The Bravery
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Bravery is a rock group originating from New York City, established in 2003. The ensemble consists of lead singer Sam Endicott, guitarist Michael Zakarin, keyboardist John Conway, bassist Mike Hindert, and drummer Anthony Burulcich. They gained recognition for their 2005 UK top 10 hit "An Honest Mistake" and the gold-certified 2008 single "Believe". Prior to their initial disbandment, they released three studio albums: The Bravery (2005), The Sun and the Moon (2007), and Stir the Blood (2009). Additionally, they issued a remixed version of their sophomore album titled The Sun and the Moon Complete (2008) and a digital live recording, Live at the Wiltern Theater (2010). Their sound is characterized by a fusion of post-punk and dance-rock elements.
After becoming inactive in the early 2010s, Endicott announced an indefinite break in April 2014. The band's official website declared their comeback on July 31, 2021.
Formation and Early Recognition (2003)
Lead vocalist and songwriter Sam Endicott first connected with keyboardist John Conway at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. They collaborated in various bands before moving to New York City. Transitioning from bass guitar to frontman, Endicott began crafting songs that would form the foundation of The Bravery.
Guitarist Michael Zakarin joined after answering a local advertisement and brought along bassist Mike Hindert, his fellow Georgetown University alumnus. Drummer Anthony Burulcich, who studied percussion at Berklee College of Music in Boston, returned to Long Island following a family loss; Endicott reached out to him on the day he relocated.
Their debut performance took place at Brooklyn's Stinger Club in November 2003. To promote their shows, they distributed 1,000 posters alongside three-song CD samplers featuring "An Honest Mistake," "No Brakes," and "Public Service Announcement." These materials showcased the distinctive "Phoenix" artwork by New York artist C. Finley, which was later used as the cover for their debut album. The band actively marketed themselves through street postering in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and Brooklyn, and they were among the pioneers on MySpace by creating one of its earliest band pages linked to downloadable MP3s on their site.
Unconditional EP (2004)
Following sold-out performances at smaller venues, The Bravery secured a weekly residency at New York’s Arlene's Grocery, playing every Thursday at 10 p.m. during May 2004. Each night was a sell-out, drawing attention from record labels. Their song "An Honest Mistake" gained early airplay on Boston's WFNX, San Francisco's Live 105, and the UK’s BBC Radio 1 through DJ Zane Lowe. Benefiting from international radio exposure and compelling live shows, The Bravery signed contracts in August 2004 with Island Def Jam for the US market and Loog Records in the UK.
In November 2004, the band moved to London's Stoke Newington, where they adopted a similar residency approach at The Metro Club in Soho while touring across the UK, France, and the Netherlands. They also opened for prominent acts such as Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Razorlight.
Loog Records issued the limited edition Unconditional EP on CD and 12" vinyl formats, which included tracks "Unconditional," "No Brakes," and "Out of Line." NME lauded it for possessing "the time-worn feel of an indie classic." The cover art featured C. Finley's oil painting titled "Colab." The lead song earned significant rotation on Radio 1 and XFM London.
The Bravery performed at New York City's Motherfucker Party on New Year's Eve 2005.
The Village Voice referred to them as "New York's Official Next Big Thing," while MTV and Rolling Stone highlighted them as artists to watch closely. Additionally, they were voted the top emerging act in the BBC News Sound of 2005 poll.
The Bravery (2005–2006)
The Bravery's initial single, "An Honest Mistake", was launched in the UK on February 28, 2005, entering the UK Singles Chart at No. 7 and climbing to No. 12 on the US Modern Rock Chart. The CD version included the b-side "Hey Sunshiney Day," while the 7" vinyl featured "Hot Pursuit (Duet Version)," a collaboration between lead vocalist Sam Endicott and Gillian Conway. Their follow-up single, "Fearless", released on May 23, 2005, offered U2’s "An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart" and The Cars’ "It's All I Can Do" as additional tracks. The DVD single comprised the "Fearless" music video and live performances recorded at London’s Koko club. Cover artwork was created by C. Finley. Released on August 29, 2005, the "Unconditional" single featured a Michael Brauer radio mix alongside a Benny Benassi dance remix that secured a spot in the UK dance charts’ top ten. The Maxi single contained further b-sides and remixes, enhanced with video content and artwork by Finley.
