Two Winnipeg brothers with an aptitude for drawing crowds just can’t get enough of each other.
The Bros. Landreth’s Joey and David Landreth have joined forces once again following a three-year hiatus.
The brothers, along with drummer Ryan Voth and guitarist Ariel Posen, will perform for the Beneath the Arch Concert Series Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Flare ‘n’ Derrick Community Hall in Turner Valley.
“We couldn’t stay away from it – we just missed it,” said David. “We developed a sense of one another that’s borderline telekinesis. It’s very intuitive. I can hear that in our playing.”
The brothers initially joined forces in 2013 after spending their early years backing other artists and touring the world as hired musicians.
“Joey started when he was in high school and I started when I was 19 or 20,” said David. “We did that for a number of years before we decided to start our own band in 2013.”
Together, the brothers focused on their own roots-rock sound and released their debut album Let it Lie, which received widespread acclaim and won multiple awards including a Juno.
Following the release, the brothers captivated audiences at more than 400 venues worldwide.
“That first record was really about where we were at back then,” said David. “We had gone through a couple of break ups, we were going out on the road for the fist time with our own band. The things we were talking about were close to us at the time.”
The brothers then decided to take a break, during which time David focused on putting down roots at home and Joey toured and released two solo albums.
When they joined forces again, they released their sophomore album ’87.
“The record is grown up from the first one in a lot of ways,” David said. “It just represents a band that had played hundreds of shows. When we first put the band together it was our first project and we were just learning how to do this whole thing and figuring it out on the fly.
“It’s a logical progression. There is a whole lot of experience as a band that went into the record.”
David said the feeling of creating his own lyrics and sound surpasses that of backing others.
“With our own music we can really explore the songs and the sounds and the parts as we see fit,” he said. “We’re the ones calling the shots. When it goes well that’s a tremendously satisfying thing.”
In ’87, the brothers delve into deeper territory than they had with Let it Lie.
“We talk about some heavier issues like sobriety and depression,” David said. “The subject matter is a little more mature, the playing is more nuanced, the production is more thoughtful.”
Since the brothers reconnected, their performance is more rounded and rooted.
“We’re a little more confident in who we are and what we’re doing, just being a little more established,” David said. “Joey is a first-rate guitar slinger – he is one of this generation’s guitar heroes – so we like to let that shine. Some moments get really loud and exciting and others we like to see how quiet we can get. There are a lot of three-part harmonies throughout the show.”
The band will play music from ’87, as well as a handful of favourites from Let it Lie and from Joey’s solo albums, David said.
“That sense of comfort with one another on stage does translate,” he said of his performances with Joey. “I do think people pick up on that.”
Tickets to see The Bros. Landreth cost $25 for adults and $10 for children ages six to 12 and are available at the Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond.
