Burden Brothers
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 in Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Vaden Todd Lewis, Taz Bentley |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles, live DVDs |
Burden Brothers is a hard rock ensemble that originated in Dallas, Texas in 2002, founded by lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist Vaden Todd Lewis alongside drummer Taz Bentley as a side project. The current roster features Lewis (Vocals/Guitar), Bentley (Drums/Vocals), and Casey Hess (Guitar/Vocals). After a hiatus beginning in 2007 due to the Toadies regrouping and other commitments, the band reunited to perform at the Dia De Los Toadies festival in September 2015.
Formation and Early Period
Vaden Todd Lewis, previously the frontman of the platinum-selling group Toadies, briefly reunited with that band before their second dissolution. Drummer Taz Bentley, recognized for his contributions to Reverend Horton Heat and Izzy Stradlin, had long-standing ties with Lewis through joint tours. Both residing in Dallas, they commenced collaboration in 2002, naming their project after a Dallas building sign that symbolized kinship and collaboration. Following adverse experiences with record companies, they initially shared their music online, which soon drew interest from a local label.
The group issued three EPs—8 Ball, Queen O' Spades, and Beautiful Night—under Last Beat Records, featuring Lewis and Bentley supported by a rotating cast of musicians. The positive response and frequent radio play of "Beautiful Night" in Tulsa, Dallas, and Houston motivated them to expand their lineup by adding guitarist Corey Rozzoni and bassist Casey Orr from GWAR.
After securing wins in several on-air "smash or trash" competitions in Austin, Texas, "Beautiful Night" enjoyed heavy rotation across major Texas radio stations. Subsequently, the band signed with independent label Kirtland Records, led by John Kirtland of Deep Blue Something. Their debut album, produced by David Castell, combined elements of classic arena rock with grunge influences. Lewis characterized their sound as a contemporary interpretation of '70s arena rock vigor.
In 2003, they released their full-length debut Buried in Your Black Heart, which received acclaim for its invigorating hard rock style reminiscent of early Soundgarden and '70s arena rock. MTV highlighted its robust, head-nodding metal qualities. The album’s lead single "Beautiful Night" climbed to #24 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Charts, supporting nationwide tours alongside bands such as Velvet Revolver, Papa Roach, and Finger Eleven.
Following the album’s success, guitarist Casey Hess joined for touring and recording sessions for their sophomore album, Mercy. They also released a live DVD entitled RYFOLAMF. Buried in Your Black Heart sold over 100,000 copies domestically, ranking among Kirtland Records’ best-performing releases. The track "Beautiful Night" is notably played during Dallas Stars hockey games due to its lyric referencing the team. The band garnered eight accolades at the 2005 Dallas Observer Music Awards.
Era of Mercy
In 2005, aiming to refine their catchy yet edgy sound, the band explored broader sonic experimentation during studio sessions. Their second album, Mercy, launched in 2006 and was produced by Grammy-winning Joe Chiccarelli (known for work with The Shins, Beck, U2) alongside David Castell. Vaden Todd described this record as "moody," with lyrics delving into themes of societal decay and personal introspection. The album incorporated atypical rock instrumentation such as strings and bells. Both critics and fans responded positively; the song "Everybody is Easy (We Sink/We Swim)" attained moderate national airplay while "Shine" saw less commercial success. According to Fort Worth Weekly, the album "rocks your backside about 75 percent of the time."
Despite favorable reviews, Mercy did not achieve the commercial success of its predecessor Buried in Your Black Heart, suffering from limited promotional support by the label and an underwhelming tour presence. This commercial setback led to considerable changes within the band's lineup. US sales were estimated between 50,000 and 70,000 units—significantly lower than their debut’s performance.
Hiatus and Reunion
The group paused their activities in 2006, during which Lewis rejoined the Toadies while the other members focused on individual endeavors. They stayed dormant until April 2015, when it was revealed they would reunite for the yearly Dia De Los Toadies event, scheduled for September 11–12 at Fort Worth's Panther Island Pavilion. This event represented their first live appearance since their break began in 2006.
Current members
- Vaden Todd Lewis – lead vocals, guitar (2002–present)
- Taz Bentley – drums (2002–present)
- Casey Hess (previously with Doosu and Jump Rope Girls) – guitar (2003–present)
Former members
- Corey Rozzoni (formerly of Clumsy) – guitar (2003–2007)
- Zack Busby (Slow Roosevelt, Halls of the Machine, Only Crime) – bass guitar (2006–2007, 2015)
- Casey Orr (GWAR, Ministry) – bass (2003–2005)
- Mark Hughes (Baboon) – bass (2002–2003)
- Mike Rudnicki (Baboon) – guitar (2002–2003, 2015)
- Zach Blair (Rise Against, GWAR) – guitar (2002)
- Josh Daugherty (Dovehunter) – guitar (2002–2003)
Timeline
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Albums
- Buried in Your Black Heart (2003)
- Mercy (2006)
EPs
- Burden Brothers (2002)
- 8 Ball (2002)
- "Queen O' Spades" (2002)
- "Walk Away" / "Jailbreak" Split release with Supersuckers (2005)
Singles
| Year | Track | US Main | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Beautiful Night" | 24 | Buried in Your Black Heart |
| 2005 | "Shadow" | - | |
| 2006 | "Everybody is Easy (We Sink / We Swim)" | 36 | Mercy |
| 2007 | "Shine" | - |
Live DVDs
- RYFOLAMF (Rock Your Face Off Like A Mother Fucker) (2005)