Bretheren Sol "Across The Desert" voted "Song Of The Year" Texas radio

Local man’s new album: 'Devil's Rope' September 25, 2008 - 12:37PM By Danee Garone Special to the Ahwatukee Foothills News Tour manager turned musician, Eric Malmstrom, is back in the saddle again with his new album Devil's Rope. Eric Malmstrom, or E of Bretheren Sol as he is now known in the music world, is an Ahwatukee Foothills resident and father of two. After 15 years on the road as a tour manager with such bands as The Gin Blossoms and Los Angeles-based alt-rockers Fishbone, Malmstrom suddenly found himself with plenty of free time while recovering from two herniated discs pressing up against his spinal chord. It was while recovering that Malmstrom began work on his new album. He wrote about 30 songs while recovering and narrowed it down to 12 for Devil's Rope. "It's growing legs beyond my wildest dreams because I just thought I was making demos," Malmstrom said. "Look man, this is cool." Bretheren Sol's first demo was a blend of acoustic Americana, outlaw country and indie pop. The new album combines these elements into a Southwest Americana sound that induces images of riding down a lonely, two-lane desert highway. Despite the specific area the genre seems to cater to, Bretheren Sol has been picked up by three Internet radio stations :one in Belgium, one in Scotland, and one in Texas. The band has the opening slot at Edgefest Sept. 27 and Malmstrom hopes to nail some playing time at other big events in the future. "The idea is to do a couple of festivals and go back to my promoter buddies and hopefully get me some more big gigs and slingshot into South by Southwest next year, which kind of bona fides you," he said. Devil's Rope is now available for purchase on iTunes and at BretherenSol.com. The local band consists of three primary members: Gary Smith on drums, Scott Andrews on bass guitar and E himself on lead guitars and vocals. From his home studio, Malmstrom recorded the entire album himself. "I think outside the box," he said. "I don't like to be put in a box. I had a lot of fun being outside the box touring. Being in the box for a nine-to-five job for me is not really kind of the equation." Although the album hits on some political nerves such as in the track "Rescue Me," with regard to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the album really embodies the old American dream of picking up and heading out West. "Devil's Rope is a term for a barb-wire fence," he said. "A hundred years ago there were no fences, just go West. Now it's parceled and sold and developed and that idea, that dream, that Americana dream is kind of slipping away."

PHOENIX LOCAL MUSIC MAGAZINE http://www.phoenixlocalmusic.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2196623:BlogPost:2963 Edgefest '08 Posted by Boner on October 2, 2008 at 4:43pm View Boner's blog This year the concert was being held in BFE, otherwise known as Queen Creek I assume to give it a new feel. The last few Edgefest's really were not that good, same acts as the years before but this year they completely outdid themselves! The lineup included classic acts like Pennywise, NOFX, Rise Against, Atmosphere among many others. It also brought new bands like the Kooks, Flobots, Mickey Avalon (who stumbled all over the stage with his pants falling down half the time). Regardless, my biggest surprise was that the Local Stage was packed for all of the day, which was awesome with great sets by Captain Squegee, Friday Night Fights, Bretheren Sol to name a few. I went there to promote Phoenix Local music itself and people all seemed to be excited for the opportunity to come to one place to find an outlet for great Local Music. It was a scorcher but it did not seem to matter because everyone was enjoying the great scene Phoenix (Queen Creek) put out there and hopefully can be a good kick off for good edgefest's to come. And by the way, the implemented the bring back 10 empty bottles of water and get one free it was genius. As apposed to bottles everywhere, they had a tent just for the empty's. But they also had a "artwalk" this year, well they said they were going to. They had maybe a 30' X 10' area set aside for the artists that came out to show off their painting and grafetti skills. It's really not enough, but at least they are implementing the art into it this year. Regardless to see some of the pics from the show check out the Edge's pic's! Enjoy! www.edgefestaz.com/LIVE/gallery/