The Bravery was released on March 14, 2005, in the UK (and March 29 in the US), debuting at No. 5 on the UK Album Chart and reaching No. 15 in Ireland. The album’s cover displayed C. Finley’s painting "Phoenix," with the first 10,000 UK copies distinguished by a silver foil cover embossed with the Phoenix image. Promotion for the album included features in NME and French magazine Magic, followed by releases throughout Europe and Australia, where "An Honest Mistake" became a top ten hit on Triple J radio.
On May 28, 2005, The Bravery performed three shows within a single day, including opening for Duran Duran and headlining sold-out gigs at London's Astoria. On June 14, they supported U2 during their European tour kickoff in Manchester; despite some technical difficulties during their set, Bono personally expressed his gratitude. The band continued as U2’s support act across Europe, including a sold-out concert at Dublin's Croke Park on June 27, which attracted 90,000 attendees. They also appeared at major festivals such as Glastonbury Festival on June 26; their performance drew attention after bassist Mike Hindert removed his clothing due to heat—an episode covered by NME, Blender Magazine, and featured in Julien Temple's Glastonbury The Film.
Throughout 2005, The Bravery consistently sold out headline shows worldwide and performed at notable festivals including SXSW, Coachella Music Festival, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza. From November 2005 to March 2006, they supported Depeche Mode on their Touring the Angel world tour across venues in the US, UK, and Europe.
The Sun and the Moon (2007–2008)
The Bravery’s first single from their second album, "Time Won't Let Me Go," gained traction on US modern rock radio coinciding with their performances in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and at SXSW. This track reached the Top Ten of the US Alternative chart.
Released on May 22, 2007, The Sun and the Moon entered the US album charts at No. 24. Endicott described this record as a stylistic shift away from their synth-driven debut. The album’s candid cover photographs were captured by Jo McCaughey and Drew King, while its newsprint/collage design was developed by Endicott alongside designer Andy West. The second single, "Believe," reached No. 4 on US Alternative Charts in April 2008, maintaining its position for six weeks and becoming their most successful radio hit.
Before the album's release, The Bravery held secret gigs in New York City—including two at Arlene's Grocery, a venue credited with their discovery. They headlined tours across the US through June before embarking on European dates that included appearances at Oxegen and T in the Park festivals. Between July and September, they supported Incubus during an amphitheatre tour and subsequently joined The Smashing Pumpkins for a US theatre tour. In October, they played at Mexico City’s Motorkr Festival before wrapping up 2007 with headline shows across the US.
iTunes recognized The Bravery as pioneers by pre-releasing a different song weekly prior to an album launch. Starting February 19, 2008, singles such as "Believe," "This Is Not the End," "Bad Sun," and "The Ocean" were made available consecutively each week.
While touring, The Bravery developed The Moon, a more stripped-down electronic reinterpretation of The Sun and the Moon, recorded using mobile studios. They returned to New York City studios in December 2007 to complete this version. In January 2008, they announced The Sun and the Moon Complete, a two-disc package combining Brendan O'Brien-produced The Sun with its reimagined counterpart The Moon, released on March 18, 2008 featuring new packaging. "Believe" peaked at No. 4 on Modern Rock Charts in April 2008 and earned gold certification in the US.
Due to conflicts with their UK label, The Sun and The Moon was never released in that market. Endicott expressed frustration over being named BBC's best new band while simultaneously facing resistance from their label concerning increased exposure. Legal disputes continue regarding ownership rights for this album and future releases within the UK.
Stir the Blood (2009)
Keyboardist John Conway disclosed that The Bravery collaborated with producer John Hill—recognized for his work with Santigold and M.I.A.—as they developed new material. During the summer of 2009, the group previewed several tracks from their forthcoming third album while opening for Green Day on the North American leg of the 21st Century Breakdown Tour, including songs such as "Hatef--k" and "Red Hands and White Knuckles."
