Brainstory: KCRW Live from HQ

Brainstory, among the most genre-fluid of the recent wave of SoCal souldies groups (see also: Thee Sacred Souls, Thee Sinseers, Los Yesterdays), formed their musical bond with a simple objective in mind: “We wanted to trick people into listening to jazz, basically," says frontman Kevin Martin. 

The trio, which consists of the brothers Kevin (vocals, guitar) and Tony (bass) Martin, alongside their honorary brother/bandmate Eric Hagstrom (drums), have since built a signature sound rooted in jazz and incorporating 1960s-style soul, hip-hop, psychedelic explorations, and close-knit harmonies of the “Laurel Canyon” variety. Their 2024 LP, Sounds Good, is out now via Big Crown Records and was produced by label head Leon Michels — perhaps the most in-demand producer of this year, having also had a big hand in shaping splashy releases from Clairo and Remi Wolf. 

More: Leon Michels: KCRW Guest DJ Set

The band’s considerable rapport only intensified during COVID lockdowns, as they perfected the art of self-recording in their Long Beach studio. And having now toured extensively with heavy-hitters like Lady Wray and Chicano Batman, Brainstory’s here to blow the roof off of KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio with their electrifying live show. The trio are joined by Taylor Spiliotis on trumpet and Diego Geata on keyboard for Sounds Good jams “Hanging On” and “Nobody But You,” and more. Plus, deep cuts like “Beautyful Beauti” from their 2019 debut album Buck (also produced by Michels).

Watch it all via the video above and then treat yourself to the interview video below. The band gets into it with Novena Carmel about how they’re feeling right now — mentally, creatively, and spiritually.

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