Fire Track: Brainstory – “XFaded”

Brainstory released their sophomore full-length album Sounds Good via Big Crown Records, produced by Leon Michels aka El Michels Affair. Sounds Good is an album that, simply put, lives up to its name with the band’s unique blend of psychedelic soul permeating each track as well as nods to their background – Chicano rock flair that the brothers Martin grew up listening to (“Hanging On” featuring Clairo’s Claire Cottrill), Bob Dylan-influenced songwriting (“Too Yung”), and tapping into the nostalgia of cul-de-sac hangs with friends (“Peach Optimo”) and small town life where getting drunk and high is an unofficial pastime (“XFaded”).

To celebrate the new album, the Los Angeles-area trio kicked off their headline U.S. tour with a sold out Los Angeles show, with U.S. dates going through May 8th. This run of shows also include a stop at the Austin Psych Fest and will be followed by UK / EU support dates in May with Lady Wray, who they performed with on her NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert in 2023 – see all tour dates below.

Brainstory is Kevin Martin and Tony Martin – brothers by blood, and Eric Hagstrom – a brother through their music and long term friendship. Their initial connection comes from the heady mixture of jazz performance-focused music school and the grind of playing local shows, but their bond has been strengthened through countless hours on the road touring and the making of two studio records—2019’s debut full-length, Buck, followed by 2021’s Ripe EP.

Sounds Good applies Michels’ unmistakable golden touch in crucial ways, and the album title is a playful nod to when the band knew a track was complete while recording: a simple note from Leon that what they were working on “Sounds good.” The path to take their art to the next level is clearer than ever for Brainstory. Each member of the band has gone through shifts, both personally and musically, and all of that threads through this record. Brainstory’s friendship started the group, and now, their expanded brotherhood including Michaels is supporting them to push it further. The stars have aligned for them to take a big and well deserved step with this new album, and you can hear it in their music—music that just Sounds Good.

Sounds Good is out now on Big Crown Records.

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BRAINSTORY TOUR DATES
Apr 25 Tandem – San Antonio, TX
Apr 26 Psych Fest – Austin, TX
Apr 27 Norman Music Festival – Norman, OK
Apr 29 Sister Bar – Albuquerque, NM
May 01 Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO
May 02 The Atrium – Fort Collins, CO
May 03 DLC – Salt Lake City, UT
May 04 Neurolux – Boise, ID
May 07 High Dive – Seattle, WA
May 08 Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
May 14 Bird, Rotterdam, Netherlands +
May 15 Bitterzoet, Amsterdam, Netherland +
May 16 Knust – Hamburg, Germany +
May 17 Franz Mhelhose – Enfurt, Germany +
May 18 Lido – Berlin, Germany +
May 20 La Maroquinerie – Paris, France +
May 23 Belgrave Music Hall – Leeds, UK +
May 24 Lost Horizon – Bristol, UK +
May 26 Cross The Tracks Festival – Brockwell Park, UK
May 27 Jazz Cafe – London, UK +
May 28 The Blues Kitchen – Manchester, UK +
May 29 St. Luke’s – Glasgow, Scotland +
Jun 08 The Rockaway Hotel – Rockaway, NY +
Jul 08 FEQ Festival D’ete De Quebec – Quebec, Canada