Chris performing in Stavanger, Norway, June 2018 with Findlay Sandsmark, deep in a dream of Daytona Beach, Florida. They performed their multimedia piece again in March and November 2019, also in Norway.
Jan 5, 2019 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Cambridge, MA, instrumental electric guitar music, at the Middle East Bakery, 1-3pm
LEMONHEADS WINTER 2019 EUROPEAN TOUR:
FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2019
Ireland, Scotland, England, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, France
New Lemonheads record "Varshons II" is out February 2019. Chris played on the album and is in the touring band playing guitar for all shows except Feb 27-March 8.
Feb 6, 2019 -- The Lemonheads
Dublin, Ireland, at The Academy
Feb 7 -- The Lemonheads
Cork, Ireland, at Cyprus Avenue
Feb 8 -- The Lemonheads
Belfast, Northern Ireland, at Elmwood Hall
Feb 9 -- The Lemonheads
Glasgow, Scotland, at SWG3 TV Studio
Feb 11 -- The Lemonheads
Newcastle, England, at Wylam Brewery
Feb 12 -- The Lemonheads
Manchester, England, at Ritz
Feb 13 -- The Lemonheads
Leeds, England, at Leeds University Stylus
Feb 14 -- The Lemonheads
Cambridge, England, at Junction
Feb 15 -- The Lemonheads
Birmingham, England, at Academy 2
Feb 17 -- The Lemonheads
Southampton, England, at Engine Rooms
Feb 18 -- The Lemonheads
Bristol, England, at SWX
Feb 19 -- The Lemonheads
London, England, at Forum Kentish Town
Feb 21 -- The Lemonheads
Utrecht, Netherlands, at Tivoli Vredenburg Pandora
Feb 22 -- The Lemonheads
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, at Rotondes
Feb 23 -- The Lemonheads
Zurich, Switzerland, at Mascotte
Feb 24 -- The Lemonheads
Bologna, Italy, at Locomotiv
Feb 26 -- The Lemonheads
Milan, Italy, at Biko (after this show Chris will not be on the Lemonheads tour Feb 27-March 8; he rejoins the band March 9 and 10)
March 7 -- Chris Brokaw and Findlay//Sandsmark present "Florida (lowlands)"
Stavanger, Norway, at Rimi/Imir SceneKunst. Chris has been traveling to Norway over the last several months to develop a new multimedia piece called "Florida (lowlands)" with Marit Sandsmark and Iver Findlay. Other collaborators include Pål Asle Pettersen, Nils Erga, Peter Warren, Jon Refsdal Moe, Sander L. Haga, and Jean-Vincent Kerebel. Findlay//Sandsmark is a performance company working across the disciplines of dance, theater, live music and video art in a collaborative and collective effort. Details here.
March 8 -- Chris Brokaw and Findlay//Sandsmark present "Florida (lowlands)"
Stavanger, Norway, at Rimi/Imir SceneKunst, details here.
Mar 9 -- The Lemonheads
Liege, Belgium, at Reflektor Club (Chris rejoins the Lemonheads for the last two shows of the Europe tour)
Mar 10 -- The Lemonheads
Paris, France, at Le Petit Bain
March 11 -- Chris Brokaw and Findlay//Sandsmark present "Florida (lowlands)"
Oslo, Norway, at Black Box Teater, as part of the Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival 2019
March 12 -- Chris Brokaw and Findlay//Sandsmark present "Florida (lowlands)"
Oslo, Norway, at Black Box Teater, as part of the Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival 2019
April 2 -- The Spelling Bee
Somerville, MA, at Highland Kitchen. Hazrat Potomac tests your spelling acumen. CB as foil. 10pm
April 5 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Cambridge, MA, at Lilypad. Solo sets by Chris, Thalia Zedek, and Mel Lederman. Book release jam for Dmitry Samarov. 7:30pm
April 7 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Somerville, MA, at Aeronaut, w/Possum; two sets by Possum, one solo set by CB. All ages 12:30pm-5pm, details here
April 10 -- Hidden Tooth (Chris Brokaw + Dave Curry)
Somerville, MA, at ONCE. Doors 7pm, show 8pm; details here
April 14 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Cambridge, MA, at the Middle East Bakery, 1-3pm. Dine + daydream.
