Young and Brave

"The spirited and perky sound of Young and Brave’s soulful pop and indie rock charmed the crowd at The Labb. A couple of chants for a few more songs could be heard."

Continue reading on Examiner.com Day two of 35 Denton: folk, synths, and food trucks - Fort Worth indie music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/indie-music-in-fort-worth/day-two-of-35-denton-folk-synths-and-food-trucks-review#ixzz1owZPVoun
- Examiner.com

Young and Brave – a blues rock/pop band from Denton, TX with a 70s rock influence and experimental edge. Young and Brave sound exactly how you would hope a young and eager band would sound, rife with energy and grit, but still maintaining a minimal style. By listening to their catalog you can see a band evolving and really learning their sound. They’re at their best when they dig into dirty blues with a pop edge, almost like a slow pace The White Stripes. They also present a distorted sort of folk, adding feedback elements to acoustic singer-songwriter material. They have such a great edge, and have somehow been a band that has eluded me for the past year around town. They have recently been debuting new material, so expect an updated set at 35 Conferette this year. - Operation Every Band (http://operationeveryband.com)

This video just popped up over on the PPNTX facebook page, in celebration of the pill’s 50th anniversary PPNTX chose to produce a short video featuring women not only showing why the appreciate the pill, a slide show of facts about that little life saver, but also from one of our favorite local acts the always socially conscious Young & Brave. Needless to say we’re proud of the band, and are more than happy to share the video after the jump. - Daybowbow

I’ve only caught Young & Brave once, and then only in passing, but the general consensus amongst those I frequently talk to, and myself, is they’re pretty damn great. So when the possibility of them playing this show arose, I jumped at the opportunity. In an effort to gain a little insight into one of the most buzzed about local groups, I sent them some questions. Check out their answers after the jump.

What’s the best show you’ve played this year?

YAB: Our CD release show could not have gone better. Dirty Birds and Beaten Sea are good friends of ours and we were thrilled to play with them. We were able to incorporate some of our other friends into our set and it was an all around good time. We will have some videos posted from the show soon!
How did the group come together?

YAB: Matt and Sarah began hashing out some early versions of her songs, and asked me (Jon) to join in on a practice or two. Soon, we added Ian Mesey on the bass, and after going through a few drummers like we were Spinal Tap, we found our drummer Ramon through some close friends. He should be due to spontaneously combust into a tiny globule at any show now.
What are ya’lls current goals?

YAB: We’d like to get our CD out to as many people who are willing to listen to it. We are already working on new songs for our next record and are excited about them. We hope people will take notice of our live show because we try to make each individual show a new/different experience.
Let’s say you’re playing a cruise with Giggle Party, disaster happens and the boat goes all Poseidon Adventure, both bands escape and make it to a island. You’re stuck there Lord of the Flies style, but there’s only enough supplies for one band to live. Oh, and there are weapons. Which band survives?

YAB: We are under the impression that Jason (and probably Kat) would live longer than anyone else because rumor has it Jason bought a hatchet… Ian could probably hold his own longer than the rest of us, he actually exercises.
Anything you want the people to know?
YAB: If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change. (That is a completely original thought.)
Thanks so much,
Jon, Ramon and the rest of YAB
Young & Brave- Holy Ghost
I’m not gonna lie, I’m excited about these guys. - Daybowbow

I can’t help but feel a pang of sorrow over the loss of my beloved The Mendoza Line, but Young & Brave‘s eponymous first full length gives me hope that I’ve found a successor to the country-rock inspired pop band crown. Riddled with scathing guitar work, and just the right amount of fuzz, YAB manages to tell intricate (mostly) 4 minutes stories, built around the voices of Jon McKnight & Sarah Lynn Fisher, without overstating themselves. The album runs the gauntlet of great pop with “No Sympathy” sounding like a treasured Rilo Kiley B-side, and the barn burner “Holy Ghost” charges at you hitting on notes that are pure Black Keys. While the album standout, “Say You Will” ,comes out of left field, first sounding like something you’d find on a Dap Kings album, then building to an epic sing along infused with visceral guitar work, and pounding drums.
Young & Brave- No Sympathy
Young & Brave- Holy Ghost
Young & Brave- Say You Will

Verdict: Hopefully sometime in the near future people will refer to this as simply the YAB album.

