Brother 2 Brother
Lookin' for Texas
© 2005 Brother 2 Brother (837101072038)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
This debut CD brings the evolution of Texas Rockin' Blues into the 21st Century. It's an all original blend of Texas Rock, Blues and Country. "A real treat from the first beat to the last."
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Brother 2 Brother made the first ballot for the 2007 Grammy Awards in two categories. Best Contemporary Blues Album and Best Rock Performance.
Brother 2 Brother follows in the footsteps of great Texas Bluesmen such as T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In addition to their faithful Rock, Blues, and R&B covers, their new original CD entitled "Lookin' for Texas" is a part of the evolution of Texas Blues, incorporating a wide variety of influences from the world of Rock, Country, Jazz, and Blues. Their new CD is getting quite a bit of airplay in their home base of Houston, Texas on KPFT 90.1 FM and they were the cover story of the Sept issue of "North of the Border" entertainment guide with CD review. Also, the CD has received glowing reviews in "Music News" and "The Scene", two more Houston area mags. On Oct. 9, 2005, they were interviewed on KPFT 90.1 FM, Houston, by Mr. V on his program "Blues on the Move". B2B is also getting airplay on Blues Programs in Canada, Argentina, Belgium, France and on the internet radio program "Midnight Blues."
Two of the founding members of the band, bass player Mike "Lowboy" Leubner and keyboard player Norm Uhl, formed Brother 2 Brother in Jan 2003 after honing their chops backing up Texas recording artist Gene Kelton (Mean Gene Kelton and the Diehards). Vocalist Mike Vohsen, guitarist extraordinaire Robert Baker, and rock steady drummer Ned "Stickman" Maric make up the rest of the musical team.
Mike Vohsen - Lead Vocals
Mike is the youngest member of Brother 2 Brother but his voice is mature far beyond his years on this planet. Like the other members of B2B, Mike has performed and honed his craft in a number of successful local bands, singing everything from Gospel to Country to Rock. For those of you who have seen the movie "The Committments", Mike's voice is reminiscent of the lead singer in that group. He even looks a little like that guy. But don't try to categorize him. Mike Vohsen is a one-of-a-kind true blues original.
Kevin Jeansonne - Lead Guitar
Born south of I-10 in southern Louisiana, Kevin "Fat Fingers" Jeansonne started playing guitar at the early age of 10. His first guitar was a Sears Silvertone jumbo acoustic. Armed with guitar and an old Truetone record player he learned riffs from Guitar Slim, Muddy Waters, and the three Kings - Albert, Freddie and BB.
From 1976 - 80 Kevin played the local blues circuit in Lafayette, Louisiana and later joined "Burgundy" a local blues/classic rock band playing in and around the New Orleans area. Several years later Kevin and family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here is where he joined "The Wilder Brothers" band as lead guitarist . The band recorded two CD's, " Uptown Ruler "and "Beyond Duplication". During a late night recording session drummer Bill Wilder astutely gave Kevin the aka "Fat Fingers" .
In 2001 Kevin moved to Humble, Texas were he was a founding member of Houston's "Route 66" band. Complete with horn section, R66 played the local Houston circuit for several years. Highly influenced by Santana, Big Head Todd, Coco Montoya and other blues legends, Kevin is pleased to join Brother2Brother.
Norm Uhl - Keys, Harmonica, & Vocals
He used to do the News. Now he does the Blues. Norm Uhl was a fixture in the local television news serving as an on-air reporter for nearly 15 years on Houston's CBS affiliate. He reported live on such major stories as the Waco Siege and the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Over his career, he has filed stories for NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN.While in the hectic news business, Norm had to put his music on the back burner. But once he left the news business, blues was one of his first endeavors. Norm played keyboards and harmonica with "Mean Gene Kelton and the Die Hards" for two years, which is where he met Bass Player Mike "Lowboy" Leubner.
