When two or more musicians play together for an extended period of time, they develop what fellow music snobs call chemistry. Good chemistry on stage is undeniable, manifesting in an artist’s sound, movement and expression.
The more chemistry musicians share, the more natural and impressive their performance. Such is the case with Jake and Jamin Orrall, two brothers from Nashville, Tennessee that make up garage rock outfit JEFF the Brotherhood.
JEFF the Brotherhood descended into New Orleans on Tuesday for the band’s first show at Gasa Gasa. Fans filled the small venue despite the evening’s rainy forecast, and many were delighted by the rock ’n’ roll that followed.
The band is on tour promoting its 2016 album “Zone,” but the Orrall brothers have been playing music together for over 15 years. They formed JEFF the Brotherhood in 2001 while still in high school.
The duo draws inspiration from rock’s most fervent sub-genres, including punk, garage rock, psychedelia and heavy metal. “Zone” is both a guitar-driven onslaught and the product of honest, relatable songwriting.
JEFF the Brotherhood opened its set with “Toasted,” a pulsing track laden with Jake Orrall’s heavy muffled guitar. Jamin Orrall effortlessly kept pace on the drums and didn’t slow down until the set’s fourth song, “Zone.”
Any mellow vibes in the room quickly melted as JEFF the Brotherhood moved into its fifth tune, “Staring at the Wall” from 2012’s “Hypnotic Nights.” Played live, the song hits like a ton of bricks and shows the brothers’ punk roots.
The performance often leaned on the walls of sound radiating from guitar amplifiers. Heavy distortion and flanger effects filled the gaps and allowed the guitarist room to experiment.
Jake Orrall’s guitar tone is uniquely recognizable. It’s sharp, yet distorted and likely took years to perfect. Low tones and the perfect amount of fuzz are enough to make some forget the band lacks a bass player.
The pair continued to shine on two of the new record’s heaviest tracks, “Roachin” and “You.” Jake Orrall’s dark progressions and vocals made for the set’s most cynical sounds, while Jamin Orrall produced some of the night’s most violent drumming.
JEFF the Brotherhood brought a third member onto the stage for its final two numbers. By adding a second guitarist from the show’s opening act The Detail, Jake Orrall had more room to dance around his fretboard. The guitarists traded squealing solos, giving the audience a collective second wind.
As a whole, JEFF the Brotherhood’s showing was loud and tight. Each song was tinged with raw energy and emotion.
Jake and Jamin Orrall seemed just as comfortable on stage as they would be jamming alone in their garage, and that’s probably because they are. Watching them, it became obvious the Orrall brothers weren’t just playing a show or working on a Tuesday night. They were having fun.
Listen to JEFF the Brotherhood’s album “Zone” below.