April 16 -- Charnel Ground (Chris Brokaw, Kid Millions, Doug McCombs)
Cambridge, MA, at Lilypad, with Horse + Soldier, 9pm; listen and read more here
April 17 -- Charnel Ground (Chris Brokaw, Kid Millions, Doug McCombs)
Brooklyn, NY, at Union Pool, with Norman Westberg + Loren Connors/Alan Licht, 9pm
April 18 -- Charnel Ground (Chris Brokaw, Kid Millions, Doug McCombs)
Washington, DC, at Rhizome, with Insect Factory, 8pm
April 19 -- Charnel Ground (Chris Brokaw, Kid Millions, Doug McCombs)
Philadelphia, PA, at Jerry's On Front, with Dirt Weed Review, 8pm
April 25 -- Chris Brokaw/Thalia Zedek + Jennifer O'Connor
Jersey City, NJ, at Pet Shop, solo set by Jennifer, duo set by CB + TZ, 8pm
April 26 -- Chris Brokaw/Thalia Zedek + Jennifer O'Connor
Montpelier, VT, house concert at Mike + Kelly's, solo Jennifer, duo set by CB + TZ, 7pm; details here
April 27 -- Chris Brokaw/Thalia Zedek + Jennifer O'Connor
Allston, MA, house concert at Brad + Amie's, solo Jennifer, duo set by CB + TZ, 7pm
LEMONHEADS SPRING 2019 U.S. TOUR:
MAY-JUNE, 2019
The new Lemonheads record "Varshons II" was released February 2019. Chris played on the album and is in the touring band playing guitar.
May 1 -- The Lemonheads
Holyoke, MA, at Gateway City Arts
May 2 -- The Lemonheads
Fairfield, CT, at The Fairfield Theatre Company
May 3 -- The Lemonheads
Portland, ME, at Aura
May 4 -- The Lemonheads
Brooklyn, NY, at Brooklyn Bowl
May 6 -- The Lemonheads
Cleveland, OH, at Grog Shop
May 7 -- The Lemonheads
Detroit, MI, at St Andrews Hall
May 8 -- The Lemonheads
Toronto ON, Canada, at Lee's Palace
May 10 -- The Lemonheads
Chicago, IL, at Thalia Hall
May 11 -- The Lemonheads
Minneapolis, MN, at First Avenue
May 12 -- The Lemonheads
Omaha, NE, at The Waiting Room Lounge
May 14 -- The Lemonheads
Denver, CO, at Bluebird Theatre
May 17 -- The Lemonheads
Seattle, WA, at Tractor Tavern
May 18 -- The Lemonheads
Vancouver BC, Canada, at Rickshaw Theatre
May 19 -- The Lemonheads
Portland, OR, at Doug Fir Lounge
May 21 -- The Lemonheads
San Francisco, CA, at Slim's
May 22 -- The Lemonheads
Petaluma, CA, at Mystic Theatre
May 24 -- The Lemonheads
Los Angeles, CA, at Teragram Ballroom
May 25 -- The Lemonheads
San Diego, CA, at Casbah
May 26 -- The Lemonheads
Tempe, AZ, at Marquee Theatre
May 29 -- The Lemonheads
Oklahoma City, OK, at Tower Theatre
May 30 -- The Lemonheads
Dallas, TX, at Granada Theatre
May 31 -- The Lemonheads
Austin, TX, at Barracuda
June 1 -- The Lemonheads
Houston, TX, at White Oak Music Hall
June 3 -- The Lemonheads
New Orleans, LA, at House of Blues
June 4 -- The Lemonheads
Atlanta, GA, at Terminal West
June 6 -- The Lemonheads
Nashville, TN, at Exit/In
June 7 -- The Lemonheads
Charlotte, NC, at The Underground at The Fillmore
June 8 -- The Lemonheads
Charleston, SC, at Music Farm
June 9 -- The Lemonheads
Carrboro, NC, at Cat's Cradle
June 11 -- The Lemonheads
Lancaster, PA, at Chameleon Club
June 12 -- The Lemonheads
Pittsburgh, PA, at Mr. Smalls Theatre
June 13 -- The Lemonheads
Washington, DC, at 9:30 Club
June 14 -- The Lemonheads
Philadelphia, PA, at The Foundry at the Fillmore
June 15 -- The Lemonheads
Boston, MA, at Paradise Rock Club
June 22 -- Chris Brokaw Rock Band
Framingham, MA, at Exhibit A, at 3:45pm, w/Peter Koeplin + Dave Carlson
June 22 -- Hidden Tooth (Chris Brokaw + Dave Curry)
Somerville, MA, at Washington Street Art, at 8pm, w/Leo Suarez and Jen Kutler; details here
July 2 -- The Spelling Bee
Somerville, MA, at Highland Kitchen: a genuine spelling bee for adults, with CB on musical accompaniment. 10pm
July 12 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Kingston, NY, at Tubby's: Chris on solo electric, to celebrate new LP "End of the Night" now out on VDSQ/TAK:TIL, with very special reading by ANDY SCHWARTZ (NY ROCKER) and deluxe shredder TBA!