Mike "Lowboy" Leubner - Bass & Vocals
Also born and raised in Houston, in the Spring Branch area, Mike has loved and studied music since early childhood. After having played and sharing the bill with such notables as Foghat, Sherman Robertson, Roy Head, Mean Gene Kelton, Mark May, Joe "King" Carasco, Diunna Greenleaf, and many others, "Lowboy" has devoted his time and talent to Brother 2 Brother. Mike and Norm are founding members of B2B so the Blues Tradition is carried on in B2B with a little R&B and Rock thrown in for good measure. Not to mention B2B's original songs, several of which were penned by Mike Leubner.
And he can sing! Lowboy's rendition of Jimmy Thackery's "Cool Guitars", (sell the bitch's car), is always a crowd favorite and is one of our most requested songs.
Dan Jones - Drums
Drummer Dan Jones was born and raised in Chicago, a city known for it's wind and it's blues. Both would play important roles in Dan's life. As an airline pilot he rides the wind. As B2B's drummer he plays the blues and classic rock. Dan started playing drums in high school. He has played in many bands over the years and has played many styles. He counts among his influences jazz drummers Billy Cobham, Joe Morello and Steve Gadd. Another favorite is David Garibaldi from Tower of Power. Dan says, " I couldn't carry these drummers sticks to their gigs, but I enjoy listening to them and wonder how did he do that?"
How about that! All that talent and he's modest to boot. Don't let him fool you. This guy's a monster on drums. He rocks the blues with jazz finesse and puts a little funk into the equation for good measure. Dan's wide range of influences from rock to jazz to funk to blues adds a new dimension to the B2B sound.
reviews
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Diverse and divine !
author: Laura T Lynch of Kweevak.comLookin' For Texas is their eight track, self-produced debut. Although the album is a studio recording it has a live feel with experienced musicians bring passion to their craft. The CD has few overdubs allowing the emotions of the songs to take center stage. 'Don't Be Shy' features smoking guitar leads with up-tempo rhythms and hard rocking vocals. Mid way through the song, B2B slows the pace down for a blues guitar solo before returning to the original driving beat. 'Toobin' is a whimsical, Cajun flavored composition with the keys creating an accordian effect, along with flowing guitars and rhythms. Brother 2 Brother is musical camaraderie at its best and Lookin' For Texas is diverse and divine!
- author: Rocky Stone - Music News
The sound of the new Brother 2 Brother disc, "Lookin' For Texas", is the sound of a live band at work, striving to entertain the crowd at all costs. Although clearly a studio effort, there is an unmistakable live feel to the tracks. The desire to entertain is evident from the insistent urging of "Don't Be Shy" with its pounding , gritty, hard rock feel to the bluesy lope of "It Wasn't Me" or the Tejano-flavored squeeze box work on "Toobin." The musicianship is first rate, especially on "Sometimes Gone is Gone" which features Norm Uhl's honky tonk style piano. Brother 2 Brother should be congratulated for so successfully translating their live stage show into the fixed form of a studio recording. Rocky Stone - Music News (Oct 1, 2005)
- author: Sara Cress - Houston Chronicle
If you like blues-rock, Lookin' for Texas is a solid purchase. Sara Cress - Houston Chronicle (Oct 3, 2005)
- author: Jim Shortt - The Scene
This independent, self-produced blues/blues rock album contains eight original tracks. Time is 28 minutes, 43 seconds. Production and sound quality are very good. The opening cut, "Don't Be Shy," is a forceful, medium-tempo blues tune. Lead singer Mike Vohsen presents the mood of the lyrics well. Guitarist Robert Baker's strong solo is an excellent match for the mood. The title cut is a neat novelty tune that bemoans the fact that Houston is just another big city and has lost its Texas identity. Bassist Mike Leubner does lead vocals. Margo Lively guests on fiddle. "Toobin'" is a lighthearted ditty sure to get a broad grin from anyone that's enjoyed tubing the Guadalupe River, a favorite Texas pastime. "The Power To Drive The Blues Away" is a traditional, get-down blues tune that features Norm Uhl's first-rate vocals and keyboards. Bob Martin guests on trumpet and trombone, Patrick Brennan on saxophone. The whole band rocks hard on the driving, high-energy tune, "Fool Boy's Road," the best up-tempo song on the CD. Best slow-tempo tune is the Tin Pan Alley styled gut-ripper, "Sometimes Gone Is Gone." Vohsen's vocals are intense and passionate. Joe Miller guests on trombone. Best song on the CD is "It Wasn't Me," an R&B belt buckle polisher soaked in Swamp Pop Syrup. Vohsen's vocals capture the song's bayou feel perfectly. Highly recommended. Jim Shortt - The Scene (Oct 1, 2005)
Brother 2 Brother: ALONE IN THE TOP 5!!!
