Brown Bird
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | David Lamb |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Ceased activity after founder's death |
| Headquarters | Providence, Rhode Island , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | David Lamb, MorganEve Swain |
| Products | Music albums |
Brown Bird was a folk music ensemble originating from the United States, initially created in 2003 in Seattle, Washington as a solo endeavor by David Lamb. Over the years, the project transformed, culminating in a duo consisting of Lamb and his spouse MorganEve Swain. The band ceased activity in 2014 after Lamb succumbed to leukemia.
History
David Lamb established Brown Bird in Seattle in 2003 but soon moved the project to Portland, Maine. Early collaborators featured Jerusha Robinson on cello and Jeremy Robinson handling various instruments. Following their exit in 2009, the group’s lineup included Lamb alongside MorganEve Swain playing fiddle, and Mike Samos contributing with lap steel guitar and dobro. After Samos left in 2010, Brown Bird continued as a two-person act.
By 2011, Brown Bird was based in Providence, Rhode Island and performed at the Newport Folk Festival. During this period, they also toured with The Devil Makes Three.
The band paused activities in early 2013 when Lamb was diagnosed with leukemia. He passed away on April 5, 2014.
In April 2015, the duo’s final album, Axis Mundi, was released under the production guidance of MorganEve Swain. Much of this work was composed during Lamb’s recuperation following a bone marrow transplant. The album attained the #12 position on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. MorganEve has since continued her musical career under the name The Huntress and the Holder of Hands.
In 2021, Brown Bird’s track "Bilgewater" was selected as the theme for the Syfy television series Resident Alien.
Musical style
Brown Bird’s sound is an amalgamation of American folk music, Gypsy influences, and bluegrass elements. Their style incorporates inspirations from Middle-Eastern psychedelic rock of the 1960s and 1970s, complex post-metal arrangements, and Balkan gypsy musical traditions. Their music is often characterized as dark American folk infused with Eastern European motifs.
Works
- Tautology (2007)
- Such Unrest (Spring 2007)
- Bottom of the Sea (2008)
- The Devil Dancing (2009)
- The Sound of Ghosts (EP, March 2011)
- Salt for Salt (October 2011)
- Fits of Reason (April 2013)
- The Teeth of Sea and Beasts - The Poetry of Brown Bird (Book, April 2014)
- The Brown Bird Christmas Album (November 2014)
- Axis Mundi (April 2015)
Further reading
- Concert honoring Dave Lamb's legacy with Brown Bird, The Boston Globe, April 10, 2014
External links
- Official website
- AllMusic
- Discogs artist