From left to right
Ben Warga, Michael Nault, Steve Gilliam, Michael Glover, Aldo Ynygo
A sum greater than its parts, a brotherhood in sharing the musical conversation. All the while grasping the futility, getting the joke. Ten years ago four people met, ten songs were recorded, written 10 years prior. So incredible that songs of angst, frustration, anger and loss brought about the greatest friendships of my life.
Rock, Hard, Blues, Jam Rock
Michael Nault Piano/Vocals
Steve Gilliam Guitar Vocals
Aldo Ynigo Drums
Mike Glover Bass
1Pack2Late
How did I get here working 9-to-5? Why do I wake up, feeling 'barely half alive? One Pack too late, will understanding only come when there are no mile markers left? What do you do when you see yourself watching time pass?
Last Call for Jihad
25 minute journey, just F ing around, calling and responding musically. Several themes, flaws galore, but like rough hewn leather, wholly satisfying. So many different influences converging on a whole. The Musical conversation, the one who keeps it moving forward, the one who won’t stop talking, the quiet one who suddenly speaks something extraordinary into existance. In short this experience is precisely why I love playing music
Black
The very first Brush song, conceived and completed on the winter solstice of 2008.Enigmatic and evocative, 'Black' journeys into the depths of symbolism and metaphor. With music by Michael Nault and lyrics by Steve Gilliam, this song explores themes of illusion, truth, and transformation, creating a sense of disorientation with its paradoxes.
You Don’t Know
Raw frustration and a desperate hope for agency drive this bleak depiction of life Uncertain about the future, trapped in a cycle of work and disillusionment, desperate for liberation before it's too late. It captures the raw frustration of feeling weighed down by the world while simultaneously yearning for an authentic and meaningful existence. The lyrics are filled with raw frustration and desperate hope, ultimately culminating in a plea to die 'awake' and find true freedom.
Brush Live
The one and only live full band Brush show
Our Lot
The recollection of an intimate, conversation exploring themes of trust and connection. The lyrics, delivered early on, give way to a dynamic and uplifting musical journey. It blossoms into an upbeat, inspirational 'jam band' performance, captured in a single take, showcasing a powerful transition from intimate dialogue to expansive instrumental expression.
Rebound
She's looking for something and thinks she's found it, but the reality of her situation brings her to leave again, still hopeful.This initial version of Rebound with Steve Gilliam on vocals has much more of a summer picnic at the fairgrounds. With an organ aiming for Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone,” it is a much more playful and raucous rendition.
The Songs She Sings
It's not that there isn't beauty in the bittersweet contrast between artistic expression and personal struggle. Not just a song but a clear memory about the experience of knowing someone with immense talent and hidden pain. It's about the struggle to connect, the helplessness of watching someone self-destruct, and the echoes of their voice that remain long after they're gone.
TJ Shaft
Instrumental originally envisioned as the theme to the Mexican answer to an American classic
Heart Attack
A raw and chaotic expression of the helplessness, the fear, and the lingering questions that haunt us when confronted with a loved one's mortality. Did I do all I could? and 'What will I do when my moment comes?' An honest and immediate reflection on the fragility of life.
Winter Rain
Nature as metaphor for resilience and the passage of time. This song, featuring a chorus by Sally Johnson, navigates themes of faith, loss, and memory, finding strength in the promise that 'what goes unseen and still believed will come again and be received.' It's a reflection on the beauty and hardship of life, with an unwavering belief in renewal.
If Love Were true
Born in The Brush it took 10 years and nearly as many singers and musicians to find the right balance within this song. The Music in this version stands out in how different it is from the other Brush songs. 3/4 time with a more “smokey” feel to it.
Life’s What You Make It
A shift from the raw emotion of 'Heart Attack' and the desperate longing of 'Spring Leaves' to a more cynical resolution. While musically less chaotic, this song delves into disillusionment and skepticism, questioning life’s value but in the end, conceding to the formula both musically and personally.