Notes:

Each copy of the album features a hand made cover with unique art work, which is a very nice touch.
The album was engineered by Joel Adair of Small Time Ruffians who’s also working on the Manned Missiles EP.
- Daybowbow

Poppy five-piece records in DIY setting delivers 10 impossibly polished genre-hopping tracks

I remember the moment Young & Brave completely won me over, I was sitting in my home office listening to their LP trying to figure out what I needed to say about the album when “Say You Will” hit its uproarious peak and I realized there was nothing I could write that would properly sum that moment up. So I sat down, wrote out some thoughts and hit repeat.

Recorded in a series of living rooms with Joel Adair of Small Time Ruffians, Young & Brave put together an album that was evocative of their influences, yet so unique you couldn’t stop listening to it. Add in their electrifying live show and it’s easily see why one of the biggest surprises of ’09 have a lot in store for 2010. - Daybowbow

At Dan’s Silverleaf Young & Brave had feet marking time as the Denton favorites played a strong set amalgamated from bluesy rock, gospel, and soul. Guitarist Matt Shasteen is a musician’s musician. His solo work is excellent, sure, but his appeal is in creating the little things that really burnish their sound. Every sustained chord, every heart-rending slide, every single time Shasteen puts finger to fret the result is a rock solid, unimposing, professionally executed accompaniment. Denton songwriters, come studio time you get this man.

Read more: 35 Conferette: Conclusion http://klli.radio.com/2011/03/14/35-conferette-conclusion/#ixzz1bMseJcVr
- Indieverse.com

For the eighth episode of A Small, Good Thing, the wonderful folks of Young and Brave came by the house for an evening of redemptive rock and sprawling Americana. After a healthy session of Springsteen worship, we sat down to talk about recording their last record and the future of the band, all while munching on some "Unreal" Chicken Pot Pie and delicious cake (courtesy of YAB). And those stellar cardboard amps and drums? YAB put those together, too. - A Small, Good Thing

Q: How did YAB form/start?

YAB: Matt and Sarah (who were band mates in high school) were looking to form a band after she had moved back to Texas in 2007 with new some songs she had written. Jon and Matt’s band, Albatross, and just broken up, but there was some great material left over from that project that they still wanted to play. So eventually the idea became to merge the two projects and have Jon and Sarah share lead vocal duties. Ramon joined the band just before we started recording our self-titled album in 2009. After YAB’s original bass player, Ian Mesey, moved to San Francisco last year to pursue his dream of growing a moustache and wearing short shorts to work each day, we were lucky that Pablo agreed to join as our new bass player.

2. What is your favorite song off the album 'Young and Brave'? And why?

YAB: We all seem to agree that “Nebraska” is the best sonically. We redid a lot of it after initial tracking, and after listening to what we had recorded finally, it seemed to be the first time we realized we had something more than just an album we were making for fun.

3. What are some of YAB's influences?

Sarah: Fleetwood Mac is one that we have tried to emulate in the way that they have multiple songwriters and a lot of different styles but still maintain a collective identity as a band.
Jon: I feel similarly about Supergrass. They don’t get enough credit.
Matt: Wilco, as always, and Spoon. And for me personally: Television, Queens of the Stone Age, and Aimee Mann (or rather her guitar players), and of course, The FUCKING Beatles.
Ramon: I tend to rip off a lot of Motown and Stax beats and try to get Pablo to hang with me there.
Pablo: (Nods and smiles) and Radiohead.

