It’s never set well with me when people call the band Brad “a Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam rhythm guitarist) side project.” I’ve always felt like it diminishes the talents of the other principal members, singer and pianist Shawn Smith (Satchel, Pigeonhed, All Hail The Crown) and drummer Regan Hagar (Satchel). And like all great bands, it’s the collective sum of the parts that catapults the musical collaboration to someplace special. One gets the sense that if these guys weren’t so busy with their day jobs, Brad would be a much bigger and well-known band.
They’ll soon get a chance at some increased exposure opening seven Midwestern dates for indie favorites Band Of Horses this October. You got the feeling that they were ramping up to something larger with their recent local gigs at the Showbox, Sasquatch, and the High Dive. These October dates mark the longest domestic run since their 2002 tour and will be in support of the new album Best Friends?, which was just released on August 10th despite being recorded years ago.On first listen, one question immediately springs to mind: “Why the hell did it take so long for these songs to see the light of day?” The introspective “Price of Love” sets the pace as the opener and leads right into a beautiful one minute and forty second ambient instrumental to begin the second track “Without Regret”. Both of these songs feel like different parts of an overarching conversation dealing with the complexities of love and relationships.
I won’t break down every single track but one personal highlight is the lullaby “Believe In Yourself,” which reveals a real tender moment of parental guidance and reassurance. Growing up in a household where I never got the sense that I could be anything I wanted to be, its mantra really struck a chord with me despite not having kids of my own. It’s a comforting message regardless of one’s age.
“Every Whisper” was penned by Gossard and early versions reportedly featured him handling vocal duties. Despite ably demonstrating his singing abilities on various solo gigs and his 2001 solo album Bayleaf, the decision was made to let Smith sing for the sake of continuity throughout the album. A building and soulful number that deals with reconciliation, it’s an early fan favorite and already generating a lot of buzz.
There is less funk present on Best Friends? than earlier Brad albums but you’d be mistaken if you think it’s all meandering piano ballads. If fact, the songs “Low” and “Oh My Goodness” jam as hard and as well as anything they’ve ever done. I defy you to listen to the latter and not resist the urge to jump around the room.
Best Friends? wraps on a note of survival and harmony with the beautiful “Runnin’ For Cover,” which was released in March as a free download on the band’s website to hype the album’s release. The track closes with a bit of studio banter where one of the guys can be heard saying, “That’s really incredible sounding.” Indeed.

Oh, and possibly worst band name ever btw.

Brad formed officially in 1992, although the band members had been playing together for a long time before that. The band originally wanted to go by the name Shame, however the band found that the name was already taken by a band featuring musician Brad Wilson.[3] Instead, the band took the name Brad and decided to name its debut album Shame.