There is a certain chemistry to be aware of when joining a band with family members — well, the fact that they tend to self destruct in glorious ways. But mix in the disarming vibe of folk music and I think brother and sister, Barbara and Ethan Gruska, will do just fine. The Belle Brigade was just recently scooped up by major label Reprise (Warner Brothers) for the release of their self-titled LP in April 2011. Produced by Matthew Wilder (No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom), the preview tracks absolutely soar. You can catch a few on their MySpace page to help ease the wait.
The band will be heading up a five date Spaceland residency each Monday of January — bookends with The Melvin’s Friday residency before the historic club changes name.
-Angelo Lorenzo