Elder Brother is a collaboration between Dan Rose and Kevin Geyer and released their debut record, Heavy Head in 2014. The following year the band released EP Wish You Were Here. Now we’re in 2018 and Elder Brother issued their second album Stay Inside on May 18th via Pure Noise Records.
Stay Inside starts with Greatest, an instrumental very reminiscent of Shawn Smith’s Seattle band Satchel which features tender piano sounds. The style changes with No Reason. It’s faster, the affectionate sound moves to another location. Sway catches the mould of delicate written songs being a favourite of mine, their strong vocal and guitar performances bleeds emotion.
Dan Rose said “Most of lyrical content of Stay Inside was written on a visit back home for the holidays to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where my parents still live and where I grew up, and where the opioid crisis has a particularly strong hold. There’s even an HBO documentary about it. Heroin use touches everyone in the area. Whether it’s a first-hand experience, or it’s your friend, a family member, a girlfriend or boyfriend, a parent, a child, it’s rare to meet someone that doesn’t have their own story. And despite all of that, addiction is still stigmatized.”
The record gives melancholy a sound while Weak Days opens with a Yellow Ledbetter style riff which flourishes with feel. The duo’s formula throughout the record is of passion, they pleasantly show how vocals and tender guitar plucking can have splendid effects to their listening fans.
Kevin Geyer and Dan Rose exude confidence in their instrument and lyrical writing and Earthbound being the penultimate tune has calmness mixed with unique uncomfortability “Is this God’s work, then why does my back hurt”. The story of this music is dark and forlorn and Earthbound is an absolute highlight especially with Dan Rose’s vocals are a pure joy.