4. What has been your favorite show you played so far? Why?

Jon: A) Either our CD release show because there were a crap load of people or B) when we opened for Avi Buffalo in August. It was really fun to talk to other pedal nerds.
Matt: Our last show Sept 9 at La Grange was really fun; our old bassist Ian joined us for a song, and we played well. That show was recorded and is online if you want to check it out: http://youngandbrave.bandcamp.com/album/live-lagrange
Ramon: 35 Conferette this year. The room was packed, and one of my favorite bands (Portugal the Man) watched us and dug it.

5. Favorite song to play live?

Pablo and Jon: “Golden Swingin’ ” and any of the Bruce Springsteen covers we have been playing lately.
Ramon and Sarah: “West Virginia” because of the amazing groove in the bridge (Thank you, Bill Withers).
Matt: I really like them all!

6. A few months ago you went on a small Texas tour. How was that?

YAB: The show in Austin was really great, and we got to experience Texas Relays Weekend. (Don’t know what that is? YOU TUBE IT.) Anyhow, The Eastern Sea and One Hundred Flowers are a couple of our favorite bands in Texas, it was great to play with them in their hometown. Jon’s quote from the weekend: “I can’t believe the things my eyes are seeing” sums up some of the rest. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the San Antonio date, but we hope to play there in the near future.

7. You came out with the single 'This Floor' a little over a month ago, are you planning on releasing a new album soon? If so, any hints about it?

Jon: Did you know that Rob Thomas won three Grammys for the song “Smooth”?

8. 35 Denton is getting ready... Is YAB going to try to get in?

YAB: Yes, we really hope to play a showcase again next year. It’s a super thing for Denton, and we have been lucky to be a part of it. It is so awesome to see great bands come to our hometown and be able to just walk down the street to see them.

9. Any other festivals?

Sarah: We are really hoping to get a show during SXSW this year, most likely unofficial. Also we hear the Norman Music Fest is pretty cool.

10. Is YAB planning any shows besides October 2 soon? If so, when/ where?

YAB: Sept 30 at City Tavern with The Brushlanders and Family Crude, and Oct. 29 at La Grange we are playing Halloween a benefit show. We will be transforming into a cover band called “Who’s the Boss?” (Bruce Springsteen!) Otherwise we are laying low a little right now because we are trying to finish some recording.

11. YAB is playing with some kinda big names October 2, is this a (good) sign YAB is getting big?

YAB: We are really lucky that the kind people from Spune and Wellhouse Co. have trusted us enough to open for some touring bands lately. It has been a great experience for us. We have also been really lucky to open for Jessica Lea Mayfield and The Civil Wars this year at 35 Conferette and are really honored that we were given this opportunity.

12. Are you planning perhaps, another tour soon? What are YAB's plans for the future?

YAB: We would love to tour; our plans for right now are to finish recording, release an album, and then take it on the road. We are talking with a new local 7” label, Tree Fall Sounds, about - INDIE Middle of Nowhere

8. Young & Brave - Young & Brave

One of the most fun bands I've seen live this year. This album is full of catchy tunes, and I love the way they utilize both male and female vocals. It makes for a great ensemble sound. Also if you haven't picked up a copy of their album, do it not just for the music but also for the packaging. It was all handmade and each one is different. Very cool. - 102.1 FM KDGE

Sunday, December 5, 2010
Concert review: Duette, Young and Brave, and Binary Sunrise at LaGrange (December 4)

by Jessica Harp

Those who left right after Duette missed two more great acts.

DEEP ELLUM — At the western nouveau themed bar LaGrange, three very different bands filled the rustic bar with eclectic music on a very chilly Saturday night.

Duette, Young & Brave, and Binary Sunrise performed at the venue which was “founded on love for all things Texas.” The venue features an old mesquite tree bar with creative and delicious holiday themed cocktails, as well as decorative crystal deer trophies that glow from their places mounted above the bar. The trophies, created by local artist Ed Ruiz, were made from deer molds found in LaGrange, Texas, where the bar gets its namesake.

