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Grievous
Angel w/ Erik Brandt
Question:
What do Was (Not Was), Phil Ochs, Jill Jack, Thornetta Davis, Ash Can
Van Gogh, Marshall Crenshaw, Joan Baez, Matthew Sweet, High Flyin'
Bird, Wilson Pickett, The Supremes, Kelly Willis, and Earl Klugh all have in common?
Answer: The members of Grievous Angel.
Grievous
Angel proudly take their name from a Gram Parsons album, indicating
their affinity for 'cosmic American music.' Whether they play a
Grateful Dead tune, a Hank Williams cover, a Creedence Clearwater
Revival remake, a Little Feat or Tim Buckley or Fred Neil song - or
one of their own originals - the intimate knowledge and expertise that
each member brings to the musical table shines through.
All
four award-winning musicians in the band have successfully made their
living performing and recording music. "Roscoe" has been a
fixture in Michigan band scene for thirty years… known for his
innovative, melodic guitar style and his
flawless
sense of tone. He is also a well respected
recording engineer, with clients that include Sponge, Jill Jack and
the Orbitsun's. Ron Pangborn is a successful composer and producer for
TV ("Backstage Pass") as well as one of the best drummers on
the Detroit scene, and has graced many a national tour with his
tasteful presence. Nolan Mendenhall has played with just about every
Motown and R&B great, won Producer of the Year Awards (Detroit
Music Awards) and zigzagged from folk to reggae to jazz and back
again. Billy Brandt, whose alt-country-Americana-rock roots go deep,
has been a mainstay of exceptional local music through his Drum Dancer
Records and his championship of and participation in such acts as Red
C, Spank, Jill Jack, High Flyin' Bird, and more.
 Erik
Brandt has been the ringleader of the award-winning eclectic Twin
Cities-based Urban Hillbilly Quartet since 1995. By night, he
plays music. By day, he teaches English and Journalism at
Harding High School in St. Paul. He’s played in venues all
over the USA, Canada, Australia, and on various street corners
throughout Europe.
On stage, Erik performs mainly
original material drawn from the Americana vein. Most of his
original tunes can be found on the seven albums he’s recorded with
the UHQ, and now “Green Eyed Alone”, his first solo album.
When choosing covers, he pulls liberally from the catalogs of Bob
Dylan, Big Bill Broonzy, Johnny Cash, and other Americana heroes.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Erik switches between acoustic guitar,
wurlitzer and piano-accordion during performances.
His music has been influenced by
and compared to: Americana powerhouses The Jayhawks, Gillian Welch,
Uncle Tupelo, Vigilantes of Love, The Waterboys, Paul Kelly, Bruce
Cockburn, David Grisman, Paris Combo and Tin Hat Trio.
Though
Erik mostly performs solo, he is often joined by guests from UHQ and
other bands on stage. The combination of his different
instruments, songwriting talent and musical guests makes his live
performances dynamic and unique.
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“Grievous
Angel is a Detroit Americana super group. The band is made up of four
well-respected and award-winning musicians… Soulful harmonies
compliment creative, story-telling lyrics and music that ranges from
bluegrass twang to classic rock.”- Detroit News
“Amelia’s Boot is a gem of an album. If Brandt and UHQ
continue to make these kinds of evolutions, I have no doubt that
we’ll soon be brandishing words like “masterpiece” and drawing
comparisons with albums like Fisherman’s Blues” – Tim Porter,
Paste Magazine
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