In an interview with Billboard, Endicott likened the album's sound to their 2005 debut, incorporating electronic influences and an energetic, celebratory tone, balanced by slower compositions like "She Is So Bendable," a ballad inspired by the 1950s and written by bassist Mike Hindert.
The album's lead single, "Slow Poison", made its debut on September 8, 2009, receiving airplay across major US radio stations. Its music video premiered on AOL Spinner on November 6, 2009, followed by a video for "Sugar Pill," directed by Hindert himself, which was released on November 19.
On October 1, 2009, The Bravery unveiled a striking video for "Hatef--k" on MySpace, also directed by Hindert, featuring provocative and intense imagery.
Prior to the December 1 release of Stir the Blood, The Bravery embarked on a headlining North American tour. Fans who pre-ordered the album were granted exclusive opportunities to meet the band and received an immediate download of the track "I Am Your Skin." Similar to The Sun and The Moon, this album was not distributed in the UK due to ongoing legal complications with their record label.
Live at the Wiltern Theater (2010–2011)
Live At The Wiltern Theater, marking The Bravery’s inaugural live album and concert film, was released exclusively through iTunes on June 8, 2010. It documents their sold-out show on November 5, 2009, in Los Angeles and includes all 18 songs performed, featuring fan favorites such as "An Honest Mistake," "Believe," and "Slow Poison." This release emphasizes the band’s strong rapport with their audience.
On June 2, 2010, The Bravery introduced a new song titled "Ours" as part of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse: Soundtrack under Atlantic Records—signifying their first official UK release since their gold-certified debut album.
By December 2010, after resolving disputes with their previous label, the band announced plans for a UK tour and a London residency scheduled for February 2011. This development allowed them to resume releasing music in the UK following their initial Gold-certified success. During SXSW 2011, The Bravery performed a rendition of "Gin and Juice" featuring guest vocals from Dennis Quaid.
Hiatus (2012–2021)
From 2012 to 2013, Burulcich toured as drummer for Morrissey and temporarily replaced Weezer's Patrick Wilson in July 2013. In 2014, he toured with White Sea and also played drums for Brian Bell’s project The Relationship. Meanwhile, Mike Hindert established Merrifield Records and began directing. John Conway ventured into winemaking with his enterprise Conway Family Wines. Zakarin pursued various creative ventures outside music. Endicott took on lead vocals for The Mercy Beat alongside Burulcich on drums. In April 2014, Endicott confirmed through The Bravery’s official website and Facebook that members were concentrating on individual endeavors without plans to reunite the band.
Reunion (2021–present)
On July 31, 2021, The Bravery announced their comeback through their official website and social media channels, marking their reunion with a scheduled performance at the Rickshaw Shop in San Francisco later that year.
In September 2021, the band was confirmed as part of the Corona Capital Festival lineup in Mexico City, sharing the stage with acts such as Tame Impala and Twenty One Pilots.
Their first live show in the United States in over ten years took place on January 17, 2023, when The Bravery performed at the Just Like Heaven festival held in Pasadena, California.
Collaborations
While working on Stir the Blood, Sam Endicott and John Hill co-authored three tracks for Shakira's 2009 album She Wolf, including the successful single "She Wolf" and "Men In This Town". The single "She Wolf" reached number one across Latin America and secured top ten positions throughout Europe, Canada, Japan, and the United States. The third composition, "Devoción," was featured on Shakira's 2010 Spanish-language album Sale El Sol. Additionally, drummer Anthony Burulcich contributed to the track "Tu Boca" from the same album.
Endicott, Hill, and artist Santigold collaborated to write "Monday Morning" for Christina Aguilera's 2010 release Bionic. This song was highlighted by NME as a distinguished disco-influenced track that effectively blended unique musical elements.
Band members
- Sam Endicott – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Michael Zakarin – lead guitar, backing vocals
- John Conway – keyboards, backing vocals
- Mike Hindert – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Anthony Burulcich – drums, backing vocals
Discography
- Studio albums
- The Bravery (2005)
- The Sun and the Moon (2007)
- Stir the Blood (2009)