Brother Gruesome is a noisy two-piece hailing from the middle of nowhere aka Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They have been playing their brand of “Grunge” for the past 10 years with 2 full albums and a couple EP’s underneath their belts. They seem to tour every 6 months or so working hard on expanding their audience. Their live shows are highly entertaining filled with shenanigans including fireworks and nudity as well as many other crazy stunts. They are coming back to Winona on June 17th to play with Winona’s new indie rock band “the fraymakers” on their biggest tour yet. This show is definitely worth your time. Music starts at 9pm. if you like noisy rock’n’roll that sounds like you’re traveling back to the dirty parts of the ’90s you should come to Ed’s (no name) Bar. You will not be disappointed!
I have no idea what the weirdest thing is. A couple years ago we ate mushrooms like 6 times on tour. We tripped and watched the Evil Dead remake in Chicago and then had to get back on the busses. That was weird.
Who are you guys? How long have you been playing together? What are your influences? Help us know you.
BG: We are Todd and Levi. We are brother gruesome. We are your worst nightmare. We’ve been playing since before the white stripes were cool. (2000-ish) we have a million influences, spanning multiple genres, but coming to age in the ’90s has been a major theme/influence. We get called “grunge” sometimes. We’ve also coined a few of our own terms, such as “stoner pop” and “diet sludge”. Or “bummer-core”.
I have had the fun experience of having played shows with you and know you love Winona. What are some of your favorite memories of playing here that make you keep coming back?
BG: You already know our favorite memories. Don’t make me type it all out. Canswer Haus condemnation, bottle rockets, asbestos ceiling tiles, hash, all the beers, thinking you were the biggest asshole in the world based on Facebook interactions and then falling in love at first site and cuddling with you, meeting all y’all Winos.
Hahahaha sorry for taking up your time. The show at the canswer haus was pretty crazy. I think it’s a first for me to have a band play naked AND shoot fireworks at the crowd at the same time. Do you always play naked or was that a special treat for Winona?
BG: we are always naked underneath our clothes.
Who wears the pants in the band?
BG: Todd and I alternate pants. We only have one pair and have to share.
How deep does your obsession with fireworks/explosives run?
BG: vastly.
This is your biggest tour yet… where all are you playing? new places? What is your favorite place to play?
BG: we’re focusing on the Midwest and northeast. We’re always trying to play new places, and have some new ones to look forward to. There are too many favorite places to list. Obviously Winona is one of them, otherwise why the hell would we keep driving way the fuck out there to pick all y’all bums up and make you come to our shows?
Are you touring supporting a new album? If so tell us about it. How can people acquire your music and how has it changed over the years?
BG: we have a full new set of songs but they won’t be recorded yet. We will still be selling our full length vinyl, Mutually Assured Destruction, as well as the 7″ Morphine Makes You Comfortable and our split tape single with The Little Big Bangs. You can find all that shit on bandcamp.
It seems like you are always touring. Do you have a real home base or do you live out of your van?
BG: I’m glad it seems like we’re always touring. We wish we were doing it even more. Todd and I have been squatting a house for the past year or so. We try to tour about every six months or so.
What are most of your songs about? Or at least the ones on your new record?
BG: our songs deal with things about ourselves and how we perceive the world, in ways that we don’t think a lot of people like to talk about. The darker, more painful side of life. It’s really just our own catharsis. You know, about havin’ a good time baby!
What kind of bands do you normally get booked with? Any weird shows that the atmosphere didn’t quite line up?
BG: we are a pretty ambiguous band so we get booked with all kinds of acts. We love DIY so we end up playing with everything from twee folk to brutal metal. We’ve definitely had some awkward shows, but we don’t dwell on that.
Have you had any trouble while on tour? Vehicle problems or other?
BG: we’ve had problems, for sure. Van breakdowns, emotional breakdowns, mental breakdowns, fistfights, etc. some how we’re still friends.
What’s your favorite part of the U.S.? I know you play the east coast a lot. How is it different from the Midwest?
BG: I don’t know that we have a favorite part of the US. We like New Mexico a lot. But we pretty much love any place willing to let us play and drink their beers. We’ve been playing the northeast because it’s convenient. Everything is a lot closer, there are more people and the drives are shorter. The Midwest is unique, that’s why they’re different. I love the Midwest because it’s so bleak. You don’t have to wade through much bullshit to find the good, raw, real ass art and emotion.
Do you record yourself or have it “professionally done”?
BG: We record ourselves and in studios by other folks. Whatever we can do. We prefer to record in the studio because it’s more efficient.
What’s your gear set up for us tech nerds?
BG: Todd plays six effects pedals split off to 3 amps. 2 tube guitar amps and a bass amp pushed by an octave pedal for the low end. He plays weird, down tuned strings and makes a lot of noise with 2 distortion pedals, two chorus pedals and different delays. He also uses a ditto pedal for samples. I play a pretty standard drum set. We recently added an extra ride and china cymbal.
Do you tour with other bands or always alone?
BG: we have toured both ways. Last year we toured with Inflatable Best Friend and we’ve gone out multiple times with Brian Cagle. We’ve also done some regional stuff with The Little Big Bangs. And sometimes friends just jump in the van and ride along for a few days at a time.
Like Cat did… yes… well guess what bitches…. I’m leaving with you for the rest of the tour in June…I need to go to Lawrence KS… so there.
BG: uh oh…
What’s the weirdest thing that has happened to you as a band?
BG: I have no idea what the weirdest thing is. A couple years ago we ate mushrooms like 6 times on tour. We tripped and watched the Evil Dead remake in Chicago and then had to get back on the busses. That was weird. We almost died in a blizzard once. One time Todd and I drove for 23 hours straight and both hallucinated from lack of sleep and stress. We had to drive the van at 25 mph from west Maryland to Michigan because the transmission went out and all the shops were trying to fuck us.
BG: I thought you said you had 30 questions for us, Slacker! Here are questions for you. What’s your favorite memory of us?
My favorite memory would be the naked party in my room after the show at the canswer haus. I think it was Todd, Levi, Nate, cat, and me… we just ran around naked having bottle rocket fights in the whole top floor of the house. I remember finding them in the shower months after you guys left as well as Kirissa pointing out to me that one was stuck in my bedroom ceiling in a weird spot. Hahaha.
BG: are you circumcised? If so, how do you feel about it? I feel kind of ripped off about it. Why would someone want to do that to a baby? People are fucked up.
Yes… I don’t know what to think about it. It’s a cultural thing as well as a hygienic thing… but I hear you lose like 80% of your feeling down there… that seems lame. But who knows… maybe you last longer that way? lol
Upcoming Local Gigs:
Who: Brother Gruesome & The Fraymakers
When: Wednesday, June 17th at 9pm
Where: Ed’s (no name) Bar