By Anna Marie Bolet, Rock At Night Jacksonville
EP Review:THE BRKN- No3-Right Brain Music Group via Ingrooves
Yanking me out of this Coronavirus Blues that we’re all collectively feeling was THE BRKN with their new EP, No3. Grateful to make their acquaintance as I sit here, trading my camera lens for a computer screen, locked up with my toilet paper, way more craft coffee then I will ever need and a cat that’s now somehow turned herself into a paperweight on my lap. I don’t think I’ll soon forget Jacob Cade and Mike Bokenkamp.
Pop Punk has always reminded me of simpler days, when my biggest worry was how I was going to get the sand out of my dads car after a weekend spent on the surf. It followed me into my first job post college, when it was what I blasted in the car at 7:00 am on my way to teach high school. It’s what bought me ‘street cred’ as a Rookie Science Teacher after one of my students busted me playing air guitar in my classroom during planning period. We bonded over Blink 182, Yellowcard and Fall Out Boy. THE BRKN will surely follow in those footsteps.
This group is a powerhouse. Their songs are a combination of heavy riffs, catchy rhythms and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The first cut, ‘Rolling with the Punches’ hit me in the face and reminded me that just because I’m confined to my home office, it doesn’t necessarily mean I need to be silent about it! While the harmonizing in ‘Broke’ is a touchingly sweet peak into the heart of a hopeless romantic we get pulled right out with ‘Your Existence’. These songs take you through all the emotions that come from love and loss and they do so while urging you to get up off your bum and dance like a fool.
I’ve always preferred to to listen to an album in order. There’s a reason for that flow. Most of the time, the artist is telling a story and each song is a chapter. This collection will take you on a journey that parallels what we’re all feeling at this moment, cooped up in our homes, waiting impatiently for all of us to get back to normal. At least with these guys, you’ll want to jump around on your furniture like you did in college. I know my cat has gotten a reminder that this too shall end.
This highly energetic group were definitely a dose of what I needed, now on day 16 of this self-imposed quarantine. Take a break from this crazy pandemic sandwich, download them now and destroy the silence in your home office or from wherever you find yourselves during this time of social distancing. It will feed your soul and give you something to look forward to. For me, they’ve made it to my bucket list of acts to catch LIVE once our venues get cranking again.
THE BRKN is:
Jacob Cade – vocals, lead guitar
Mike Bokenkamp – drums
SPOTIFY
So, I picked up a camera and started taking photos of everything and everyone and became the ‘annoying girl with the big camera’ when it came to vacations, birthdays and Christmas. Eventually, some of my images wound up on the walls of a few galleries too!
Now I take photos of musicians in their natural habitat and it feels like I’m on safari. I LOVE to take an image of someone when they are having the time of their lives!
Thanks for taking the time to read about me.
BIG LOVE
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