For a the past few months, indie pop band Duette has been on the local music scene playing a few shows, and we have been curious to catch a glimpse of the band’s live performance. We weren't let down. The quartet consists of the usual guitar, bass, and drums with an added keyboard, and features a male and female singing duo – thus the name Duette.

Watching Duette perform was like witnessing live musical love letters. While performing a song about a failing long-distance relationship, lead singer/keyboardist Angela would sing a line and her male equivalent Tex would reply with the same. The only downside to their performance was the large gaps between each tune. Luckily, Angela was able to fill the gaps with little ditties she played on the keys and a little humor, although it would have been better altogether without the lags in music.

It will be interesting to watch Duette grow and develop as they play more shows. The band is currently in the recording studio right now working on their debut album.

Following Duette was Denton indie/Americana quintet Young and Brave, who has been on a bit of a hiatus as far performances go but have been picking up more gigs recently since they released new track “The Floor” back in September. Hopefully the release of the new song and the multiple forthcoming performances means that the band will release a new album sometime in the New Year.

Unfortunately, the large crowd watching Duette's set at LaGrange left quickly afterward. (Shame; they missed great performances from Young and Brave and Binary Sunrise.) Like Duette, YAB has a female lead singer on keys – but that is where the similarities stop. The band has been around a lot longer and properly executes the use of the piano and the other instruments with a tight and solid performance.

Their varied songs, which range from alt-country to heavy guitar riffs, were definitely what was needed after Duette’s more conservative set. Singer Sarah Fisher’s vocals were unique and unmistakable. Her voice was haunting yet light, and so full and robust.

Next was Binary Sunrise, an electronic rock act that sounds as if they arrived from the 1980s in a time machine – possibly a Delorian. Their new wave sound didn’t quite fit the décor of the venue, but then again when does that sound ever fit? Lead singer K.L. Kemp’s vocals are similar to that of David Bowie in his '80s heyday. We also heard similarities between Kemp and Aaron Behrens of Ghostland Observatory, but Kemp's sound is more schizophrenic and unpredictable.

Binary Sunrise's fast-paced, experimental dance pop beats never let up through the entire performance, and neither did Kemp’s geeky, high-pitched vocals that added a whole new layer to the band’s show. Without Kemp’s awkward dancing and vocals, the band just wouldn’t make sense – that is, if you can make sense out of what Kemp is singing. But then again, the '80s didn’t make much sense either. Their set was really a giant party, which was exactly what Binary Sunrise was trying to achieve at LaGrange.
- www.pegasusnews.com

I remember the moment Young & Brave completely won me over, I was sitting in my home office listening to their LP trying to figure out what I needed to say about the album when “Say You Will” hit its uproarious peak and I realized there was nothing I could write that would properly sum that moment up. So I sat down, wrote out some thoughts and hit repeat.

Recorded in a series of living rooms with Joel Adair of Small Time Ruffians, Young & Brave put together an album that was evocative of their influences, yet so unique you couldn’t stop listening to it. Add in their electrifying live show and it’s easily see why one of the biggest surprises of ‘09 have a lot in store for 2010. - DayBowBow

Fight Night
The Schoolhouse, Denton
September 5, 2009

Better than: shooting bourbon in an actual schoolhouse.

Danny Fulgencio
Giggle Party, along with a baker's dozen of other acts, played The Schoolhouse on Saturday. Peruse our slideshow of the day's events.
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Nestled away from the venues of Denton's idyllic Square and Fry Street's controversy, the Schoolhouse is a deceptively ordinary one-story yellow and white residence.

But Saturday, at around 3 p.m., as a slew of musicians rolled or lugged their gear up a set of pre-cast stairs and onto the porch, 28-year-old tenant Charlie Hunter pulled from a cigarette. "I think this one's going to get out of control," he said.

Established in late July, and named for its classroom-style ceiling tiles, the Schoolhouse hosted 14 bands over 12 hours on three makeshift "stages"--and charged its college-aged attendees the affordable sum of free-ninety-free.

