The Briefs
Encyclopedia
The Briefs are a punk rock
band from Seattle, Washington
, formed in 2000 and originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti (guitar/vocals), Steve E. Nix (guitar/vocals), Lance Romance (bass/vocals) and Chris Brief (drums/vocals). They play punk rock music, influenced by acts such as Buzzcocks
, The Undertones
and The Adverts
. They released their first full length album, Hit After Hit
, in October 2000 via Dirtnap Records
. The band was courted by and reportedly signed with major label Interscope Records
, following their 2002 release of Off the Charts
, but that deal fell through. The Briefs surfaced on California's BYO Records
with the release of 2004's Sex Objects
and the reissue of their Dirtnap-era full lengths. They most recently released Steal Yer Heart
in 2005. The Briefs have released a prolific number of 7" singles during their career, on several small independent labels.
In 2004, the Briefs went on a European tour without Lance Romance, who stayed behind to get his GED. In his place went bassist Steve Kicks of Vancouver
, British Columbia's band, New Town Animals. Lance rejoined the line-up for the 2004 release party of Sex Objects
, but retired from the band in 2005. Kicks has since become a permanent addition and was a full member for the follow-up, Steal Yer Heart
.
Lyrically the Briefs have carried on many themes prevalent in `77 era punk rock. The Sex Objects
single "Orange Alert" gained notoriety as a seething criticism of the Bush administration and the of the culture of fear
in post-9/11
America. It is one of a number of their songs critical of the U.S. Government, including "No More Presidents" and "Destroy The USA" from Sex Objects, and "We Americans" from Off the Charts. The band has also written a number of love songs in a consciously off-kilter style, similar to the Buzzcocks' "Orgasm Addict." With songs like "Dolly Parton", the band has also illustrated their penchant for light-hearted absurdity.
In 2007, the Briefs released a feature length documentary about the band, entitled The Greatest Story Ever Told, which was directed by the punk filmmaker, Lewis Smithingham.
The Briefs are currently on hiatus while Chris Brief is in Germany. Travanti has relocated to California and has joined two other bands. The first, Sharp Objects, has released a 7" single entitled "Zero Ambition", sounding somewhere in the vein of early 80's LA punk. A full-length album from them is reportedly slated for late 2010. The second band is called Modern Action, in which Travanti is joined by members of the bands The Bodies and The Shifters. Modern Action has recorded 2 7" singles, "Modern Action" backed with "Bleeding Red", and "Radioactive Boy" backed with "Problem Child", as well as a full-length LP/CD, Molotov Solution, all of which have been released on Modern Action Records, a label that Travanti co-founded.
Nix and Kicks both play in another band called Steve E. Nix and The Cute Lepers, playing a very similar style of music to that of The Briefs, with some added power-pop drive. They have released a 7" single of the song "Terminal Boredom", backed with "Prove It", on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records. Two more singles are expected to be released on the European labels NFT and Drunk'n'Roll Records.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, formed in 2000 and originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti (guitar/vocals), Steve E. Nix (guitar/vocals), Lance Romance (bass/vocals) and Chris Brief (drums/vocals). They play punk rock music, influenced by acts such as Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
and The Adverts
The Adverts
The Adverts were an English punk band who formed in 1976 and broke up in late 1979. They were one of the first punk bands to enjoy chart success in the UK, and their line-up included Gaye Advert, whom The Virgin Encyclopedia of 70s Music called the "first female punk star".-Career:The band was...
. They released their first full length album, Hit After Hit
Hit After Hit
Hit After Hit is the debut album from The Briefs, released in 2000 on both CD and white, red, pink, and clear vinyl.-Track listing:# Poor and Weird# Run the Other Way# Silver Bullet# Rotten Love# I'm a Raccoon# Sylvia# Where Did He Go?# New Shoes...
, in October 2000 via Dirtnap Records
Dirtnap Records
-External links:*...
. The band was courted by and reportedly signed with major label Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, following their 2002 release of Off the Charts
Off The Charts
Off the Charts is the second full album by The Briefs, released in both the US and the UK in 2003 on CD, and gatefold and white vinyl. The song " Gary Glitter's Eyes" is a nod to a song by The Adverts entitled "Gary Gilmore's Eyes"....
