The Brakes
Encyclopedia
The Brakes are a rock band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
in 2002. The original five members were Zach Djanikian, Matt Kass, Derek Feinberg, Josh Sack, and Adam Flicker. In 2006, they performed at SXSW Showcase, as well as many festivals such as All Good, High Sierra and Wakarusa
. Their national touring has also enabled them to share the stage with artists such as Dave Matthews Band
, O.A.R.
, Willie Nelson
, John Fogerty
, Live
, and Widespread Panic
.
The band has had multiple EP
releases, regular rotation on station WXPN
in Philadelphia, and near capacity headliners at TLA
. In 2002, The Brakes set the record for highest ticket sales at The Point in Bryn Mawr
, Pennsylvania.
In early 2006, The Brakes joined forces with H&R Block
and became the face of the company's "TaxCut program" advertising campaign. The advertisements were featured on major national networks during shows like American Idol
and The OC. The "TaxCut Program"'s print campaign graced the back covers of Entertainment Weekly
, Rolling Stone
, and Us Weekly
.
On Father's Day 2006, Djanikian was chosen to sing "God Bless America
" during the seventh innings stretch at the Philadelphia Phillies
game.
Josh Sack, drummer for The Brakes, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia
in August, 2007 and he died on May 4, 2008, two days before the day of the release of their Hyena Records album, Tale of Two Cities. The album is a tribute to Sack's life and a showcase of his talents as a performer. Sack's successor, Spence Cohen, has been drumming with The Brakes since late April 2008.
The Brakes are winners of the 8th annual Independent Music Awards
Vox Pop vote for best Live Performance Album "Tale of Two Cities".
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2002. The original five members were Zach Djanikian, Matt Kass, Derek Feinberg, Josh Sack, and Adam Flicker. In 2006, they performed at SXSW Showcase, as well as many festivals such as All Good, High Sierra and Wakarusa
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a four-day music festival held in early June at Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas. The festival has been held annually since 2004....
. Their national touring has also enabled them to share the stage with artists such as Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
, O.A.R.
Of a Revolution
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, John Fogerty
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
, Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
, and Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
.
The band has had multiple EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
releases, regular rotation on station WXPN
WXPN
WXPN is a non-commercial, public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia that broadcasts a music radio format called adult album alternative , along with many other format shows supported all with an indie slant...
in Philadelphia, and near capacity headliners at TLA
Theater of the Living Arts
The TLA, also known as The Fillmore at the Theatre of Living Arts or Theater of Living Arts, is a music venue located at 334 South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a venue converted from an old single-screen movie theater. It has a capacity of 1000 and is used for smaller concerts...
. In 2002, The Brakes set the record for highest ticket sales at The Point in Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
, Pennsylvania.
In early 2006, The Brakes joined forces with H&R Block
H&R Block
H&R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services.Founded in 1955 by brothers...
and became the face of the company's "TaxCut program" advertising campaign. The advertisements were featured on major national networks during shows like American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and The OC. The "TaxCut Program"'s print campaign graced the back covers of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
, and Us Weekly
Us Weekly
Us Weekly is a celebrity gossip magazine, founded in 1977 by The New York Times Company, who sold it in 1980. It was acquired by Wenner Media in 1986. The publication covers topics ranging from celebrity relationships to the latest trends in fashion, beauty, and entertainment...
.
On Father's Day 2006, Djanikian was chosen to sing "God Bless America
God Bless America
"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song ....
" during the seventh innings stretch at the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
game.
Josh Sack, drummer for The Brakes, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia , also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML is the most common acute...
in August, 2007 and he died on May 4, 2008, two days before the day of the release of their Hyena Records album, Tale of Two Cities. The album is a tribute to Sack's life and a showcase of his talents as a performer. Sack's successor, Spence Cohen, has been drumming with The Brakes since late April 2008.
The Brakes are winners of the 8th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
Vox Pop vote for best Live Performance Album "Tale of Two Cities".
External links
Band press
- Jambands.com New Groove of the Month, review by Mike Greenhaus, May 17, 2006
- WXPN review, January 3, 2007
- WXPN "Philly local" review
- "The Brakes: Neighborhood band grows together", Stewart Oksenhorn, Aspen Times, January 19, 2007
- Highs and New Lows: High Sierra 2006, John Zinkand, 2006-07-20
- The Brakes on The Mag