Suede Brothers - Ill New You

In early January, I was pummeled by a
local band opening for Heartless Bastards at Beachland.  Suede Brothers
is a local trio that refers to their sound as “Rust-Belt Rock N’ Roll”
and this description fits perfectly.  This is a Cleveland band that
we’re hoping people get behind.  Their 2007 self-titled debut picked up
quite a bit of steam locally and their 2009 album, Ill New You
is almost complete, two brand new premier tracks available below.  The
first things you’ll notice are the huge riffs singer/guitarist Dylan
Francis punches you with.  Rust-belt rock, if indeed a genre, has never
been so large.  An immediate recent reference that pops to mind is
Wolfmother, but the major difference is Suede Brothers’ sound involves
no gimmicks and the overall vibe and feeling of throwback power blues
is honest and sincere.  Francis shreds on his Les Paul and his
high-pitched vocals are pulsing with raw energy.  Blues crunch,
pounding percussion, and unforgettably staunch riffs leap from the
speakers.  We’re shocked the national scene hasn’t picked up on these
guys as of yet.  Their myspace page is ripe with attention and it’s
only a matter of time before these guys take off.

Our initial impression of this band was
rooted in their crushing live performance.  The intensity and loudness
of Suede Brothers live is a grand and rattling experience.  However,
it’s important to note that this doesn’t overshadow the crisp and
tightly organized arrangements.  Blues rock is a well-worn path but it
always works when done well.  Francis, along with bassist Kevin
Naughton and surehanded drummer Mike Varga know what they’re doing and
are well worth your time.  They want to kick your ass for awhile in
concert, but also capture this element nicely in recorded material. 
These guys play at Annabell’s in Akron tonight, and we’ll certainly
keep you posted on the release of the new album.  Pressing is supposed
to happen soon.

Suede Brothers - Homebreaker
Suede Brothers - Sweet Nothing"

Original page: http://citizendick.org/2009/04/10/tgif-hodge-podge-the-modern-electric-suede-brothers-deadboy-the-elephantmen/

"Third Eye Blind brings dose of powerful '90s nostalgia to campus, proves unrelenting popularity

Reem Azem

Cleveland Sessions' Rocks The Hall With Blues and Alt/Punk Sounds

by John Benson

Wednesday October 22, 2008, 9:27 PM

Unlucky number 13 proved magical with the 13th "Cleveland Sessions" event, which featured the Suede Brothers and User Sets Mode Wednesday night (Oct. 22) at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

The evening began with the Suede Brothers, who in a nutshell rocked the joint and left the crowd dazed and confused. With a power trio-sound that bridged the gap between Cream and Wolfmother (including a hint of The Black Keys), the youthful act provided a solid blues rock experience and a tight set filled by way of heavy riffs, bombastic percussion and low-end bass extravagance.

"That's badass," said Honolulu, Hawaii resident Chuck Kuahine, who just happened to be visiting the Rock Hall. "I wish Hawaii had something like this."

The group showed off its tightness with "Jolly Rodger," which had a nice breakdown jam that allowed the outfit to spread its wings. At times the band's set was so convincing and real, it felt as though the trio had teleported directly from 1969 to the House That Rock Built. Supporting its self-titled debut effort, the Suede Brothers are constructed around the oft high-pitched vocals of Dylan Francis (guitar), the John Paul Jones-looking bass playing of Kevin Naughton and the steady percussive timing of Mick Varga.

The band's set ended with new song "Ill New You." Featuring a unique guitar technique Francis said he ripped off from Jimmy Page, the track is slated to be on the group's next studio album due out in December.

"I was kind of nervous because I wasn't sure it was going to sound OK, but it was really fun and it ended up sounding good," said Francis. "It was cool. There were people watching from all different levels, and it was an honor to play the Rock Hall."

He added, "We were amp-ed to be in the same room as all of this famous equipment, and to let our sound waves hit Angus Young's guitar.

Blues Suede Brothers Look To Future

Posted by John Benson April 24, 2008 08:37AM

For many local bands, summer is the perfect time to set up regional tours to expand their fan base. The Suede Brothers singer-guitarist Dylan Francis' inclination is no different; however, he's thinking summer 2009.

That's when drummer Mick Varga, currently a Perry High School junior, will be free and clear to join his bandmates Francis and bassist Kevin Naughton in pursuit of their musical stardom.

"Once Mike is out of high school and he's 18, it'll be a big difference," said Francis, a 2006 Perry High School graduate. "Still, this summer we're scheduling some dates and hope to be out of town as much as possible. We're looking to do a series of four to five day mini-tours ranging from New York City and Chicago down to Louisville and St. Louis and up to Toronto."

In fact, the blues-rock act, which is inspired by the likes of The White Stripes and The James Gang, is booked to play MobFest June 21 in Chicago. While the trio is still supporting its recently released self-titled debut (on its own label Bad Breaker Records), Francis said the group - which with a different line-up previously went under the name Black Diamonds - is already working up new material for the band's next album.

"We are definitely moving in a new direction, and we have played some of the new songs out," Francis said. "I'd say it's still being heavy but we're constantly learning more about how we play and about each other and that affects how we interact and make songs.

"So it's a group effort when we write our songs and it's definitely staying heavy, but there will be some surprises on the next album for sure."

Considering the positive response the threesome received on its debut, which features Francis' favorite track "Collar Blues," the future appears bright for The Suede Brothers. Already the act has received offers to tour with a few other outfits, including New York City's Brought Low and Toledo's Five Horse Johnson.

What exactly does it mean that in less than a year together The Suede Brothers are receiving such attention?

"It's satisfying, but none of us want to sit around and think, 'Oh, this is so great,'" Francis said. "It's nice, but we just want to roll with it and do things that we can do with those offers and not just think about how great we are. We're just going to take them for what they're worth, be satisfied with it and keep going.

"It's all about getting out to more and more people, and I'm very excited and honored that those bands would want to play with us. There are clubs like the Double Door in Chicago and The Majestic in Detroit which have given us offers to come play there. So that's really exciting."

If you needed more proof of The Suede Brothers' rising stock in the local music scene, look no further than the group's upcoming opening gig for Urge Overkill Friday (April 25) at the Beachland Ballroom.

The moment will be special for Francis, who admitted as a six-year-old kid he was infatuated with Urge Overkill's 1993 album "Saturation."

"This is kind of a really personal thing for me," Francis said. "I can't wait to meet them, let alone open for them. And if people aren't impressed by Urge Overkill, they should be. That's a great band. It'll be a great show. So we're excited to be playing at the Beachland."

A brief pause by Dylan turns out to be nothing more than the realization that his band will be opening up for his '90s alt rock scene idols.

He quickly adds, "Yeah, we'll bring it to the table with the grunge."