, but that deal fell through. The Briefs surfaced on California's BYO Records
BYO Records
BYO Records is a Los Angeles, California based independent punk rock record label created by Shawn and Mark Stern, two of the three brothers of the seminal California punk rock band Youth Brigade . BYO stands for Better Youth Organization and aims to promote punk and other alternative youth...
with the release of 2004's Sex Objects
Sex Objects
Sex Objects is the third full-length studio album by The Briefs, released in 2004 on CD, and yellow and black vinyl. It was released in France with an additional, unnamed track, and on yellow wax records.-Track listing:#Orange Alert#Halfsize Girl...
and the reissue of their Dirtnap-era full lengths. They most recently released Steal Yer Heart
Steal Yer Heart
Steal Yer Heart ia an album released by The Briefs on October 18, 2005. It was the first album recorded with Kicks on bass.-Track listing:#Genital General#Criminal Youth#Move Too Slow#Lint Fabrik#Getting Hit on at the Bank#Stuck on You#I Can't Work...
in 2005. The Briefs have released a prolific number of 7" singles during their career, on several small independent labels.
In 2004, the Briefs went on a European tour without Lance Romance, who stayed behind to get his GED. In his place went bassist Steve Kicks of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia's band, New Town Animals. Lance rejoined the line-up for the 2004 release party of Sex Objects
Sex Objects
Sex Objects is the third full-length studio album by The Briefs, released in 2004 on CD, and yellow and black vinyl. It was released in France with an additional, unnamed track, and on yellow wax records.-Track listing:#Orange Alert#Halfsize Girl...
, but retired from the band in 2005. Kicks has since become a permanent addition and was a full member for the follow-up, Steal Yer Heart
Steal Yer Heart
Steal Yer Heart ia an album released by The Briefs on October 18, 2005. It was the first album recorded with Kicks on bass.-Track listing:#Genital General#Criminal Youth#Move Too Slow#Lint Fabrik#Getting Hit on at the Bank#Stuck on You#I Can't Work...
.
Lyrically the Briefs have carried on many themes prevalent in `77 era punk rock. The Sex Objects
Sex Objects
Sex Objects is the third full-length studio album by The Briefs, released in 2004 on CD, and yellow and black vinyl. It was released in France with an additional, unnamed track, and on yellow wax records.-Track listing:#Orange Alert#Halfsize Girl...
single "Orange Alert" gained notoriety as a seething criticism of the Bush administration and the of the culture of fear
Culture of fear
Culture of fear is a term used by certain scholars, writers, journalists and politicians who believe that some in society incite fear in the general public to achieve political goals, for example......
in post-9/11
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
America. It is one of a number of their songs critical of the U.S. Government, including "No More Presidents" and "Destroy The USA" from Sex Objects, and "We Americans" from Off the Charts. The band has also written a number of love songs in a consciously off-kilter style, similar to the Buzzcocks' "Orgasm Addict." With songs like "Dolly Parton", the band has also illustrated their penchant for light-hearted absurdity.
In 2007, the Briefs released a feature length documentary about the band, entitled The Greatest Story Ever Told, which was directed by the punk filmmaker, Lewis Smithingham.
The Briefs are currently on hiatus while Chris Brief is in Germany. Travanti has relocated to California and has joined two other bands. The first, Sharp Objects, has released a 7" single entitled "Zero Ambition", sounding somewhere in the vein of early 80's LA punk. A full-length album from them is reportedly slated for late 2010. The second band is called Modern Action, in which Travanti is joined by members of the bands The Bodies and The Shifters. Modern Action has recorded 2 7" singles, "Modern Action" backed with "Bleeding Red", and "Radioactive Boy" backed with "Problem Child", as well as a full-length LP/CD, Molotov Solution, all of which have been released on Modern Action Records, a label that Travanti co-founded.
Nix and Kicks both play in another band called Steve E. Nix and The Cute Lepers, playing a very similar style of music to that of The Briefs, with some added power-pop drive. They have released a 7" single of the song "Terminal Boredom", backed with "Prove It", on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records. Two more singles are expected to be released on the European labels NFT and Drunk'n'Roll Records.
Discography
- Hit After HitHit After HitHit After Hit is the debut album from The Briefs, released in 2000 on both CD and white, red, pink, and clear vinyl.-Track listing:# Poor and Weird# Run the Other Way# Silver Bullet# Rotten Love# I'm a Raccoon# Sylvia# Where Did He Go?# New Shoes...
(2000) - Off the ChartsOff The ChartsOff the Charts is the second full album by The Briefs, released in both the US and the UK in 2003 on CD, and gatefold and white vinyl. The song " Gary Glitter's Eyes" is a nod to a song by The Adverts entitled "Gary Gilmore's Eyes"....
