By Danielle Smith
Executive Arts Editor
BRAEVES rocked the house with their outstanding performance at the intimate local
Hermosa Beach restaurant, The Standing Room, on June 6.
The trio consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Ryan Colt Levy, drummer Thomas
McPhillips and guitarist Derek Tramont showcased their unique style of Pop and Indie Rock
music. Each song they preformed featured a steady drum beat and even though the lyrics were
inaudible over the amplified sound of the guitars, the dynamic music itself was enough to engage
viewers.
BRAEVES has produced one studio album titled “Drifting by Design” consisting of all
original tracks and more recently the band released the single “Silver Streets” that instantly
became their most successful song. This upandcoming band opened the concert with their new
hit single, pleasing many fans.
The band’s use of solely guitars and drums created a cohesive sound that was carried
throughout the entire performance. They did an impressive job of fluctuating the tempo and
volume of the music to avoid repetition while still producing a pleasing alternative rock tone.
“Guest of the Gun” was a particularly enjoyable song that featured a clear uninterrupted
drum beat in the background complemented by layers of guitar notes. The building climactic
sound created by the combination of the two instruments contrasted nicely with the soft lyrics
and melodic chorus.
Although “Drifting by Design” consists of only five songs, the band was able to
showcase a diverse collection of sounds. During the concert, BRAEVES played one of their
more mellow songs “While Your Body Sleeps” which was a refreshing respite from the louder,
more dramatic songs the band also performed.
The only disappointing aspect of BRAEVES’s performance was that the vocals were
drowned out by the overwhelmingly loud volume of the guitars. Levy’s powerful voice would
have added another dimension to the music although it was phenomenal even without the vocals.
Overall, BRAEVES produced an outstanding live performance that successfully
highlighted the band’s talents and entertained the crowd.
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