Monday, 25 August 2008

Meet the Band: Broken River Prophet

The band: Adam Brilla (guitar, voice), Eric Provonsil (mandolin, lap steel, bass), Deborah Warfield (guitar, voice), Dennis Noble (bass), Marty Rex (drums)


The hometowns: Brilla grew up in Hopkinton; Noble hails from Holliston. The rest of the band is not local but has settled in Allston.


The sound: Americana sprouting from the sidewalk cracks of Allston Rock City.




The key: It all goes back to when Brilla had to do a book report alternative on Flannery O�Connor�s �Wild Blood� in heights school.


�We had to derive up with some kind of propose based on the book,� Brilla said, �but it couldn�t be an essay or report. It was one of those thinking remote of the box exercises. I found my father�s banjo in a cupboard when I was looking for for my snow bloomers to go sledding. I took it out and it was all out of tune, but I started plunking around on it and came up with a really creepy waltz.�


Brilla recorded the persistent tune on a boombox, and it became his report.


�When I tried to come up with a name, (Broken River Prophet) just came out.�


The history: Brilla started the band in the mid-�90s as a side project.


�It was something to do when my bands went on hiatus,� Brilla said. �I�d use the name and grab whoever was around. I�d perpetually joke that it was never the same batting order twice.�


After age of teaching and acting the like songs to friends, Brilla decided to formalize the band. Well, sort of.


�Now we experience various combinations of consistent lineups,� Brilla explained.


The addictions: The members of Broken River Prophet admit to a arduous dependency on chai, caffein and dough. Maybe that last 1 is a byproduct of practicing in a Roxbury building that was erst a whoopie pie factory.


The show: Broken River Prophet celebrates its CD release tomorrow night, with Plus/ Minus, Animal Hospital and BA-NA-NAS, at the Middle East, Cambridge. Don�t miss Kickass Cupcakes� cupcake happy minute from 9-10 p.m. (We told you they were addicted to sugar!)


The music: Listen to �Burned in Place� and �The Black Lashes� from the Broken River Prophets� new CD �With Infinite Arms to Cradle the Flames� at bostonherald.com/entertainment.





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