Aug 2 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Jamaica Plain, MA, at The Midway, w/Cleaver/Walker/Messerly (of WUSSY) and E (Thalia Zedek, Jason Sanford, Gavin McCarthy); details here
Aug 6 -- The Spelling Bee
Somerville, MA, at Highland Kitchen: a genuine spelling bee for adults, with CB on musical accompaniment
Aug 11 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Chicago, IL, at Hideout Inn, w/Brokeback and Mark Morgan; details here
Aug 12 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Kalamazoo, MI, at MES Chapel, w/Mark Morgan, 7:30pm show; details here
Aug 13 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Detroit, MI, at Entropy Stereo in Redford, 7:30pm show, w/Lucas Brode, Cyrus Pireh; details here
Aug 17 -- Jimena Bermejo/Chris Brokaw duo
Monhegan Island, ME, at Old Schoolhouse
Aug 24 -- Jimena Bermejo, Chris Brokaw, Sara June + Max Lord present: [ ]
Saugerties, NY, at 11 Jane Street, 8pm show; we will address all things PLASTIC in a new work: [ ] for movement and sound; details here
Sept 7 -- Chris Brokaw Rock Band
Cambridge, MA, at The Hong Kong in Harvard Square, w/Major Stars + Mountain Movers; details here
Sept 21 -- Chris Brokaw + Bill Nace
Kingston, NY, at Tubby's; details here
Sept 22 -- Chris Brokaw + Bill Nace
Brooklyn, NY, at Union Pool; details here
Sept 28 -- Chris Brokaw/Chris Guttmacher duo
Somerville, MA, at WSAC w/ Noelle Dorsey/Wayne Rogers/Mary Staubitz trio, Total Mom, Ian Douglas-Moore/Chris Libutti duo, and Russ Waterhouse; details here
Oct 1 -- The Spelling Bee
Somerville, MA, at Highland Kitchen: a genuine spelling bee for adults, with CB on musical accompaniment
CHRIS BROKAW/END OF THE NIGHT BAND WEST COAST TOUR: OCT, 2019
October 10-15, 2019
Chris's newest solo LP "End of the Night" was released in May, 2019. This tour features artists who contributed to the album: The Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT band is Chris Brokaw guitar; Lori Goldston cello; Greg Kelley trumpet; Luther Gray drums; and Dave Abramson drums.
Oct 10 -- Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT Band
Seattle, WA, at Clock Out Lounge, w/Kinski + guests; details here
Oct 11 -- Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT Band
Portland, OR, at White Eagle, w/Ilyas Ahmed & Jonathan Sielaff + Wyland/Niekrasz
Oct 12 -- Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT Band
Chico, CA, at Naked Lounge, w/guests tba
Oct 13 -- Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT Band
San Francisco, CA, at Lost Church, w/Chuck Johnson; details here and here
Oct 14 -- Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT Band
San Francisco, CA, at Lost Church, w/Bill Orcutt; details here
Oct 15 -- Chris Brokaw END OF THE NIGHT Band
Los Angeles, CA, at Zebulon, w/Jeff Parker
Oct 18 -- Thalia Zedek/Chris Brokaw (solos and duos)
Lowell, MA, at Gallery Z as part of the Town and City Festival; details here
Oct 26 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Allston, MA, house concert: TRILOGY OF TERROR!!! w/Hayley Thompson-King and Nat Freedberg, 7:30pm sharp. RSVP to Chris for a spot.
THALIA ZEDEK/CHRIS BROKAW JAPAN TOUR: NOV, 2019
November 2-8, 2019
Chris will be performing for the first time in Japan, traveling with former Come bandmate Thalia Zedek. Chris and Thalia will perform both solo sets and as a duo.