(2003) - Sex ObjectsSex ObjectsSex Objects is the third full-length studio album by The Briefs, released in 2004 on CD, and yellow and black vinyl. It was released in France with an additional, unnamed track, and on yellow wax records.-Track listing:#Orange Alert#Halfsize Girl...
(2004) - Singles OnlySingles OnlySingles Only is a collection of singles and re-recordings by The Briefs released in 2004 on CD only.-Track listing:# "Poor and Weird"# "Rotten Love"# " My Baby Is a Communist"# "Silver Bullet"# "C'mon Squash Me a Bug"...
(2004) - Steal Yer HeartSteal Yer HeartSteal Yer Heart ia an album released by The Briefs on October 18, 2005. It was the first album recorded with Kicks on bass.-Track listing:#Genital General#Criminal Youth#Move Too Slow#Lint Fabrik#Getting Hit on at the Bank#Stuck on You#I Can't Work...
(2005) - The Greatest Story Ever Told: DVD & CD (2007)
Equipment
- Steve and Dan both take pride in using vintage gear. Steve plays a 1960 GibsonGibson Guitar CorporationThe Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
Les Paul Double Cutaway, known as the "Junior" or "Special" model. During the earlier years he used to play with .11 gauge strings. Later he would switch to pure nickel "super slinky" or .09 gauge guitar strings. Heavily used in the seventies, these, along with his heavy gauge of pick (.88 Green Tortex to be exact), give him the raunchy 1977 tone many search for.
- Dan has also been seen with vintage gear including a Fender Jazzmaster with matching headstock (indicating it was a much older, late 60s or early 70s model). However, Dan has also played many other guitars including a Vintage Les Paul Custom and these days is rarely seen without his vintage Gibson SGGibson SGAt the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
junior.
- The reasoning for the heavy use of "Junior" Gibson guitars is mainly due to three key factors, one being the vintage "dogear" P-90P-90The P-90 is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Having a more complex architecture and larger dimensions than Fender's single coils, it is occasionally mistaken for a humbucker.- History :...
pickup. The P-90 forms an interesting combination of single coil "twang" and humbucker "beef", producing a sound that cannot easily be categorized. The mid-frequencies are usually very, very strong and bass is underemphasized. When played with modest gain and high volume, the pickup distorts itself due to the distance between the strings (they are surface mounted) as well as the pickup's overall output. In a sense, the P90 is a super-beefed up single coil. Another key factor is the wrap-around bridge. While they are not original (they replaced the original bridges with new wrap-arounds that had two adjustable saddles), the bridges create a great deal of tone characteristic as well as greater sustain. The key element to these guitars are their designs. Both include heavy fret access (The SG and Double Cut are almost identical in that nearly every fret can be accessed, unlike Gibson's traditional Single Cut Les Paul), light bodies, a slab of mahogany (Gibson's vintage guitars used much more prestigious pieces of wood), and, most importantly, they have little distractions in the way of playing so Dan and Steve can slam away at notes without flicking a tone switch out of socket or injuring themselves on a sharp bridge saddle.
- Effects used by the Briefs include an Ibanez Tube ScreamerIbanez Tube ScreamerThe Ibanez Tube Screamer is a guitar overdrive pedal, made by Ibanez. The pedal has a characteristic mid-boosted tone popular with blues players...
(Not the reissue, the traditional TS-9), a Boss "Super Chorus", and Boss Graphic Equalizer.
- Spare guitars on stage have included a Fender (American, Blonde) Telecaster with maple neck, and some pictures have shown a standard SG being played as well. Steve has also been seen with a Traditional Les Paul "Special" Cherry Red double cutaway guitar.
- Amplifiers include a vintage OrangeOrange AmplificationOrange Music Electronic Company is a British electric guitar and public address amplifier manufacturing company, famous for its distinctive sound and bright orange Tolex-like covering on amplifier heads and speaker cabinets...
amp head and a Fender Bassman. Cabinets used include vintage MarshallMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
cabinets. Steve once stated he used an AmpegAmpegAmpeg is primarily a musical instrument amplifier manufacturer headquartered in Woodinville, Washington, though they also manufacture guitars to a small extent...
as well, but that it was too large for touring.
- Dan can be seen playing a RickenbackerRickenbackerRickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
360 during the "Steal yer Heart" sessions and Steve has also been seen with Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters over the years.