100 Bands in 100 Days Presented by Verity Credit Union — Day 90: Brian James and the Great Unknown
Please check out Verity Credit Union, our great partner in the 100 Bands in 100 Days local music showcase.
Music fans of the Pacific Northwest, get ready for our sixth annual year-end daily local music showcase, 100 Bands in 100 Days, where every day until December 31st, we’ll be showcasing a new band or artist you have to know about. For the fourth year in a row, the showcase is once again presented by Verity Credit Union.
Make sure you are checking the #100Bands100Days hashtag on Twitter on a daily basis to stay on top of all the bands featured and be sure to follow Verity and NW_Music_Scene on there. Some days the featured act could be an established and locally-adored northwest-based musician and other times they could be a band with a small following that just hasn’t had their deserved time in the spotlight yet. Either way, we’re fairly confident you can come away from this daily segment with plenty of new favorites. Today’s featured act is Brian James and the Great Unknown.
About the band:
Just a few days ago we reviewed a fantastic new album from Brian James and the Great Unknown and there’s little doubt we’ll be hearing lots more from this talented outfit in the new decade.
Here’s some of what we had to say in our review:
The opening title track is an easily accessible anthem of self-determination over a groove that owes a debt to the Dave Matthews Band. The funk continues with a clever bit of lyricism about first world problems on “Keeping Up With The Joneses.” James demonstrates his range on the sultry poem of admiration, “Taken,” doing his best Luther Vandross. The breezy “Somebody’s Someone,” is a call to arms for us all to reach out and dare to love. James whispers in his lover’s ear on the piano driven ballad “Sanctuary.” Northwesterners will connect with his assertion of rain in the winter time that keeps us indoors. Zerbe blows out his seriously sick drumming chops on the time shifting “You Got Me Like.” The full ensemble sound comes to fruition on the dynamic track “Shame.” James propels the final track of the album, “Trying To Breath Underwater,” with his acoustic guitar and fiery vocals while the band backs him up with muscular punctuation. The strong offering should help Brian James and the Great Unknown make their mark on the northwest music scene and take those next big steps on their journey.
Listen:
Find Brian James and the Great Unknown at:
A huge shoutout to Verity Credit Union for doing so much for the music community and for being such a great partner.
As an added bonus this year, House Of Cannabis will be playing the featured bands in each of their three Washington locations.