Nov 2 -- Chris Brokaw / Thalia Zedek
Tokyo, Japan, at UFO Club
Nov 3 -- Chris Brokaw / Thalia Zedek
Tokyo, Japan, at Nanahari
Nov 5 -- Chris Brokaw / Thalia Zedek
Osaka, Japan, at Socore Factory
Nov 7 -- Chris Brokaw / Thalia Zedek
Nagoya, Japan, at KD Japon
Nov 8 -- Chris Brokaw / Thalia Zedek
Kyoto, Japan, at Annie's Cafe
CHARNEL GROUND EUROPE TOUR: NOV, 2019
November 18-23, 2019
Charnel Ground's debut release came out in April, 2018. These will be the band's first shows in Europe. The band will be Kid Millions (drums), Douglas McCombs (bass), and Chris (guitars). Additional dates to be announced.
Nov 18 -- Charnel Ground
Lausanne, Switzerland, Le Bourg
Nov 19 -- Charnel Ground
Leinfelden, Germany, at Edenless Bar, w/Aziza Brahim. This is a basement show / house concert; email Chris for details
Nov 20 -- Charnel Ground
Antwerp, Belgium, at Trix; details here
Nov 21 -- Charnel Ground
Brussels, Belgium, at Magasin 4
Nov 22 -- Charnel Ground
Paris, France, at Espace B
Nov 23 -- Charnel Ground
Brest, France, at Le Festival Invisible; details here
FINDLAY SANDSMARK "LOWLANDS" (CB guitar) NORWAY SHOWS: NOV, 2019
November 29-30, 2019 Bergen, Norway
Chris and Findlay//Sandsmark, a Norway-based performance company working in dance, theater, video art, and live music, recently developed a multimedia piece called "Florida (lowlands)." They presented the work in March, 2019, at Rimi/Imir SceneKunst in Stavanger, Norway, and at the Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival 2019. They return with two performances in Bergen, Norway.
Nov 29 -- Findlay Sandsmark "Lowlands" (CB guitar)
Bergen, Norway
Nov 30 -- Findlay Sandsmark "Lowlands" (CB guitar)
Bergen, Norway
Dec 5 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Cambridge, MA, at Atwood's Tavern, w/Jon Langford and Jean Cook; details here
Dec 6 -- Chris Brokaw Solo
Framingham, MA, at Exhibit A, 2 sets 7-9pm
BROKEBACK WEST COAST TOUR: DEC, 2019
December 12-21, 2019
Brokeback on this tour will be Doug McCombs, Pete Croke, Areif Sless-Kitain, and Chris Brokaw.
Dec 12 -- Brokeback
Seattle, WA, at Clock Out Lounge, w/L.A. Takedown and Diminished Men
Dec 13 -- Brokeback
Portland, OR, at Turn Turn Turn, w/L.A. Takedown and Marisa Anderson
Dec 15 -- Brokeback
Oakland, CA, at Crystal Cavern, w/L.A. Takedown and Phil Manley Life Coach
Dec 16 -- Brokeback
Ojai, CA, at Greater Goods, w/L.A. Takedown and Tara Jane O'Neil
Dec 17 -- Brokeback
Los Angeles, CA, at Zebulon, w/L.A. Takedown and Tara Jane O'Neil
Dec 18 -- Brokeback
San Diego, CA, at Soda Bar, w/L.A. Takedown and Tara Jane O'Neil
Dec 19 -- Brokeback
Tucson, AZ, at Exo/El Crisol Bar, w/L.A. Takedown and Tara Jane O'Neil
Dec 20 -- Brokeback
Phoenix, AZ, at Trunk Space, w/L.A. Takedown and Tara Jane O'Neil
[last updated January 14, 2020]
Chris played on the new Lemonheads record, released February 2019. He toured with the band in Europe in February and March 2019 and in the U.S. May and June 2019.
