Con Brio is a seven-piece band that makes music at the intersection of soul, rock‘n’roll, pop and R&B. A Bay Area institution with an international following, the band has spent more than a decade touring the globe, playing both packed clubs and the world’s biggest festivals, and building a reputation on the strength of their exhilarating, sweat-drenched live shows.
Their new full-length effort Scream At It, due out this summer, properly introduces Sarah Clarke: A powerhouse singer known for her showstopping range and stage presence at the helm of Portland’s Dirty Revival, the vocalist/songwriter and longtime friend of the band has drawn comparisons to Sharon Jones and Janis Joplin, and brings new depth, rock‘n’roll gravitas and feminine soul to Con Brio. New multi-instrumentalist AJ McKinley (Battlehooch, Suzanimal), also a talented lyricist, adds a playful energy and danceable synth and guitar lines.
Meanwhile the veteran rhythm and horn sections of Benjamin Andrews (guitar), Jonathan Kirchner (bass), Andrew Laubacher (drums), Marcus Stephens (saxophone) and Brendan Liu (trumpet) are tight as ever, weaving together grooves that draw inspiration from Tower of Power to The Alabama Shakes, with every member contributing lyrics and arrangements. The result is a record that finds a seasoned band infused with an undeniable sense of freedom, excitement and discovery.
Scream At It is merely the opening statement from a band that is just beginning to discover the power of its new voice.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the in-studio performance of “Traunch,” a cranked up tune that lives up to its name. With its huge heavy rock sound driving it forward, the song is anchored by the soulful vocals of Sarah Clarke as she brings a commanding presence of the mic that matches the intensity of the band. Complete with guitar shredding, explosive horns, and a monster drum beat, this song feels like what would happen if a 90s-era grunge band got together with a Memphish-era soul outfit. In other words, it captures what Con brio does best. Getting to watch the band do this live is an added bonus that only serves to remind us just how powerful of a sound they can conjure up.
Sarah Clarke describes the process behind the tune:
“We didn’t hold back a bit on this one! We recorded this track live in the studio and did it in a single take! The song’s name describes the feel of the song, acknowledging both the trudge in the rhythm section and the shameless raunchiness of the lyrics. The gritty vibe the band created was begging for an impactful message – powerful and sexy.”
WATCH:
