” I do not feel as open, as free, or have the same level of creativity in the city as I do here in Brown County.”
have the same level of creativity in the city as I do here in Brown County. There’ s less stress, leaving more room for creativity.”
Brandon has lived in Brown County all his life, except for a two-year period in Bloomington while he was studying music education at Ivy Tech, and a brief stint in northern California. He was mandolin, guitar, and fiddle player as part of the Reel Tyme String Band for about four years, and then played mandolin in New Old Cavalry.
Earlier this year, he took a job playing with Ernest Tubb’ s nephew, in a band called Lucky Tubb and the Modern Day Troubadours. They played honkytonks and dance halls, a rockabilly festival in South Carolina, and other sites. But Brandon says he left the band because the touring was too stressful.
He formed a four-piece band back in Brown County, and is playing country, rock, and his own kind of music locally. Next, he’ d like to record another solo album, a concept album which tells a story. He has lots of ideas for the project, but isn’ t sure which direction it will take. Eventually, he’ d like to make a living as a musician doing studio work.
His influences are as diverse as his musical performances. They include Harry Nilsson— especially his album“ The Point”— Frank Zappa, The Beatles, Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, Sam Bush, and others. Are musicians born or made? Brandon took 10 years of piano and violin lessons as a child, and says that education is important to be able to communicate music with others,“ but that doesn’ t mean you can’ t just learn by ear.”
photo by Jules Dunlap
“ I practice every day,” he said.“ The instruments change, but I practice multiple instruments multiple times a day.
“ Part of it is in your ear,” he said.“ But most of it is in practice and you have to really want it. I think about music constantly, think about noodling something in my head.” •
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Free tasting of our locally made wines. You can choose from bold dry reds to refreshing whites and sweet fruit wines.
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38 Franklin St. E.( Near the train) Nashville, IN( 812) 988-1111 • cedarcreekwine. com
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Nov./ Dec. 2017 • Our Brown County 17