off in a home studio." - Jim DeRogatis Chicago Sun-Times "Gravity & The Right to Fly....a story with guitars - hits the mark in an age where the conceptual album has been regulated to the dustbin due to our culture's lack of attention span. And while one could slice and dice each of the 15 tunes into the 3 or 4 minute radio playlist, the effort is astounding when absorbed in its entirety." - Gil James Metro Commuter Nov. 2002 It's been a while since Braam's been in town. Actually, it's been a while since the Chicago band's been seen anywhere other than at the occasional Ryan Adams show or inside the band's home studio. Tom, Mike and Scott Braam along with Peter Drefs make up this staggeringly talented roots combo. The band's new CD, "gravity & the right to fly," has just been released and it's something special. According to the group's Web site -- www.braamrock.com -- the disc was "imagined, written, recorded and produced in a basement studio built, primed and painted by Braam. A band of brothers -- three blood and one soul -- who decided to take this record into their own hands and mold it their way. . . . Now we are sending it out to anyone who cares to spend a few minutes or a full fifty-four with James, Michelle and Meadow. Three people struggling to get by on the streets of Chicago, weighted by gravity and fighting for the right to fly." "I'm not sure if the CD flies, but I am certain that at times it soars. Billed as a "story with guitars," "gravity" follows three people's lives. For a band known for its hooky alt-americana roots, a sort of mini, country rock opera might seem a gamble. In the hands of these professionals though, the result is startling in it's purity and simplicity. There are still the trademark Les Paul guitar solos and the stellar harmonies. Present as well are excellent songs that are more than able to stand alone outside of the storyline. After maybe 10 playings over the last two days, I'm still not sick of "Nausea." "Highway To Ride" could make many radio station playlists. "James II (Running)" is an excellent burner. Depending upon your background, if you are, or were, a fan of Buffalo Springfield, Graham Parsons, "Harvest"-era Neil Young or current Wilco, you'll find a lot on the disc to hold close to your heart and soul." "What's missing in rock and Roll? Strong intoxicating melodies that linger for days (weeks?), clever and riveting lyrics, attention to detail, classic pop sensibility, and that certain unnamable "something" that makes you hit rewind constantly; all of which can be found on Braam's Live in Chicago cd." - Dave Tomaloff "Braam plays music the old fashioned way, from their gut! Organic, soulful and sometimes improvisational. Straight ahead hard folk loud country classic rock. They're taking the hard road and creating a catagory all their own." - T.T. Singer

Additional Info Currently promoting our new story with guitars -

Location Oak Park, IL - USA

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