Whether acts played in the dining room, study or attic, the day's tempo came natural and untamed. Beer may have played a role.

Local music blog DayBowBow.net helped promote the event, the largest the Schoolhouse has held to date.

Though "hot and intimate" is a phrase typically reserved for afternoons spent watching reruns of Mythbusters, it well describes the packed attic where Leatherwood let loose with acoustic string-laden vocals. The band had no sooner finished than the crowd slipped down the staircase to find itself charmed by The Hand Combine, a trio singing haunted-speakeasy lullabies.

This was the ongoing model: the masses ping-ponged between rooms as one band broke its gear down and the next finished setting up shop; doing so left just enough time for audience members to hunt another brew or scarf down a hot dog from the spread out back. And the afternoon was not without a dash of spontaneity--a game of something akin to soccer erupted in the backyard at one point.

With the sun dropping, Lazy Native's electric set shook the floors while their tambourine man sprang wild through the crowd. The River Mouth proved legally psychedelic and Hard Times evoked the evening's skull-thumping punk contingent. Young and Brave and Western Giants relieved any doubt about Denton's taste for Americana.

But, of all the day's performances, Giggle Party gave the strongest visual, balls-to-the-wall show. Somewhere between pop-punk and anarchic electro-comedy, this mischievous quartet--and those brave enough to get close--were sodden with cupcake icing, malt liquor, silly string and sweat. The sticker on Jason Reichl's bass read "Sorry About the Mess" and perhaps best articulated the band's aftermath.

"Tell the Observer everything went smooth," Jaime-Paul Falcon of DayBowBow told me after the show came to a close. But, given the circumstances--house party, Denton, relatively fresh and humble acts--everything pretty much did.

Around 2:30 a.m., the Schoolhouse locks clicked tight and the porch light switched off. Some stayed to mingle in the shadows.

Hunter's concern for unbridled chaos or a stern visit from Denton's Finest only amounted to a minor issue over parking. While no major acts headlined this all-day affair and most bands hailed from Denton, some of the 300-plus people in attendance likely walked away with a few good memories; possibly others walked away with a sense that Denton's transitional, incestuous music scene is blossoming despite the Old Guard's reflection on glory days gone by.

Said Leatherwood violinist Petra Kelly: "The spirit is there. Maybe it's just cyclical."

Critic's Notebook
Personal Bias: I'm all for minimalism--but hell, guys, get some color on those walls. Cameras the world over will rejoice.

Random Note: When he's not playing host to rock shows in his living room, Charlie Hunter waits tables at IHOP and chats it up with the Denton PD. This might explain his good fortune.

By The Way: During one of Giggle Party's opening songs, an unsteady soul took a header into the keyboard. Recovery came swift. The band played on. - Dallas Observer

I’ve only caught Young & Brave once, and then only in passing, but the general consensus amongst those I frequently talk to, and myself, is they’re pretty damn great. So when the possibility of them playing this show arose, I jumped at the opportunity. In an effort to gain a little insight into one of the most buzzed about local groups, I sent them some questions. Check out their answers after the jump.

What’s the best show you’ve played this year?

YAB: Our CD release show could not have gone better. Dirty Birds and Beaten Sea are good friends of ours and we were thrilled to play with them. We were able to incorporate some of our other friends into our set and it was an all around good time. We will have some videos posted from the show soon!
How did the group come together?

YAB: Matt and Sarah began hashing out some early versions of her songs, and asked me (Jon) to join in on a practice or two. Soon, we added Ian Mesey on the bass, and after going through a few drummers like we were Spinal Tap, we found our drummer Ramon through some close friends. He should be due to spontaneously combust into a tiny globule at any show now.
What are ya’lls current goals?

YAB: We’d like to get our CD out to as many people who are willing to listen to it. We are already working on new songs for our next record and are excited about them. We hope people will take notice of our live show because we try to make each individual show a new/different experience.
Let’s say you’re playing a cruise with Giggle Party, disaster happens and the boat goes all Poseidon Adventure, both bands escape and make it to a island. You’re stuck there Lord of the Flies style, but there’s only enough supplies for one band to live. Oh, and there are weapons. Which band survives?

