chris brokaw
2021-1229_ChrisBrokaw

upcoming shows

Oct 7 -- Lupo Citta
North Adams, MA, at Belltower Records, for a 5th anniversary party. Outdoors, 1pm, all ages, lots of bands

Oct 17 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Somerville, MA, at The Burren, as part of an evening presented by EARFULL, merging readings + performances by writers and musicians. Performers include poet Soren Stockman, author Jayne Anne Phillips, and Effects of The Sun (Dana Colley, Jerome Deupree, Adam Steinberg), along with Chris. All ages show, 7pm, tickets on sale here


2023-1017-Earfull-Burren

Oct 20 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Cambridge, MA, at The Middle East, w/Lewsberg & Minibeast

Oct 21 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Montpelier, VT, house show

Oct 26 -- Codeine
Austin, Texas, at the Levitation festival, w/Unwound, Karate, Chisel, and more; details here


2023-1108-Codeine-Tour

Codeine US East Coast 2023
November, 2023

This mini U.S. tour includes Codeine’s first Boston show in more than a decade and first Philadelphia and D.C. shows in three decades. These shows were rescheduled from April 2023 and previously purchased tickets will be honored. Please note the changed venue in New York.

Nov 8 -- Codeine
Cambridge, MA, at The Sinclair, w/Barbara Manning; tickets here

Nov 9 -- Codeine
NY, NY, at Bowery Ballroom, w/Barbara Manning; tickets here

Nov 10 -- Codeine
Washington, DC, at Black Cat, w/Barbara Manning; tickets here

Nov 11 -- Codeine
Philadelphia, PA, at Underground Arts, w/Barbara Manning; tickets here


2023-0211-Codeine-Trio3.png

Codeine: John Engle, Chris Brokaw, Stephen Immerwahr, Feb 11 2023


Chris is teaching guitar and drums by video and in person. Email him at redcities2002@yahoo.com for details.


Contributions for online shows can be made via PayPal (chrisbrokaw@yahoo.com) and Venmo (@Christopher-Brokaw-2).


Read a recent interview Chris did with Dmitry Samarov.

Follow Chris on Instagram and Facebook for the most up-to-date news. This website can be a few weeks behind.


[updated Sept 20, 2023]

news

Codeine is touring in September in the EU and UK, in their first non-US shows since 2012. They are performing with original band members Stephen Immerwahr, John Engle, and Chris Brokaw. The tour is bringing them to Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Croatia, Italy, France, Belgium, and England. Later this fall they'll be performing in the US in Texas, Cambridge, NYC, D.C., and Philadelphia.

2023-0901-Codeine-Berlin.jpg

Codeine in Berlin, Sept 1 2023


The shows are in celebration of the release of "Dessau," a previously unreleased studio album from 1992. It came out September 9, 2022 on Numero Group. It's for sale at Numero Group and at the Codeine Bandcamp page.

NPR notes the originality of the music when it was created: "There was quite simply nothing else like it."

2022-06-Codeine-Dessau


Read a profile in The Guardian of Codeine and "the glacial pleasures of slowcore."

The New Yorker writes, "During its original incarnation, in the early-nineties underground, the doom-laden New York band Codeine issued two LPs, “Frigid Stars” and “The White Birch.” Listen to Stephen Immerwahr’s dour poetry, John Engle’s tolling guitars, and Chris Brokaw’s glacial drumming, and picture falling snow."

Treble says “Dessau is the band’s codex, a monument to their own aural navigation of sadness, contemplative, crushing, and finally complete.” See Codeine's full discography.

In an interview with Brooklyn Vegan about their reunion, their legacy, black metal, and more, Chris said of 'Dessau': “It was heartbreaking, for me anyway, when we shelved it. I thought it was the best thing we'd done.”


In a project running from 2021 to 2023, Fire Records of London has reissued the entire catalog of Come, the Boston-based band that recorded and toured the globe in the 1990s.

"NEAR LIFE EXPERIENCE" (from 1996) was released June 2, 2023. It joins "GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM" (from 1998), released April 22; "PEEL SESSIONS" recorded live at the BBC in 1992 and 1993, which came out in 2022; and the first reissue, "DON'T ASK DON'T TELL" (from 1994), which came out in 2021.

2023-0513-Come-RoadRunner.jpg

Come in Boston, May 13 2023


The original lineup of the band (Thalia Zedek, Arthur Johnson, Sean O’Brien, and Chris) regrouped to celebrate the releases and has spent much of 2023 touring Europe, the UK, and the US.


