Artist description For pop music lovers, what the world needs now is what it has always needed: smartly-crafted songs that stick in your heart and head. As true believers, The Brilliant Mistakes deliver the goods in style. Drawing equally upon vintage Motown, Nashville and British pop sounds, this is a band that offers unapologetically melodic songs that explore the dark underbelly of love and longing. Whether it's a swinging, piano-pounding ballad of a friend's misguided passion, a horn-fueled tale of a New Orleans fling or a Hammond organ-drenched kiss-off, The Brilliant Mistakes do it with pluck and a sly wit.

Music Style Pop

Musical Influences Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Marshall Crenshaw, Nick Lowe

Similar Artists Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Marshall Crenshaw, Nick Lowe

Artist History The Mistakes were made in New York City a few years ago when vocalist/keyboardist Alan Walker met bassist Erik Philbrook, a transplant from Bangor, Maine, while they were both paying their rent by paying their dues in book publishing. The two discovered a shared yen for pop gurus such as Nick Lowe, Crowded House and Elvis Costello. At that time, although grunge was reaching its zenith, they decided to go forth and fly the pop banner with pride. Joining forces with two kindred souls, Austin drummer Mick Wood and New York guitar virtuoso Andy Resnick, they hit the club circuit and quickly earned raves for their punchy love songs. Their energetic live shows at New York's famous Bottom Line venue and Fez, as well as clubs in Boston, have won them a devoted following.

Group Members Alan Walker, Erik Philbrook, Paul Mauceri, Michah Scoville

Instruments Piano/Organ, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Horns

Albums All Hands & The Cook

Press Reviews "There's no doubt that some of the attention the group has been getting has to do with the uniformly outstanding collection of pop songs on All Hands & the Cook...a terrifically seamless, cohesive piece of work...considered among the most talented unsigned bands in the country.--"STUFF AT NIGHT, Boston, MA "Sparkling pop in the vein of Crowded House and Squeeze."--The Boston Globe "The belles of the ball. These smart, sharp popsters deftly combine jangly guitar riffs and corrosive keyboards...and are currently gaining radio airplay across the country."--TIME OUT NEW YORK"Fantastic pop rock! Think Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Robyn Hitchcock, Squeeze with just a dash of Bottle Rockets."--WELFAREMUSIC.COM"Must picks of the Weekend -- Must CD By Dan Aquilante -- "With a moniker that evokes failure, The Brilliant Mistakes exceed the expectations of their name and prove themselves bright and occasionally brilliant on much of their 11-song debut disc. The hometown boys, who reference the same brand of melodic, storyteller country-rock as the Bottle Rockets and Five Chinese Brothers, soar, especially when they try to unravel the secret language of women, as in "The Absence of Passion." The disc's other stand-out song is "Tiny Violin." Although three members of the quartet write, listen for the compositions by bassist Erik Philbrook."--New York Post"An intelligent, tear-jerking rock ensemble with a debut CD that has unjustly slid under the radar."--RICHMOND.COM"If you like your pop with a healthy helping of strong melodies, here's a band to take note of. The Brilliant Mistakes' keyboard/guitar pop is simple and yet simultaneously (and surprisingly) commercial. The vocals are clearcut and omnipresent, and the mix of keyboards and guitars is nicely understated. Top pop singalong numbers like "Deny the Sun" and "You Got My Number" make this disc an undeniably pleasant spin. The Kinks-like closing track ("Behind the Wheel") is unquestionably our favorite. Notice how many times the letter "y" appears in this review...that MUST mean something? (Rating: 4)--BABYSUE.COM The Brilliant Mistakes were named Musician Magazine Best Unsigned Band Semi-Finalist for 1998" and "Discmakers' 1998 Independent Music World Series Semi-Finalist"

Location Brooklyn, NY - USA

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