YAB: We are under the impression that Jason (and probably Kat) would live longer than anyone else because rumor has it Jason bought a hatchet… Ian could probably hold his own longer than the rest of us, he actually exercises.
Anything you want the people to know?
YAB: If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change. (That is a completely original thought.)



I’m not gonna lie, I’m excited about these guys. - DayBowBow

This video just popped up over on the PPNTX facebook page, in celebration of the pill’s 50th anniversary PPNTX chose to produce a short video featuring women not only showing why the appreciate the pill, a slide show of facts about that little life saver, but also from one of our favorite local acts the always socially conscious Young & Brave. Needless to say we’re proud of the band, and are more than happy to share the video after the jump. - DayBowBow.net

I can’t help but feel a pang of sorrow over the loss of my beloved The Mendoza Line, but Young & Brave’s eponymous first full length gives me hope that I’ve found a successor to the country-rock inspired pop band crown. Riddled with scathing guitar work, and just the right amount of fuzz, YAB manages to tell intricate (mostly) 4 minutes stories, built around the voices of Jon McKnight & Sarah Lynn Fisher, without overstating themselves. The album runs the gauntlet of great pop with “No Sympathy” sounding like a treasured Rilo Kiley B-side, and the barn burner “Holy Ghost” charges at you hitting on notes that are pure Black Keys. While the album standout, “Say You Will” ,comes out of left field, first sounding like something you’d find on a Dap Kings album, then building to an epic sing along infused with visceral guitar work, and pounding drums.

Verdict: Hopefully sometime in the near future people will refer to this as simply the YAB album. - DayBowBow.net

I’m not sure about the origins of Denton’s Young and Brave. But I’d like to think they got their name from The Young and the Brave, a 1963 film whose tagline reads, “A Heroic Kid … A Gallant Dog … And Three Fighting GIs!” (and if they didn’t, that should be their story from now on.) Take a little rock, a little Americana, a little 1970s funk and throw in a couple of singers with impressive pipes and you get Young and Brave. Above, watch them perform “Say You Will”, one of my favorite local songs, at Club Dada in Dallas. - nx35.com

“A band that crafts together, stays together” is the mantra that Denton band Young and Brave live and play by. The quintet may be a “patchwork quilt” of musicians, as guitarist Matt Shasteen so perfectly put it, since most of the members come from an array of different bands, but with their separate talents the members have managed to create some beautiful music.

A main staple on The Local Edge (an hour long show on 102.1 on Sunday nights which feature local bands from Dallas, Denton and Ft.Worth), Young and Brave will be bringing their unique sound this Saturday (February 27) to Dan’s Silverleaf and on March 13 at The Hydrant for NX35 alongside Sarah Renfro, Minrocan and Claire Morales.

MDM was lucky enough to catch all five members after a rehearsal for their upcoming Dan’s Silverleaf show to talk about why they love Denton so much, their music and NX35.

MDM: Why Denton? Why not Austin or Dallas?
Matt: Denton has such a vibrant music scene and it is kind of the diamond in the rough as far as the whole Metroplex goes. Dallas is a little more mainstream and Denton is more open to different musical ideas, I guess.
Ian Mesey: It is so unpretentious. I feel like Denton is the perfect place to start. Not to say that we would go anywhere else. People just go to shows here to have fun. In Dallas, or even in Austin, if you are not perfect then people aren’t going to give a damn. In Denton, people just have fun. They can see things for what they could be, the potential, and not just what for what they are at the current moment because lord knows we were not great when during our first show.
Jon McKnight: People here embrace a more raw quality.
Ramon Muzquiz: We have had some success in Dallas too, you know at that Trees thing for The Local Edge, which went really well. But we have just had a lot of good reception from people here. A lot of good feedback.
Matt Shasteen: We have made friends with a lot of Denton bands as well and it feels more like a community, like a family.

