Hometown: Orange, California

Musicians often talk about their band mates being like brothers. Drop the "like" if you’re talking about The Irish Brothers. Unlike the Ramones or the White Stripes, the Irish brothers are actually three brothers and their last name is actually Irish. The music they make is anything but traditional Irish pub music, however, but is informed by the band’s eclectic musical taste – everything from Harry Partch to the Stooges.

As a three-piece, the Brothers put out a sound that is larger than the sum of their individual instruments. Close your eyes and you’ll swear there are four or five people on stage. Three-part harmonies worthy of the Everly Brothers are gently layered over the raucous, rocked-out sounds of Keith’s driving bass lines and David’s fierce drumming. Karl’s rough-and-tumble vocals go head-to-head with his Merle Travis-inspired finger-picking on a signature silver Gretsch guitar. The band stands firmly at the intersection of roots music, garage punk, and folk. Just so you don’t get too confused, they describe themselves as a "roots band that’s aware punk happened."

Although their sound is hard to describe, the band has been embraced nationwide as they tour across the United States. From punks to rockabillies and rockers, the pure and original sounds of the Irish Brothers appeal to a wide audience that crosses musical boundaries.

Despite their young age, the Brothers have been playing together almost as long as they’ve been brothers. They went public in the late 90s, when brothers Karl and Keith recruited David for a last-minute show. The band quickly became a feature on the Orange County club scene. They currently have two full-length cds available, and have been featured on several compilations, including Split 7s "Attack of the Hot Rod Zombies" (2003), and the OC Weekly local bands compilation (1998).

What the Media Says:

Chris Ziegler – OC Weekly