Chris began playing drums in a new trio last year called Lupo Citta. The band recorded its first LP in January 2023 with Pete Weiss at Bluetone Studio, Somerville.

The LP will be released on 12XU Records of Austin, Texas, in January 2024.

Lupo Citta is Jennifer Gori, Sarah Black, and Chris Brokaw.

2023-0129-Lupo-Citta.png


Chris traveled to Norway in June 2022 to perform a solo electric show at a small festival at a decommissioned power station in Florli, about an hour from Stavangar.

Chris writes: "The 'festival' turned out to be more like an artists' retreat, combined with the wedding of Iver and Marit. My involvement was kinda last minute but I was very happy to be there. I met some great artists, experienced some cool and unusual performances; and played 2 solo sets, one electric in this giant decommissioned power plant, and one acoustic in the living room of a cabin. Both were thrilling for me; my new friend Jim Dawson recorded the electric one. This tape is that whole performance. As 'post covid rejuvenation get togethers' go this one was pretty great; the tape a good memento to an inspiring weekend."

2023-0119-Florli-Horiz-2-jpg

The recording was released by 12XU January 19, 2023. Cassette (limited edition, 150) and digital download, both for sale at 12XU's Bandcamp.

Watch a short video clip of the performance by Victoria Heggelund.


Chris has been scoring a new film by Julia Halperin and Jason Cortlund, "Crookedfinger."

Chris' other movie work includes Halperin and Cortlund's "Barracuda," a 2017 feature film that was nominated for the SXSW Gamechanger Award and the SXSW Grand Jury Award.

Chris composed the score for "Buck Run," which premiered at the 2019 Palm Springs International Film Festival. It's directed by Nick Frangione and stars James Le Gros. Watch the trailer.

Variety says: "The drifting electric guitar of Chris Brokaw’s score further amplifies a timelessly melancholy air."


Reuss-Recidivist-Brokaw-Pedal

Reuss Musical Instruments of Copenhagen has collaborated with Chris on a guitar pedal, the Reuss Recidivist Chris Brokaw signature pedal.

Both the first edition and second editions have sold out, but there are plans for a third batch, hopefully later in 2023.


Other projects: Chris' duo with Jeff Barsky, Sunset To The Sea, released its second cassette, "LOT COP," in 2022. Find it at Chris' Bandcamp page.

2022-0415-Barsky-Brokaw-2.jpg

Chris and Jeff's first tape, from 2016, is long out of print but available as a digital download. "There’s a bleak dystopian feel in places that recalls the most probing and exploratory corners of industrial zones, but also a crackly warmth and humanity that only two skilled improvisers like these could add. Dark and hypnotic in the best way possible."

Chris was recruited to play drums with Dan Burton and Chris Carothers, who since 1994 have been making music under the name Ativin. They worked together in New Orleans and then recorded in Chicago in December 2021, with Steve Albini producing.

In another project called Dark Money, Chris plays drums and bass with Mark Morgan (guitar) and Greg Kelley (trumpet). The band recorded and mixed its first batch of music at Oddfellows in Weymouth, MA, in October 2021.


 

recent releases

2023-0522-Come-Gently-Down-the-Stream

COME "GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM" double lp -- Fire Records, April 22, 2023 -- Originally released in 1998, the band for this record is Chris Brokaw (guitar and vocals), Thalia Zedek (guitar and vocals), Winston Bramen (bass), and Daniel Coughlin (drums). This reissue by Fire Records of London comes on 2 lps, 180g vinyl, in a gatefold sleeve, with new liner notes. Edition of 1000 copies. Includes digital download.

2023-0119-Florli-Sq-2.jpg

CHRIS BROKAW "LIVE AT THE DECOMMISSIONED POWER STATION IN FLORLI, NORWAY" cassette and digital download -- 12XU, January 19, 2023 -- This transcendent solo electric set was recorded June 2022 at Rimi/Imir's fest in Florli, Norway. Edition of 150. Available at Chris' Bandcamp page.

2022-0909-Dessau-Triptych

CODEINE "DESSAU" lp and digital download -- Numero Group, September 9, 2022 -- "Dessau" is a previously unreleased studio album from 1992 featuring Codeine's original line up of Stephen Immerwahr, John Engle, and Chris. “The sound, which typified the slowcore indie-rock subgenre, is so chilling, precise, and beguilingly extreme — shy, then crashing — that it recalibrates the vast spaces around each inquisitive note,” says The New Yorker. The album is available in blue vinyl, green vinyl, or black vinyl.