Rootstime.belgium CD review of Devil's Rope October 14,2008 by Ron (translated from dutch to english) They end up from the warm Arizona, Awhatukee in the Sonora Desert for exact to be. Or better " he komt" because Bretheren toss about no real link but only Eric Malmstrom, is wrote multi-instrumentalist those all numbers, producete and carried out. Only drummer helped Gary Smith and Neil Malmstrom (on jet ear in one song) just as on this cd, but live they form its link. The title " Devil' s Rope" pivot wire refers which the border lockings form to the roles. The music of Bretheren tosses about characterises itself by songs with strong hooks which incites songs to rythmic hoofdschudden, mainly Americana and alto country music. The cd opens appropriately with " Across The Desert" , quiet Americana song strewn as a soundtrack for the hot sultry desert, with cactuses, red rocks and substance. Dreams of cooling Mexican strand, cantinas with bruinogige latinas, tequila' s and beer. In the reggaegetinte " Stuck in The Middle" denounces. Eric the American policy which has gone off the rails to warmongering and mixes this textual with the folklore of the woestijnleven, Sonora Outlaw. Erik Malmstrom were 15 years successful roadmanager of among others gin Blossoms and Fishbone, until double an hernia made to this an end. He touched also confessed as blender of some cd' s link, this way mixte well-known of he among others No Doubt " Tragic Kingdom" and gin Blossoms' " New Miserable Experience". Eric could quiet for its own prerecordings work, because moreover he has its own studio. Its music calls beelden of a long ride concerning desolate highways in dry the heat of the Southwest. The most talked-about song on this cd is a direct attack on nefaste Bush political " Rescue Me" (Dear Mr. President) who already a lot caused a sensation. (To see clip). " I Can't Wait" pleases me a lot, because this is a song which can Cale seat oneself between the best work of J.J, which lazy relaxte soundje, which Tulsa-stijl jet ear. A number of other nice songs on these Southwest Americana disk is: " Grab A Hold" , " Heroes and Villians" and the clincher " Already Gone". They form a couple of my favoriete spectacular figures on these captivating, intriguing production. Or how a man who could the plate world discover from all angles, is eventual place to the source, if creative artist has found. Successfully, this way to hear. (RON)

Corazine.com CD review of Devil's Rope December 8,2008 Sure, much singer-songwriter boils down to little more than guitar and dude singing - though that can be an awarding experience in the hands of the right artist. But Bretheren Sol captures eclecticism through folksy flavors, southwestern/south-of-the-border aesthetics, classic rock vibes, subtle alt-rock, heartfelt white boy soul-country and more. Some songs are more plugged-in than others, but the songwriting is always at the center. Stoned without being stoner rock, instrospective, tinged by melancholy, thoughtful and touching, Bretheren Sol hits the bulls-eye with "Devil's Rope."

Bretheren Sol Paced 2nd in Gary allen's JJ CALE CDB Music City Beat Nashville Songwriting Contest.

Bretheren Sol "Across The Desert" Voted "Song Of The Year" at the Hossey Music Awards

this article came out today.2/27/08 page 28 http://epaper.ahwatukee.com/Daily/Skins/AhwatukeeFoothillsNews/navigator.asp

Bretheren Sol's music has been described as "A Chillin' SW Americana journey with lyrics and songs as deep and wide as the Grand Canyon itself" After all, Bretheren Sol's backyard is the Sonora Desert. The music is hot mirage of red rock and water,cactus and blacktop, gunfights and folklore. Dreams of cool Mexican beaches,and cantinas full of brown eyes,tequila and beer. Slip away from Americano politics gone wrongo into a drunken haze. Bretheren Sol Devil's Rope is a diverse piece of social commentary mixing issues with folklore and marking the Sonoran way of life here. Simply put "A Sonoran State of Mind" This is the caulderon for which this left handed musical journeyman exists. Look out for 2008 summer release Bretheren Sol Devil's Rope Featuring controversial college radio hit Rescue Me (Dear Mr President) Please request at your local radio station! Look for the video on you tube!

Check My Blog, Rescue Me (Dear Mr President)Video presented by yours truly. E

Bretheren Sol's music has been described as "A Chillin' SW Americana journey with lyrics and songs as deep and wide as the Grand Canyon itself" After all, Bretheren Sol's backyard is the Sonora Desert. The music is hot mirage of red rock and water,cactus and blacktop, gunfights and folklore. Dreams of cool Mexican beaches,and cantinas full of brown eyes,tequila and beer. Slip away from Americano politics gone wrongo into a drunken haze. Bretheren Sol Devil's Rope is a diverse piece of social commentary mixing issues with folklore and marking the Sonoran way of life here. Simply put "A Sonoran State of Mind" This is the caulderon for which this left handed musical journeyman exists. Look out for 2008 summer release Bretheren Sol Devil's Rope Featuring controversial college radio hit Rescue Me (Dear Mr President) Please request at your local radio station! Look for the video on you tube!