Other Brother Darryl have been described as a Boston-based alt-country and Americana “cosmic canyon rock” collective known for rich harmonies and timeless, communal storytelling. They released their debut album `Roll Shine Roll` in February 2025 and follow this up with `Hey Yeah Hey` this month.
`Hey Yeah Hey (Prelude)` eases us in and it’s a sixty two second introduction with harmonica, drums, bass, guitar, keys and vocals, a kind of entree before the main course. The first song the band penned for the latest album a few short months after band member Dave Mirabella’s passing follows with `Waiting on a Stranger` which has a dreamy quality and encourages us to take time out to observe rather than allow life to pass us by. An endearing listen with husky whispered vocals that inspires a desire for human connection.
`Take It With You` is a song that feels quite introspective and hints at although maybe altering a few things in your past, maybe it`s best just to recognise what`s done is done and move on. A number full of yearning and learning. We have in `Peaceful Alibi` an offering about the process, and the calming effect of knowing what we’re doing is right. A gentle and tender submission with some sweet harmonies, organ hues, twinkling keys, and a restrained guitar solo on route.
I read that `Something`s Afoot` is an immigrant’s song about chasing the American dream before realising it erodes our humanity and moral compass. A thoughtful engrossing listen that has a kind of aching despondency or inevitability shared throughout the vocal delivery although it concludes on a more positive perspective. We have another brief time out with `Hey Yeah Hey Reprise`.
`Too Right` is an upbeat deliberation on a noisy world where social media rules and we are force fed the views of people who we`d cross the road to avoid. As with all good protest songs it`s shared with a subtle rhythmic musical rhythm. It seems that `That Takes Time` was written inside Cambridge dive bar Plough & Stars, a seventies tinged piece with its theme of how monumental things or events don’t just happen immediately. No truer a sentiment which brought to mind the Solidarity (Solidarność) movement in Poland an organisation that would pave the way for the dismantling of the communist regime in Poland and Eastern Europe.
`Wasted Melody` is a misty ballad with a longing to understand life, the universe, and everything Inbetween. The dreamy `Hold On Hollywood` is a love letter to Boston and the drive it takes to make it there.
`Hey Yeah Hey (Finale)` leads us out and does feel like a fitting conclusion with the group coming together almost spiritually to end this opus and nod towards the future.
The band comprise of Dan Nicklin: Vocals, harmonica, percussion, Nate Leavitt: Acoustic guitars, vocals, chimes, Dan Cederholm: Drums, banjo, vocals, Derek Feeney – Acoustic guitar, vocals, Chad Raleigh: Electric guitars, lap steel, mandolin, vocals, Jim Collins: Bass, vocals, Dave Lieb : Acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, vocals, and Matt Odabashian: Hammond Organ, Moog Synthesizer. The album also features the talents of Nash Raleigh (bongos) and Terrance Reeves (vibraphone) and their dearly departed brother Dave Mirabella with his Spiritual guidance.
Living on the other side of the pond so to speak and this being my introduction to the joys of Other Brother Darryl, it appears that it took roughly a decade to complete the first album, and about a year to craft this second one but listening here it feels as if there`s a real groove to OBD, a band of brothers or musicians with a purpose, principled and objective. For me `Hey Yeah Hey` emits and radiates a warm glow that will remain with you long after the record has finished.
Grab hold of a copy and let these guys shine a little light into your life.
Rating 8.5/10
