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Brothers In Arms: Now settled back in St. Louis, the Brothers Lazaroff mines its
own distinctive American artifacts.
It's
lunchtime, and Hodak's in south St. Louis is jumping. Jeff and Dave,
the Brothers Lazaroff, are having fried chicken, cod, beets and iced
tea, and their interviewer is having the same — hold the fried chicken,
but add a side of awkward questions. Dave reaches for the pause button
on the tape recorder. They've got family in town, after all.
Question: What are two nice Jewish boys from the Midwest doing messing around with country music?
Answer: I don't know. Go ask Dylan that! Or Ray Benson or Junior Brown or Robbie Robertson.
Point
taken, and besides, the Brothers Lazaroff doesn't play country, not
anymore, not the kind you'd recognize as alt, progressive, Americana or
otherwise, though the departure isn't a simple casting-off. One listen
to the Brothers' new self-released album, American Artifact — with its
stinging and expressive pedal steel, plaintive melodies, waltz and
shuffle rhythms, and close harmonies — makes clear its affection for
and mastery of American roots idioms. It's a connection that has served
the band well as it's built an audience in Austin, Texas, where brother
Dave has lived over the last ten years. But the way the Lazaroffs
approach roots — with psychedelic layers and rhythmic force — isn't the
way it's usually done in Austin.
"Down in Austin the roots and
the psychedelic don't mix," Dave says. "Maybe they do in a Cosmic
Cowboy kind of way, but not in that Dylan and the Dead, Midwestern
funky thing."
Though separated by five years, Jeff (lead
lyricist, singer and elder) and Dave (lead guitarist, singer, sonic
guide) are often mistaken for twins. Their Bob Dylan beards, dark
shades, wiry builds and manner of holding a stage — with relaxed cool
and intuitive responses — are artifacts of a lifetime of filial music.
However, the pair's career as a band — the brothers have always seen
their music in a group context — has been a slow burn and build, in
part because of its long-distance relationship.
The Lazaroffs
have been largely associated with the Austin scene, where Dave attended
school, pursued a solo career, played in bluegrass bands, and worked as
a side man for the likes of Elizabeth McQueen and Michael Fracasso,
while Jeff, who was also recording and performing as a "solo" artist,
traveled down to Texas to assemble their first album (2007's Pure
Delight, which was produced by David Sanger of Asleep at the Wheel),
and work the Austin clubs with what musicians they could hire.
This
year, the brothers decided to bring it all back home to St. Louis (they
grew up in Creve Coeur) and have put together one of the more striking,
tight and steady bands in town, in keyboardist Mo Egeston, drummer
Grover Stewart and bassist Teddy Brookins. The veterans of the funk,
jazz, drum & bass, swing and world-music scenes in town had never
played with singer-songwriters before, but they've radically altered
the Lazaroffs' sound. The trio adds muscle to the rhythms, expands
arrangements with funk and jazz, and grooves without ever descending
into aimless jams — all while daring the brothers to jump out of their
literate, open-ended songwriting skins.
The band was gathered
via MySpace after the sessions for American Artifact, starting with
Stewart. Brookins was cherry-picked from Stewart's friends list, and
Egeston, whom the brothers first saw playing the keytar with Lamar
Harris at the Delmar Restaurant & Lounge, came onboard last. "We're
all from St. Louis," Jeff says. "And that gives us that thump, that
driving, live sound. Our stuff can be done so rootsy, but we'd rather
destroy it a little bit."
The Lazaroffs are reluctant to take
credit for one side or the other of songwriting — the process is open,
though it often starts with lyrics and basic chords from Jeff,
structures that are always subject to revision and criticism.
"Usually,
if you play something for the other person, you'll know yourself that,
er, it sucks," Dave says. "You'll know that you have something, but
it's not good yet," Jeff interjects. "Honesty isn't the issue.
Everything is up for discussion, for saying, 'Let's just mess with it.'
It's never, 'Here's the song, don't change it.' I'm always hesitant to
say I've written something. I don't think I could do what I've done
without David. The song has always felt somewhat superficial until it
gets manifested together."
Adds Dave: "We have roles. If Jeff
doesn't think something is strong, I believe him. If musically, I'm
bothered by something, he'll defer."
American Artifact, their
second album under the Brothers Lazaroff name, was recorded at Sawhorse
Studios with Jacob Detering. They tracked twelve songs over the course
of two days, with minimal overdubs. "It was fast, but Dave and I have
recorded a lot together," Jeff says. "And the bass player [Lindsay
Greene] has worked with us for a long time." Gary Newcomb, of Austin
rock band Lil' Cap'n Travis and Bruce Robison's touring band, adds
mandolin, twelve-string guitar and the distinctive pedal steel that ups
the psychedelic feel. The result pays homage to Daniel Lanois'
soundscapes (think Oh Mercy and Yellow Moon) and a Cohen-esque mix of
existential poetry and social anxiety.
"We're Jewish. What do you
want?" Jeff laughs. "But, really, I lost my mother-in-law a few years
ago. She was sick for a long time. We lost our grandparents, who we
were very close to, over the last five years. And relationships. It's
not all personal, but also recognizing the anxiety out there." Dave
clarifies: "This is definitely a George Bush-era record. We're numbing
the pain. With Jeff's lyrics, I don't think he does it consciously, but
they make me feel better about the situation. The songs address it,
face it, releasing those anxieties. We can't just make party music."
Adds
Jeff: "I think there's a certain spiritual element to creative work,
and we've been open to each other that way. Our oldest brother [Josh]
talks about how rhythm and movement allow you to incorporate the
intellectual side of things. When you're dancing, you really get the
meaning.",,
3:28 PM
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