Folk & Acoustic
I grew up playing Texas old-time fiddle, taught by the incomparable Chris Daring, and I was lucky to record a couple albums of this music over the years. Texas fiddling is related to bluegrass and the Scots-Irish music of the northeast, but has a very different approach to technique from the other styles. In traditional Appalachian folk music, the fiddle is merely one of many lead instruments who will play both rhythm and melody. Texas fiddlers, on the other hand, always play lead, and are encouraged to take the basic line and improvise around it. It also tends to be a bit slower than bluegrass, although personal taste is always the deciding factor.
Going Places (2000)
This is my first album, intended as a marker of where I was in my life. The title was very appropriate for me at the time, since it was clearly a time of growth, change, and unexpected surprises: I was 18, it was my first year in college, in one year I’d be playing in my first rock band, and in two I’d be making preparations for my first trip to Egypt. All the instruments are performed by myself, Andy Daring (second guitar), and Chris Daring (twin fiddle on 50 Years Ago). Although my playing is definitely dated at this point, it’s still a fun album to listen to.
- Listen (mp3)
- If you would like the full album in CD-quality format, contact me
Salt River (2005)
Salt River was recorded in Ft. Collins, CO right before leaving for Chicago to begin grad school. I challenged myself to render each fiddle track in a way that separated it from the others, stylistically and musically. To this end, I explored a greater range of tempo, instrumentation, and arrangement than I had in the previous album, and I really like it. It features Jon and Jed from my old band Tastes Like Burning, as well as my brother Jonathan playing piano on Mr Hr (short for Miller’s Reel and Hummingbird Reel).
- Listen (mp3)
- If you would like the full album in CD-quality format, contact me
Rock & Electronic
I began writing and performing rock tunes shortly after high school. Many of those projects are best left in obscurity, but I have saved a couple tracks from the good ol’ days that I still enjoy listening to and am not too embarrassed to share. My current work is published under the name Brother Wren – see below for more details.
Afternights – A Cool Night On the Pumpkin Patch (2003)
Two friends and I formed a band called Afternights shortly after graduating high school; after a couple years writing songs, we put together our first and only album, A Cool Night on the Pumpkin Patch (2003). This is a mix of rock and electronica, with many tracks homages to the artists we were listening to at the time (R.E.M., David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Velvet Underground, the Crystal Method, the Flaming Lips, Ashley MacIssac, Switchblade Symphony, et al.) I have the best of the album here below.
- Listen (mp3)
- If you would like the full album in CD-quality format, contact me
Brother Wren (2017– )
After leaving Colorado, I continued to write and record my own music. After a decade of demos, singles, and half-finished ideas, I thought it would be good to clear my plate a little and start ‘officially’ releasing material again. I use “Brother Wren” (adapted from a childhood nickname) as my stage name. You can explore, stream, and download all my Brother Wren work at brother-wren.bandcamp.com.
Albums:
- Far Away (2017)
- 84 (in progress)