MDM: How would you describe your sound?
Jon: This is something we have fought so hard against. We have tried to figure this out and it is so cliché for a band to be like, “Well, I don’t really know. We don’t really like to be pinned down.”
Ian: That is one of the things we have talked about a lot. You know, a lot of bands have tried to stay really cohesive through using the same sounds throughout their entire set and I think we weirdly find cohesiveness.
Jon: It is like Schizophrenia. We should make our own genre. Like Scizophrindie Rock”.
Ian: We are just all over the place and I think that defines us. We grab from everything.
Ramon: I have found a solid ground on saying that we like kind of say that we are Americana in terms of Folk, Rock, Soul and Funk, but we like to dabble in all of them.
Ian: We are fans of American music styles and every one is represented in our music somewhere.
Matt: I am a big fan of music that sort of has a timeless quality to it. You know, like no matter what decade you listen to it in it is still good. It still holds up. I don’t think we make music that sounds trendy or like it is of a certain time. The stuff we do has such a wide array of influences. 10 years from now we will look back at our music and know it wasn’t just some sort of fad.

MDM: How do you guys feel about being part of NX35?
Ian: Extremely excited. I am just shocked at the work that everybody put into it and how much it has paid off.
Matt: Being in the same festival as The Walkmen and The Flaming Lips makes me want to pee my pants.
Ian: It is obvious that a ton of thought went into it. If you looked at the lineups, I am just shocked at how well it all works.

MDM: What should fans expect from you guys for the show on the 27th and for NX35?
Ian: We have the ability, I don’t know if we are going to, to play a complete set of unrecorded songs.
Ramon: We put out an album last August and as of now we have six or seven songs that are done and we are hoping to showcase some of that material.
Ian: And also, we are going to be really loud.
Matt: Especially compared to the other acts on the bill (at NX35) at that show since they are mostly acoustic.
Ian: It has a nice build up to it in terms of loudness.
Jon: We are aiming to be the last band ever to perform at The Hydrant (for NX35). We are hoping to be that loud.

MDM: What advice would you like to give to bands that are just starting out in Denton?
Ian: Play J&J’s a lot. I feel like that is a great incubator. J&J’s is where everybody kind of starts out I feel like.
Matt: If I could give any piece of advice to any band that starts out anywhere it is that, well at least I think it holds true for us, if you are going to make music that you are going to be ultimately proud of you cant worry about what other people are going to think about it per se. You can’t try to fit into like a mold or a genre or like trying to play to a certain audience. You just have to m - My Denton Music

This feature will be short and sweet because I only have twenty minutes left in this day. And I still have a few more days to post to complete this countdown so no disrespect to today’s featured band! I recently caught Young and Brave at DayBowBow’s One-Year Blogiversary and they were one of the most memorable acts of the afternoon for me. This five-piece act from Denton delivered rock with soul and grit that actually caused me to leave my warm spot outside on Dan’s porch and into the bar to see them for myself. If you’re unsure of which band to catch Saturday night, check out Young and Brave at The Hydrant. And now, a video to make up for my lack of words. - theneener.net

Young and Brave is a talented Denton band with a knack for seamlessly weaving different musical styles, just a few of which are 70s country, 60s pop, Motown and gospel. Their music and live act have evolved greatly over their two-year life span (in fact, their new songs are much more complex and layered than on their self-titled EP) and they are a band to watch. Big things are surely in their future.

See for yourself when they play at Andy's on Friday, April 23, along with RTB2, Roy Robertson and Jessie Frye. In honor of the upcoming show we asked the band to tell us their favorite TV theme songs and each member chose one.


"Our Favorite TV Theme Songs" by Young And Brave
Ian Mesey (bass, backing vocals):
X-Men: The Animated Series theme.

