Brakes

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Brakes Biography

Brakes formed when Tom and Alex and Eamon were drinking after Eamon had supported The Lonesome Organist at Palmer's Bar in Brighton in August 2002. "We'll play drums and guitar on your tunes," they said. "Rad," said Eamon. They went to Mokinbird studios, a rehearsal/recording space in Kemptown, Brighton run by Marc Beatty, and convinced him to play bass. After half an hour, they looked at each other and said "this sounds freshmode."

Between now and then, they played wherever and whenever they could, but they mostly played at the Freebutt, Brighton's 200 capacity sweat box where bands like Lift To Experience, American Analogue Set, Fuck You Planet Earth and Yeah Yeah Yeahs played. Eamon did a few more acoustic Brakes shows. Georg and Orri from Sigur Ros played as his backing band in Reykjavik. He supported Lach. "I like your anti-folk" said Lach. "I thought it was country-punk" said Eamon. Lach looked away. Tugboat Records offered to put out a single, so the band went to Mokinbird studios on 20th July 2004 and nailed Pick Up, Stand to Stand and Cheney in half a day. It was to be one of the final sessions at Mokinbird, which sadly closed that December.

Sea Power's bassist Hamilton (no relation) directed Brakes' first video, the 30 second long Pick Up The Phone. It was filmed in the basement of the house he rents along with Eamon and Marc, which they named 'The Princess' after a painting of a girl collecting wheat which hangs on one of the basement walls.

"Holy shit, I've just seen our video on MTV" texted Tom to Marc one night in September. "Lush," said Brakes and went on tour around the UK later that month.

Rough Trade offered to release an album, so Brakes booked Metropolis studio 1 for a week in late January 2005, and put Iain Gore in control. The album was recorded in five days, all live on to 2" tape, and mixed in two days. Not a single computer screen was used in the whole process. They left it for a couple of weeks and then mastered it on the day after Valentines'.

Give Blood is the sound of four friends playing music in a room, recorded onto tape.

Brakes have played a few shows since finishing the album, supporting The Others, British Sea Power, Finley Quaye, and Buck 65.

Eamon Hamilton was born in Stewart, Canada. He was mostly raised in Stroud, Gloucestershire. His first band was called Jockrash. He joined British Sea Power in 2002.

Tom White was born and raised in Brighton. He left school at 16 to form the band The Electric Soft Parade. Flying scares him.

Alex White was born and raised in Brighton. He left school at 18 to form the band The Electric Soft Parade. He was born with perfect pitch.

Marc Beatty was born in Croydon and raised in Brighton. He left school at 18, took a sound engineering course and set up Mokin' Bird Studio in Brighton. He joined The Tenderfoot in 2002.

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The Latest Brakes News

Brakes Offer Private Gig For Guitars Return

28th June 2007

British rockers BRAKES have promised to play a private concert in the home of anyone who provides....

HAMILTON QUITS BRITISH SEA POWER

16th January 2006

BRITISH SEA POWER keyboardist EAMON HAMILTON has quit the group to pursue his frontman dreams....

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Brakes Video and Audio

Brakes, Worry About It Later Video and Information

Brakes, Worry About It Later Video And Information

Brakes, Worry About It Later Video

Brakes, Worry About It Later Video

Brakes, Beatific Visions Video and Information

Brakes, Beatific Visions Video And Information

Brakes, Beatific Visions Video

Brakes, Beatific Visions Video

Brakes, Cease & Desist, Video and Information

Brakes, Cease & Desist, Video And Information

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Brakes Reviews

Brakes, Hey Hey Single Review

27th January 2009

Review of Brakes' single Hey Hey. Brakes lead singer Eamonn Hamilton doesn't do understatement. The...

Brakes, Beatific Visions Single Review

6th September 2007

In the midst of embarrassing acts such as Razorlight & Keane and the seemingly declining British music scene it's nice...

Brakes, All Night Disco Party, Single Review, Rough Trade, 03/04/2006

13th March 2006

With news of Eamon Dermot vacating the British Sea Power camp still sinking in with their fan base, he softens the blow...

The Brakes, Ring A Ding Ding, Single Review

18th October 2005

Ok, so am I reviewing The Brakes or good old Roxy Music? This 70s sounding tune is from The Brakes debut album Give...

Brakes - Give Blood - Rough Trade - Album Review

5th July 2005

A very unusual ‘supergroup’ Brakes (Alex and Tom from The Electric Soft Parade, Eamonn from British Sea Power and Marc...

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Brakes Related Artists

electric soft parade

Electric Soft Parade

Silhouette

Fatcat Records

       

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