A hybrid of classic rock chops and beloved mid-90s indie heroes like Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and Uncle Tupelo. Dark, sad-bastard character studies, framed within memorable, shiny pop hooks, woo-hoo choruses, and lots and lots of guitar solos.

11 MP3 Songs
ROCK: 90's Rock, ROCK: Americana



Details:
Marshall Preddy and drummer Jeff Senske have been in the same Houston, Texas band for almost 10 years now, but they keep changing the name: Wholesome Rollers, Telluride, Chasmatic, and now theyâre called Bright Men of Learning. Through more than a dozen lineup changes, Preddyâs novice guitar skills and Senskeâs understated, professional drumming have been the center of an evolving, but impressively consistent, attempt to play rock music in front of people. In 2002, Chasmatic finally released a full-length CD, Chasmaticâs country-ish Kicker Wisdom in 2002. Soon after, the band added former de Schmog bass player, Johnathan Sage, and guitar savant Chris Kahlich. The makeover necessitated one last name change and the quartet became Bright Men of Learning.

The makeover worked. Their new, self-titled record is a muscular hybrid of classic rock and beloved mid-90s indie heroes like Pavement, Yo La Tengo, and Uncle Tupelo. In particular, Kahlichâs versatile lead playing has drawn a lot of comparisons to Pavement, perhaps because he switches easily between stately C & W melody, air-guitar solos, and noisy freak-outs. With Kahlich, Sage, and the recent arrival of multi-instrumentalist Ben Murphy, the Bright Men finally have a steady cast of players, and a name that doesnât need changing.