author: Paul Bondarovski - Midnight Special Blues RadioRemember this day: on Friday, December 2nd, 2005 one certain band from Texas called Brother 2 Brother has entirely filled the Top 5 of the Midnight Special Blues radio charts with the songs from their debut (!) album Lookin' For Texas! I can't believe my eyes: they got it! Our charts are based exclusively on listeners' votes, and we have listeners in more than 60 countries all around the world. That is, it's not in France (where the station is based), not in the U.S.A. (half of our audience), but in the whole wide world our listeners have built the Top 5 exclusively of Brother 2 Brother tunes!
Fun-filled variety
author: Jon Sobel - Blogcritics.orgButt-kickin' blues-rock is alive and well in Texas. Lookin' for Texas, Brother 2 Brother's stew of blues, rock and soul goes down warm and sweet. It's a studio recording with a live feel: this Houston outfit is not slick - in fact, they're not always even very tight - but they're good musicians who sound like they love playing together, which is more important. Clever, well-crafted songs complete the picture. "I Don't Care" recalls Georgia Satellites via Jerry Lee Lewis, while "Fool Boy's Road" suggests Jim Morrison and the Doors. You'll hear some Fabulous Thunderbirds, a little Lynyrd Skynyrd, more than a pinch of soul from the excellent horn section, and plenty of Chicago blues in these eight songs; there's even a shiver of the bayou in the accordian-led "Toobin'." Altogether a wide variety of styles, served up with heart and a generous helping of fun. Brother 2 Brother is not literally a band of brothers, but their camaraderie shows in the music.
A treat from the first beat to the last.
author: Dave Miller-North of the Border MagazineBrother 2 Brother turns out a consistently solid effort here. Robert Baker's “Don’t be Shy” relates to his playing in bands and looking out at all the cool chicks in the audience, while “Sometimes Gone Is Gone” with the driving horns of Patrick Brennan and written by Norm Uhl, Kevin Reed and Mike Vohsen advises that you should know when it’s time to quit a relationship, and the soulful “It Wasn’t Me” (my personal favorite) is a dreamy ballad that should stand out. Everyone should recognize the sentiment in the novelty tune “I Don’t Care” by Mike Lowboy Leubner. The big band sound of “The Power To Drive The Blues Away” with Robert’s stinging guitar and more horns is the answer to a relationship breakup cured by the power of music. Mike Vohsen’s powerful “Fools’s Boy Road” is an ode to moonshiners prompted by a documentary seen on TV. The two songs with much potential to become regional Texas hits are “Toobin” with keyboard induced accordion inspired by Guadalupe river rats on a weekend on the river and the title cut making fun of the way people think about Texans with some mean fiddle by Margo Lively and references to the real places you’ll find true Texas folks like New Braunfels and even Magnolia. The eclectic mix of blues, soul, country, rock and humor make this a treat from the first beat to the last. -Dave Miller-North of the Border Magazine-Houston, TX
Longing For Texas!
author: Janey and MarkToobin makes me want to go to the RIVER! Lookin For Texas..Love the fiddle, the story is great and very true. More to Texas than Dallas Or Houston! Power to Drive The Blues Away, Awesome Guitar sounds. Great CD............These Guys are Damn Damn Good!