2022-03-04-Sunset-To-the-Sea.jpg

SUNSET TO THE SEA "LOT COP" cassette and digital download -- Tape Drift, March 4, 2022 -- This duo of Chris and Jeff Barsky weaves "a heavy and dense magic, with repetition and depth...[and] a crackly warmth and humanity" says Tape Drift. Studio recording, made in Maryland, featuring guitars and electronics. Edition of 50. Find it at Chris' Bandcamp page.

2022-0225-Come-Peel-Sessions

COME "PEEL SESSIONS" lp -- Fire Records, February 25, 2022 -- Live sessions recorded for the BBC's John Peel in 1992 and 1993 which "showcases the magnificent guitar interplay between Chris Brokaw (Codeine) and Thalia Zedek (Live Skull)." Second release of Come's catalog, in a project running through 2023. Details from Fire Records.

Come-Dont-Ask-Reissue.jpg

COME "DON'T ASK DON'T TELL" double lp/double cd -- Fire Records, October 22, 2021 -- This is the first release of the reissue of Come's entire catalog from the 1990s. The package includes the 1994 album, extra singles, b-sides, and a few previously unreleased gems from that era. The reissue landed on "Best of 2021" lists, with MOJO giving the reissue four stars. Read more at Pitchfork and Fire Records.

2021-0115-Puritan-2.jpg

CHRIS BROKAW "PURITAN" lp, cassette, and digital download -- 12XU, January 15, 2021 -- Many years in the making, "Puritan" is Chris' first all-out rock album since "Gambler's Ecstasy." It features bassist Dave Carlson and drummer Pete Koeplin. LP and cassette for sale at Chris' Bandcamp page; digital at 12XU. Read about Puritan.

images/2021-0226-Ferries-SunsOutGunsOut.jpg

THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD FERRIES "SUNS OUT GUNS OUT" lp and digital download -- EJRC, February 26, 2021 -- Third release by guitarist/vocalist Elisha Wiesner (Kahoots), bassist/vocalist Bob Weston (Shellac, Mission Of Burma) and drummer/vocalist Chris Brokaw. The Ferries' Bandcamp page includes videos and links.

2021-0305-AllOutAndDown.png

CHRIS BROKAW AND GEOFF FARINA "ALL OUT & DOWN" lp -- Landland Colportage, 2021 -- A 2016 collaboration of guitars and vocals by Chris and Geoff Farina (Karate). This reissue is a deluxe silkscreened edition, the 3rd version of the album, created by Dan Black and Landland Colportage. The album includes covers of the Carter Family, Gun Club and more. Numbered edition of 145 copies; for sale at Landland.

2019_0524_End_of_the_Night.jpg

CHRIS BROKAW "END OF THE NIGHT" lp and cd -- VDSQ and tak:til/Glitterbeat, May 24, 2019 -- Chris and Steve Lowenthal came up with the idea: create the perfect last record of the night. Chris explains the evolution. MOJO gave the record 4 stars ("pensive mood-mastery") and Uncut hailed its "flinty, deep-breathing guitar." For sale at VDSQ (U.S., LP) and tak:til/Glitterbeat (Europe, CD, and digital). Read about End of the Night.

2019-02-Lemonheads-VarshonsII-crop

LEMONHEADS "VARSHONS 2" cd and lp -- Fire Records, February, 2019 -- As with "Varshons 1," this album is a set of covers of 13 artists, from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to Lucinda Williams. Chris played guitar on the album, including "Can't Forget" by Yo La Tengo. Track list here.

2018CharnelGroundKidChrisJames2.jpg

"CHARNEL GROUND" lp -- 12XU, April 6, 2018 -- Charnel Ground's debut release was recorded in Brooklyn, NY, and features Kid Millions (Oneida/Boredoms) on drums, Chris on electric guitar, and James McNew (Yo La Tengo) on bass and organ. Listen on Bandcamp. Described as going from “white-hot feedback” to “sunshine-infused pop numbers.” For sale here with download code. Read about Charnel Ground.

2017-1128-Hand-That-Wrote-This-Letter

CHRIS BROKAW "THE HAND THAT WROTE THIS LETTER" cd -- Capitan Records, November 28, 2017 -- A friend asked Chris to play her wedding, requesting David Bowie and Prince covers. Chris turned some of their songs into classical guitar instrumentals and decided to make an album. Tracks include THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD, I WOULD DIE 4 U, and CONTROVERSY. Read about The Hand That Wrote This Letter.

Chris' Bandcamp page sells many of these recordings along with "Puritan" t-shirts made by Chris Kelley in Providence, Rhode Island, and other lp's, cd's, and test pressings.