Brand New

• Jesse Lacey - vocals, guitar
• Brian Lane - drums
• Garrett Tierney - bass
• Vin Accardi - guitar

Spanking new itself, Brand New hails from the pre-fab Long Island suburb of Levittown, New York. The group formed in 2000 when neighborhood pals Jesse Lacey (vocals/guitar), Brian Lane (drums) and Garrett Tierney (bass) joined forces after spending their teens knocking around in less fortunate musical outfits. The finishing touch came soon after with the addition of Vinnie Accardi (guitar).

Every corner the foursome turns reveals unfamiliar territory -- from learning to write songs together to sloshing through the political morass that is the music industry to the breakneck tour pace (which can also be credited with the invention of a cost-effective delicacy known as the Froot Loops sandwich). Through it all Brand New thrives, and Lacey admits, “(Our goal) has kinda been reached already. We’ve far exceeded anything we ever really thought was going to happen.”

Remaining unbothered by the downpour of critics’ labels that so often washes away the true nature of a band is another refreshing spin that Brand New offers. With its inspired drive, smarting wit (“And even if her plane crashes tonight she'll find some way to disappoint me, by not burning in the wreckage, or drowning at the bottom of the sea”), three-part harmonies and eyebrow-raising dynamism, Brand New has been called many things. Punk? Emo? Pop? As far as Lacey’s concerned, call it gangsta rap or jazz if you want, but just give it a chance. He laughs, “We’re just a rock band I guess, or a hard rock band, or a not-so-hard rock band. Whatever. For the most part, it’s about four kids trying to make music -- trying is the key word.”

Catching Brand New in concert sets the record straight. The band more than just tries, it rocks. Playing with the same riotous confidence and rambunctious aplomb that its basement rehearsal space witnesses on a regular basis, Lacey and company take stage bouncing like amped-up SuperBalls. There’s so much sweat and splendor that not only has it impressed crowds, it’s also impressed touring companions such as Dashboard Confessional, Face to Face, Hot Rod Circuit and A New Found Glory.

So there it is. Isn’t it all appealing? Music that balances catchy melodies with smirking dark lyrics ("Have another drink and drive yourself home/I hope there’s ice on all the roads/And you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt/and again when your head goes through the windshield/Is that what you call tact/You're about as subtle as a brick in the small of my back.”). A live show that’s actually worth seeing. Isn’t it all Brand New?