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R ecently, the 40 Watt played host to one of the most antici
pated and fast-selling shows of the past year. The Shins had
arrived in Athens, and while the sold-out crowd that evening
knew what kind of show to expect from the Albuquerque/ Portland
quartet, not many knew about the bubblegum pop gem opening the
show. The Brunettes took the stage with seven musicians ahd
quickly immersed the audience in a sunny pop-rodc world full of
glockenspiels, saxophones and cellos. Few in attendance had heard
of New Zealand's Brunettes prior to that
show, but by the end of the night, the
group left with a strong contingent of
new fans.
The Brunettes snagged the opening
spot for The Shins' recent national tour
after opening for them at a show back
home in Auckland. At the end of the
night. The Shins' drummer approached
the guys and told them that if they
could get themselves over to the United
States, The Brunettes could support The Shins for the entire U.5.
tour. The Brunettes jumped at the chance.
The core of The Brunettes is the duo of Jonathan Bree (vocats-
guitar) and Heather Mansfield (vocals, keyboard, clarinet glocken
spiel), who formed the band in Auckland in 1998. But the outfit can
grow to as many as 10 people, depending on whether the duo is
joined by friends to comprise the Lit Chief Pop Orchestrette. The
Crchestrette happens only back in New Zealand when Bree and
Mansfield grab members of other bands who call Lit Chief Records
their home. While on tour with The Shins, The Brunettes had a total
of seven players; for the current tour with Rilo Kiley, however, the
line-up has slimmed to only five: Bree, Mansfield, James Milne
(bass), Ryan McPhun (drums, percussion) and Harry Cundy (trumpet
banjo). Missing are saxophonist Amee Robinson and saxophonist-
ceUist Tosh Ahkit who had to return home.
According to Bree, being on the road with so many people has
its pluses and minuses. "The van was pretty cramped,* he says,
laughing. "That was obviously not a plus. But rtfs kind of fun
because you're a group of people and you don't get as sick of one
another... When the numbers start getting down, then you start to
notice what you dislike about other people more.*
Since the band's inception, The Brunettes have released a
handful of albums on LIT Chief. In 1998, the band put out the four-
few in attendance had heard of
new Zealand’s brunettes prior
to that show, but by the end of
the night, the group left with a
strong contingent of new fans.
Sion *
ugh athens
song Mars Loves Venus EP and followed that up in 2002 with
Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks. The Boyrocer EP came out in 2003
and next was the full-length Mars Loves Venus, which shares the
title track with the 1998 EP. Out now is the brand new EP When Ice
Met Cream, which soon will receive distribution help in the States
from Sub Pop Records. The Brunettes' music embraces a warm pop
feeling and a full sound thanks to all of the instrumentation.
Surprisingly, the band doesn't find it too difficult to write songs to
•encompass so many different sounds.
"That's the fun part about... layering
instruments together and arranging it,"
explains Bree. "The hardest thing is
actually stripping it back and working
out what you sort of keep in there and
what (you don't]."
The last time The Brunettes came
through Athens, they closed the show
with a curious number about Mary Kate
Oisen, with each member donning a
Mary Kate mask to finish out the song. Bree was inspired to write
the song after he was given one of the Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
books by a fan. He says he read all of the titles in the series and
thought they were incredibly strange, so Bree decided to string all
of the Olsen twins' book and OVD titles together into a song. Very
proud of his new creation, Bree arranged to interview Mary Kate for
a television station in New Zealand during the twins' press junket
there to promote New York Minute. Bree had even planned to have
The Brunettes perform the song for her; much to Bree's chagrin, all
this was just prior to Mary Kate's entry into a clirtk for eating disor
ders and his dream never materialized. But performing the song
night after night is hopefully some consolation. Athens audiences
should hope that the masks make a repeat appearance.
Leah Weinberg
WHO: Rilo KHey, Okkenril River, The Brunettes
WHERE: 40 Watt Chib
WHEN: Wednesday, June 8
HOW MUCH: $10
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73
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OKKERVIL RIVER *
THE BRUNETTES
Ail Shows (8 and up
Advance Tix Available at Sctiool Kids Records 8 low yoyo
Advance Tix Sold at http:, w*w.pitch a tent.com
EXCLUSIVE HUME
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JUNE 1, 2005 • FLAGP0LE.COM 25