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From The Mind Of Adi #31: Ben & Jeff Brown from No Show Ponies’ Firsts
Firsts: Sh*te that happened before other sh*te happened.
Today: Ben Brown and Jeff Brown from No Show Ponies’ Firsts! This time, we examine what inspired these two brothers that comprise No Show Ponies. The band was a part of local PR firm Giant Noise’s “PR Lab” boot camp which taught musicians how to best market themselves. The brothers Brown visited the Giant Noise twice a week and received tips on writing press releases, media alerts, and more. Head down to Club de Ville tonight to catch No Show Ponies live, away from the office and on stage, as they deliver poignant Americana ditties aplenty. And pick up their debut full-length The End of Feel Good Music while you’re there. The band goes on at 9 p.m.
1st favorite song:
Ben Brown: "Science Fiction Double Feature" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. My aunt introduced my brother Jeff and I to this film when we were quite young. She had gathered an assortment of the famous audience-participation props (cigarette lighter, pieces of toasted bread, etc.) and a VHS copy of the film. I remember watching those infamous red lips sing this song during the opening credits and being transported into another world. Some say I've never fully recovered...
Jeff Brown: "I've Told Every Little Star" by Linda Scott. Everything you need to know is right here. A certain singers voice is married to the right melody and the result is magic. Something that is more than the some of its parts. I can listen to anything as long as I like the singing.
1st favorite musician or band:
Ben Brown: David Bowie. We owned a copy of ChangesBowie, which is a compilation of Bowie's hits from the late 60's through the early 80's. I remember being singularly impressed with his voice. He sang with such incredible confidence, as so few do these days. Around the same time, I discovered The Smiths and The Replacements, but Bowie was first.
Jeff Brown: Morrissey - In my personal opinion the most consistent lyricist and melodocist in pop music. In his own sick way, he's always been true to us.
1st album recorded on a cassette tape:
Ben Brown: The Misfits' Walk Among Us. Jeff and I shared a record collection growing up, which basically means I was fortunate enough to be able to cherry-pick from his purchases (quite possibly the only perk of being a younger sibling.) I would often make mix tapes from the albums that were lying about at any given time. I definitely had a cassette early on with The Misfits' Walk Among Us on one side and The Descendants' Somery on the other.
Jeff Brown: I honestly have no idea. When the cassette died so did my ability to make mixes for people. That much I do know.
1st cassette tape purchased:
Ben Brown: Alice Cooper's Trash. I remember seeing the videos for "Poison" and "House of Fire" on MTV in 1989. I always liked horror movies as a kid and this guy caught my eye...that and the fact that he was walking around in leather pants with a bunch of half-naked women. Wait a while, folks...
Jeff Brown: Appetite for Destruction - Guns N’ Roses. Much of the music of this time period has faded. This album is still relevant. Why? I think Axl (Rose), however crazy, had something to say.
1st concert attended:
Ben Brown: Guns N' Roses w/ Skid Row - Hershey Park Stadium 1991. GNR played a number of songs from the Use Your Illusion albums, which was impressive considering the fact that they had yet to be released. I clearly remember them performing "Civil War." The band took the stage about two hours late, as usual. This was the first time I realized that profanity equals applause.
Jeff Brown: (Bob) Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival...alas, no...Bon Jovi at Hershey Park. Never underestimate life's ability to humiliate you.
1st concert attended in Austin (if different from above):
Ben Brown: James McMurtry - Continental Club 2005. I visited Austin in 2005 and caught a set from James McMurtry at Continental Club. McMurtry was one of the first performers I can remember who protested the Iraq war while onstage. There were hippies AND cowboys in the audience. We knew then that we could survive in Austin.
Jeff Brown: The Gourds. Little did we know at the time that we would soon be making an album with them.
1st CD purchased:
Ben Brown: Queen's Greatest Hits. I'd like to say this was the first CD I ever purchased, but that would be fiction. However, this was technically the first of two albums I purchased in one transaction with the second being Culture Club's greatest hits. The girl who sold them to me looked worried, as she should have. I wish I could make a joke here, but I'm not that funny.
Jeff Brown: Van Halen 5150 - Did you ever see the bass solo from their “Live Without a Net” DVD? One of the most absurd pieces of footage you'll ever see.
1st album downloaded:
Ben Brown: Lou Reed's Berlin. Came late to the downloading party. Had a few drinks and went home alone. Downloaded this album before actually going on a trip to Berlin. Listened to it while smoking cigarettes in the rain.
Jeff Brown: Peter Gabriel's Us - What's a good way to go broke? Get iTunes, go drink for a couple hours, and then think of some albums that you would like to listen to.
1st personal band:
Ben Brown: No Show Ponies. Jeff was in bands all through high school (No Mercy, Stinkweed, etc.), but my first and only band is/was/will be No Show Ponies. This is my burden, this is my blood, this is far more enjoyable than digging ditches...
Jeff Brown: No Mercy. We played the 5th grade talent show. We played “Fire” by Jimi Hendrix and “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath!
1st recording:
Ben Brown: The End of Feel Good Music. In truth, we have a number of independent recordings from our time in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I like to think of The End of Feel Good Music as our first proper recording. We did everything we could to stay out of the way of the songs. Kevin Russell (producer and member of The Gourds) encouraged us to record live and in as few takes as possible. In hindsight, this might have been brilliant, as we didn't fuck anything up too much.
Jeff Brown: I had a band that did a home recording in high school. We payed a guy to come over with a mobile recording unit. Where that recording is today is anyone's guess.
1st live performance:
Ben Brown: Our first live performance in Austin was at a restaurant/bar called El Mercado, where we performed at a weekly showcase called "Writers who Rock." The performance certainly did not 'rock' as there was no one to work the PA system and it was 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit outside. It should have been called "Writers who Drink."
Jeff Brown: As No Show Ponies - Ben and I did some open mic nights in Morgantown West Virginia, where we used to live. There is nothing quite like six straight months of slate gray skies to get you practicing.
1st national (or international) tour:
Ben Brown: We have performed throughout the East coast and are returning to that area at the end of April for East coast CD release party dates. The prodigal sons return.
Jeff Brown: We did a short tour in New York State. Buffalo's only rival for the title of most depressing place in America is Scranton PA.
1st “something” I didn’t ask you about:
Ben Brown: My first instinct is always to 'sleep it off.'
Jeff Brown: When was the first time that I thought, "I could do this". When I first heard the Ramones. All the technical ability in the world, something I do actually highly value and respect, is not worth anything if the writing isn't there.
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Past Firsts:
- Adi’s Firsts
- James Petralli from White Denim’s Firsts
- Chris Rose’s Firsts
- JP from Built By Snow’s Firsts
- Lauren Larson from Ume’s Firsts
- John Farmer from What Made Milwaukee Famous’ Firsts
- Martín Perna from Ocote Soul Sounds’ Firsts
- Adrian Quesada’s Firsts
- Marcos Cabral and Jacques Renault from Runaway’s Firsts