Original California Honky-Tonk
B R A W L E Y
California country, what could be better?
Brawley is a mix of San Diego-based working musicians with decades of history and music projects, including the Hacienda Brothers, Smith’s Ranch Boys, The Forbidden Pigs, and Rancho Deluxe. Their original songs blend seamlessly with country classics, and while being throughly modern, the influence of honky-tonk heroes like Faron Young, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, and Buck Owens is clearly there. Melodic harmony vocals by Nena Anderson and Adrian Demain are accented by the expressive pedal steel work of David Berzansky. For dancers, a solid rhythm section keeps things rocking! Brawley will make you smile while you’re crying in your beer and have you signing up for those two-step classes you always wanted to take.
MUSIC + VIDEOS
Download a recording of our set from Belly Up Live 2012, or watch the show on PBS.
ABOUT THE BAND
Never has a band offered so much for so little. Here you have a veritable treasure of country music, a stellar group of artists playing music ranging from the traditional era to modern times.
In contrast to what you might hear on the radio, Brawley’s country music is more sincere and honest: it deals with cheating men and women and also with their finer qualities. There is also, as in much country music, an awareness that wrongdoing is wrong and don’t we all just want to have a good time? Original Brawley songs that illustrate these points are “I Fall In Love Too Fast,” “Everyday,” and “Promises.” Lest one think their music is sad or somber in mood, so-called “weepers” are counter-balanced by the happy country song, such as “Along For the Ride” and “One More.”
Brawley has a whole batch of hits you’re sure to enjoy, either via the internets or at one of their exciting live performances. Mixed in with those are plenty of country classics by honky-tonk heroes like Faron Young, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and all the rest. Don’t get me wrong…while Brawley is reminiscent of the great country artists of our time, they take plenty of liberties to let their modern musical influences shine through. And those songs are not only for your listening pleasure; Brawley shows are a dancer’s delight! Whether you want to freestyle, two-step, waltz or jitterbug, they’ve got you covered.
Brawley has been featured on KPBS tv series “Live at The Belly Up” and has shared stages with modern heroes Lucinda Williams, Dave Alvin, Albert Lee, and many others. If you know anything about country music, you know about Brawley. And if you like country music, you like Brawley. It’s as simple as that.
David “DB” Berzansky
is a “Musical Table” expert. He digs all that super 60’s twangy stuff, but is downright versatile with those 10 strings and can make a song weep, creep or wail with the wave of his hands, making all the girls swoon. Dave has become an expert protea cultivator, but still finds time to tweak metal into functional forms. You may have seen him: Hacienda Brothers, Freightshakers, surfing, truckin’.
Jim Austin
ranchjack of all trades. Whether you call it the Doghouse Bass, Upright, or the “Big Ukulele,” Jim wrestles that thing into submission while producing fluid percussive rhythms in perfect time with DD. Formerly known as the mayor of Pioneertown, he can still keep the BEAT! You may have seen him: Smith’s Ranch Boys, Wanda Jackson, Pappy & Harriets: with a full dance card, jumping off cliffs in La Jolla.
Adrian Demain
is the man with all the country, jazz, blues and rock licks in his pocket. He twangs. He flips. He grinds. He glides. Backside airs? No problem. Some of you may be asking, “Is that THE Adrian Demain?” Yes. Yes it is. You may not recognize him, swathed in fringe and polyester, commanding the stage with smooth vocals and country pickin’ … but yes. Yes it is. You may have seen him: Forbidden Pigs, Lee Rocker, playing uke, hawkin’ guitars or skateboarding.
Dale Daniel
is a drummer’s drummer. And a dancer’s drummer. The loudest, most rambunctious of the band, he’s always quick with a witty wise-crack. You might hear someone yell, “Turn down that racket!” but Dale, well, he just doesn’t listen. With a sly smile, he keeps everyone moving, band and dancers alike. You may have seen him: Freightshakers, Hacienda Brothers, baseball games, LACMA.
Nena Anderson
has the velvet voice that you could listen to all night, and many of you want to. Onstage, she sings like a bird while swingin’ ‘round her big sparkly necklace, otherwise known as her Gretsch Phoenix. She hosts Brawley Barroom Ball, fronts her solo outfit, and often sings with any number of local talents. You may have seen her: For The Sender, Cash’d Out, cooking, eating, hanging out with her chickens.
