100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Four: Herbie of Brrr

instigated by dave heaton

The Eastern Pennsylvania-based band Brrr started out with one person, Herbie, playing and singing his own enticing little songs - shy, sweet, patient, rustic pop. But now that it's a full-blown band, with as many as seven members playing things like trumpet and cello and more, those same sort of songs have been beautifully blown up into a fuller state, and are even more rewarding for it. They have a great self-released CDR called Tone Poems, and recently released a self-titled 7" single on Rok Lok Records. MP3s can be heard on their MySpace page, and more information can be found on their website.

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What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

Being able to play music for myself and others and in the process getting to meet new people (over the internet and in person) and travel to places I have and have not been before.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

Booking DIY shows. There are so many bands right now and those who book small events are getting way too many requests. I know this too because I book shows myself. Sometimes you feel a little imposing to email folks who you don't even know and ask them to spend time and effort to set up a show for a stranger...

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

When I'm not marveling at our new 7"s, I'm gathering musicians for a Brrr orchestra (Brrrchestra) which will hopefully play some shows in PA this year, as well as writing some solo songs to be played on Brrr tours this summer. Also, I'm playing in a new pop band called Brown Recluse Sings, with other Brrr and Harbor Lights folks. There are tons of other projects on the horizon...

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

We played an acoustic show at a park in Milwaukee that one person came to. It turned into a Neutral Milk Hotel group singalong that felt a little too hippie for my liking...

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

Eastern Pennsylvania really has so much to offer, music-wise. I've played amazing shows in towns like Bethlehem (my hometown), Allentown, Kutztown, Wilkes-Barre, and Philadelphia. Having so many great musicians around is inspiring and a short, short list of those who inspire includes: The Harbor Lights, Pissed Jeans, Ramona Cordova, Widower, Lewis and Clarke, Goodnight Stars Goodnight Air, We Have Heaven, The Combovers, The Snow Fairies, and too many more to list.

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

I started writing this new song in open D tuning that is sort of a Bert Jansch-y folk song. I just might finish it!

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

Very much the opposite, actually! One of the best reasons to play music is that you get to play with bands you'd otherwise go to a show to see anyway. I'm always up on the blogs (especially You Ain't No Picasso, Gorilla vs. Bear, and Skatterbrain) trying to find new bands to hear.

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

It's really all about the indiepop for me.. everything from the old jangly stuff (Television Personalities, the Wedding Present, Heavenly) to the new masters (Voxtrot, Human Television, Pants Yell!) and all things in between.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

Jenny Toomey's album of Franklin Bruno covers ("Tempting") was a treat that I picked up in the dollar bin of Double Decker Records in Allentown, PA. The album has amazing arrangements and supersweet vocals augmenting the genius songwriting of FB. The title track is quite a doozer and reminds me of Mary Tyler Moore for some reason. Classy.

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

Maybe not sad, but the most moving song I've ever heard is "Meet Me Here at Dawn" by Cass McCombs. Maybe you could call it the "Gymnopedie" of indie music. Or maybe I just wanted to throw that in somewhere...

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.