Is there any song that could possibly get you more pumped than this? Every Saturday morning, my best friend Alex and I were whipped into a veritable frenzy by this song. It was written by Ron Wasserman, who seemed to have tapped directly into my adrenaline glands as he later wrote the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers theme song as well. Jon recently rustled my nostalgia and love for this song (not to mention my childhood cartoon crush on Rogue) when he brought a season over on DVD. It would not be a stretch to say that the X-Men theme song developed my taste for metal and (later) hardcore.


Sarah Lynn Fisher (vocals, keys):
"Hey Sandy" - Polaris (Theme song of The Adventures of Pete and Pete)

You might know that The Adventures of Pete and Pete was a pretty awesome show, and not only because Iggy Pop and Michael Stipe were guest stars and Little Pete's best friend was Artie, the Strongest Man in the World. The show also had its own house band, Polaris, who contributed several songs to the soundtrack and appeared on the show a few times, mostly notably performing the show's theme song, "Hey Sandy", in the opening credits. "Hey Sandy" is a great example of mid-90s alternative rock (i.e., R.E.M. and The Lemonheads) and is pretty catchy despite the largely unintelligible lyrics. One summer I ate way too many Frosted Mini Wheats in order to collect enough UPC labels to send away for a cassette entitled Happily Deranged, Music from The Adventures of Pete and Pete, narrated by Big Pete and including "Hey Sandy". It remains one of my prized possessions.

Jon McKnight (vocals, guitar):
"Angela" - Bob James (Theme song of Taxi)

I had a really hard time choosing a favorite theme song, but this one just kept sticking out to me. I love this theme. There are very few television themes that really evoke any kind of emotion for me, aside from the "hey, cool, I'm about to watch a sitcom." This one is different. I can't seem to place a finger on why, but I get a deeply nostalgic feeling when I hear this song. It's inspired that feeling in me for as long as I can remember, and it, as television themes go, is about as well thought out and beautiful as they come. And I loved the show as well. I remember watching with my mother as a little kid, and being introduced to actors that I would grow to love as an adult. (Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, and of course Andy Kaufman.)


Matt Shasteen (guitar, lap steel, keys, backing vocals):
"My Life" - Billy Joel (Theme song of Bosom Buddies)

...because it conjures up images of a young Peter Scollari in his prime.

Ramon Muzquiz (drums/percussion, backing vocals):
"Italian Leather Sofa" - Cake (Theme song of Mission Hill)

When I was in high school I remember seeing this show when it premiered (I think it was on the WB) with my family at dinner. No one liked it but me and like every good animated show that isn't on Fox, it was cancelled shortly thereafter. Low and behold the good people at Adult Swim took over the show and sometime (about a year later I think) I had seen the whole series, a year after that or so when the giant Virgin mega store on Mockingbird was closing I picked up the whole series (one season) for less than 15$. I cherish this intro every time I hear it. I've never been a huge Cake fan but this song would always get stuck in my head for days after seeing the show. I do remember once while on a road trip when I was even younger I stole my sister's portable CD player and Cake album "Fashion Nugget." I listened to the song "The Distance" about 10 million times; I was totally transfixed. It's funny to think that if I could have taken my finger off the repeat button once or twice I could have known this song sooner. It's a good jam and on the album it's actually a little slower and laid back.

-Jesseca - Subservient Experiment: The Best Little Music Blog in Texas

For those of you who didn't pick up Young and Brave's self-titled debut album last year, you're missing out on some good ol' Americana: rock with a bit of soul, grit, and catchy melodic stories. I had the pleasure of seeing this Denton-based band earlier this year, and they were a welcome change amidst the circle of folk and indie I had been listening to at the time. They are not afraid to get loud, they are not afraid to switch styles, and with their varied sound, they've got a little bit of something for everyone.

Although Young and Brave can usually be found playing somewhere, their next advertised gig won't be until October 23 at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio in Denton. Until then, enjoy the debut of this newly recorded song, "This Floor," which should be played loudly for maximum effect. - Subservient Experiment / Pegasus News