Story from MetroSpirit here:
The sound of Asheville comes alive in the Brothels.
Built from a truckload of skilled multi-instrumentalists, the Brothels dish out a mix of everything under the sun. A whole lot of blues and folk with some Eastern European gypsy music thrown in for good measure, the Brothels shine on their newest album “It’s a Bird Game.” They dabble in jazz, but the raspy vocals of James Butler and Jeff Micchelli come off as the love child of Tom Waits and some grimy ol’ pirate.
Rounding out the band with Justin Autrey’s harmonica, Jason Burke’s drums, Steve Tarabokia’s bass and Bryan Smith’s guitar, the Brothels are an eclectic Southern band complete with banjo, trumpet, mandolin, fiddle, rubboard and more.
Between the six of them, the members of the Brothels play a total of 12 musical instruments, often switching up in the middle of a set. As fans have told drummer Jason Burke, they are amazed at the way the band members are all over the place.
“It’s a mixed blessing,” Burke says, admitting that creating a unified sound with so many different styles is a true challenge. That’s the charm of the Brothels.
On their MySpace page, when asked to describe their sound, it’s impossible not to laugh out loud at the description posted. Sounds like: “Trouble, a pack of loose hobos, a head-on collision between a garbage truck and a freight train.”
Two years ago the guys from the Brothels were new arrivals in the completely unfamiliar city of Asheville. Since then, they have worked their way up in a music scene overflowing with talent.