Music: Warren Brothers bring unique country style to Jacksonville

Published Friday, July 06, 2001

As with the best of American art, the power of country music as a vehicle for expression and communication has always occupied a special place in pop culture. The Warren Brothers make music that is uplifting, personal and spoken from the heart. Not only do they write and play virtually all the material on their new BNA album "King of Nothing," but they also bring to it an uncharacteristically fresh commitment to the country music format and a refreshingly outspoken but lighthearted attitude to match.

The album title, taken from a track co-written by Brad, younger brother Brett and James House, says it all. "It's a suitable title for the album because that's our plight in life," says Brett with tongue firmly in cheek.

That is because the Warrens refuse to play by the rules to some extent, though it doesn't so much matter. Their preceding debut album "Beautiful Day in the Cold Cruel World" proved so potent that it brought the brothers a Vocal Duo of the Year nomination from the Country Music Association and a Top New Vocal Duo/Group nomination from the Academy of Country Music and also propelled them into major tours with Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and the Dixie Chicks.

Brad and Brett, who originally hail from Tampa, are quick to emphasize the fact that "we came to Nashville not to be like everybody else." Though they have a reverence for tradition, the Warrens are very confident in their artistry as it incorporates a wide variety of influences. Brett maintains "we're not necessarily trying to stir the pot, but we're totally into being ourselves."

"On 'King of Nothing,' we've really come into our own," continues Brad. "We co-produced it, wrote the majority of the songs, and played on all the tracks."

The Warren Brothers have proven talent and the respect of their peers. When the legendary country songwriter Harlan Howard first saw them perform, even he was blown away.

"He said, 'What I love about you guys is that you represent what country music used to be and needs to be again,'" recalls Brett, "namely, people singing, dancing, drinking and good-looking girls everywhere."

The Warren Brothers have since written with Howard, not to mention such other great Nashville tunesmiths such as Bill Anderson and Bob DiPiero. But they are equally at home writing with rockers like Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Tench co-wrote the new album's "Waiting for the Light to Change." The Rembrandts' Danny Wylde joined with them on the new "Move On."

Brad plays lead guitar and sings harmony, and Brett, who sings lead and plays rhythm guitar and harmonica, are rooted in the harmony singing of the everly Brothers, the storytelling magic of Johnny Cash and Roger Miller, and the heartland's soul of Tom Petty and John Mellencamp.

Born into a musical family, Brad started playing guitar at age 11 and quickly dragged his younger brother Brett along for the ride.

"We've been playing together in bands since I was in ninth grade and he was in seventh, so there's never been a time when we weren't in bands together," said Brad.

"We did three shows a day, 300 shows a year for a five-year period," Brett explained. "everything from the Eagles to Johnny Cash in developing our own songwriting style."

Commuting back and from from Tampa, where they still had a loyal following, the Warrens steadily built a new one in the Nashville suburbs. They also sold 2,000 copies of a self-produced CD and hooked up with songwriter Tom Douglas, who brought an early collaboration to the RCA label. They were then passed on to RLG, which quickly signed the duo.

"I think the rebellion we have against the system makes us more country like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings in the old days," said Brad. "We play Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Lynyrd Skynyrd at the end of the night. Sometimes people go crazy and sometimes the cowboys ask what the hell is going on. But that's who we are."

The Warren Brothers perform at the Jacksonville Landing on July 13. For more information, call (904) 353-1188.