Chris began playing solo in late 1999. His shows feature solo electric guitar and tambourine, vocals, and acoustic guitar. His solo records include "Red Cities" (2002), "Wandering as Water" (2003), "My Confidante + 3" (2004), the original film score "I was Born, But. . ." (2004), "Incredible Love" (2005), "Canaris" (2008), "VDSQ Solo Acoustic Volume Three" (2009), "Gambler's Ecstasy" (2012), "'Now, Forager' Soundtrack" (2014), "The Periscope Twins" (2015), "The Hand That Wrote This Letter" (2017), and "The End Of The Night" (2019). Since 2005, he has performed occasionally with the CHRIS BROKAW ROCK BAND with a variety of musicians.
martha's vineyard ferries
MVF is a punk rock trio of Elisha Weisner (Kahoots) on guitar + vocals, Bob Weston (Shellac + Mission of Burma) on bass + vocals, and Chris on drums + vocals. Their 2010 record, "IN THE POND" is a 4 song, 1-sided 12" ep, with etching on side 2 by their pal Rosie. Their 2013 "MASS GRAVE" lp and cd is on Kiam and African Tape Records. Listen and buy at Kiam and at MVF on Bandcamp.
charnel ground
Charnel Ground's debut release was recorded in Brooklyn, NY, and released April 6, 2018 on 12XU. It features Kid Millions (Oneida/Boredoms) on drums, James McNew (Yo La Tengo) on bass + organ, and Chris on electric guitar and is for sale here. The band's live debut was Dec 11, 2017, in NYC and featured Kid Millions on drums, Chris on guitar, and Brad Truax (Interpol) on bass. In 2019, the band will play four shows in April, with Chris on guitars, Kid Millions on drums, and Doug McCombs (Tortoise/Brokeback) on bass. SPIN writes: ". . . Brokaw plays with real tenderness as McNew and Millions patiently keep time behind him—a reminder that improvised noise rock, when played well, is fully capable of touching your heart as well as melting your face."
Chris and GEOFF FARINA (ex-Karate) have been performing together since late 2006. Their "THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE TO ME" is an album comprised almost entirely of pre-WWII blues songs. It was released on Damnably Records in the UK + Europe March 18 2010 and in the US on Chris's Label CAPITAN RECORDS on april 27 2010. It's for sale here. Their cd "THE BOARDER'S DOOR" was released in the autumn of 2010. Their most recent LP, "ALL OUT & DOWN" was released in April 2016 (special tour edition) on Landland.
EHC is a free-floating collective of musicians spearheaded and masterminded by multi-instrumentalist DAVID MICHAEL CURRY (Willard Grant Conspiracy, Thalia Zedek, Will Oldham, Boxhead Ensemble) and specializing in improvised music. Recordings include the full-length cd "Improvisational Music" (2001) on Hinah Records in France, featuring a trio of Curry, Brokaw and cellist Jonah Sacks, and "Painted Plane" (2004). The band's Hudson River Trilogy, recorded in 2001, was released in 2017 on Bandcamp. Brokaw, Curry and Sacks performed with the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA, in the 2003 production of "Highway Ulysses," which won the Elliot Norton Prize for Outstanding Production by a Large Resident Company.
Hidden Tooth is Dave Curry and Chris Brokaw. They performed their improvised music for guitar, viola, trumpet and electronics throughout Massachusetts in 2019.
Chris toured with THE LEMONHEADS in Europe in January and February 2019 and in the U.S. for six weeks in May and June 2019. The band is Evan Dando on guitar and vocals, Chris on guitar and vocals, Lee Falco on drums, and Farley Glavin on bass.
Charnel Ground (Kid Millions, Chris Brokaw, Douglas McCombs) played four shows in April, 2019 and will be performing in Europe in November 2019.
The debut record of Charnel Ground -- Kid Millions on drums, Chris Brokaw on guitars, and James McNew on bass -- was released April 6, 2018 on 12XU.
The Martha's Vineyard Ferries -- Bob Weston, Elisha Wiesner, and Chris Brokaw -- did a 10-show U.S. tour in July 2018.
Chris and Jimena Bermejo performed as a music/dance duo in 2017 and 2018, including U.S. shows in March and August 2018 and a May 2018 performance in Belfast. They will be presenting new works in August 2019. This poster is from the Mobius Summer Series, August 12, 2017 (see this poster full size).
This bill featured a reading by Andy Schwartz, former publisher and editor of NY Rocker magazine.
Chris is doing a 3-show tour of the Midwest in August 2019, including Chicago at The Hideout August 11.
MES Chapel shows are put on by DIT Kalamazoo, a "loose collective of individuals in the Kalamazoo area that seek to help the local community’s music scene."
Tubby's poster by Cory Plump.
Performing at Union Pool in Brooklyn, NY, Sept 2019. Photo by Kevin Bannon.
Charnel Ground makes its first tour of Europe in December, 2019. See this poster full size.