Secret Menu
a moveable feast
Big music. Big feelings. That’s how you could describe the new EP from Burlington’s up and coming power troupe, Brunch. A group comprised of four best friends (Phil Bern and Cameron Mincar on the guitars, Mason Kosman on bass, and Ayden Flanigan on drums and keys), Brunch was born out of UVM as a project whose philosophy is translating outside information and noise into something fun and joyful. Their sound clearly reflects a thoughtful process that doesn’t leave a lot of stones unturned. Between their 2023 full length Parasocial and the more recent 2024 EP Doginya, the fare consists of everything from 70’s psych-metal, disco/downbeat proto-punk, to art rock/LA style punk, with even a dash of psychobilly and classic rock seasoning mixed in for good measure.
The earlier Parasocial leans a little more toward a consistent sound throughout, at least production-wise, while Doginya goes full chameleon between tracks with a more crafty approach, mixing up sounds and genres. In other words, don’t get too used to what you’re hearing at any point on the EP, because they throw a mean changeup.
If you’ve been reading my stack recently, you’re already aware of the groundswell of creativity coming out of Burlington, VT. These guys bring a distinct flavor of their own that just oozes fun, you can feel it.
Just when you thought you knew what you wanted to order, you flip the menu over and there’s Brunch. Loud, raucous, garage rock that simmers, fills the kitchen with savory and familiar sounds, then catches fire and leaves the place in cinders. Here’s a recent live Stooges cover (with help from another local Burlington band, Rangus) that does just that:
The band share the mic a fair amount on vocals, with all four members singing at one point or another. As you can see, their live performances follow the ideology of not taking themselves too seriously while still making the art they believe in. Their 2023 Live at Nectar’s album catches the vibe completely, and the sound quality is pretty top shelf (kudos to the Nectar’s crew):
Formed in 2022, Brunch enjoy taking a lighthearted approach to their brand of retro pot luck punk rock, and while they’ll be turning up at the usual Burlington haunts, they can still be found playing basements and free house parties on the fly, delivering the goods directly to people looking to connect to raw, honest rock and roll.
Brunch have a few upcoming shows as part of their EP release mini-tour. They’re at The Monkey House on 8/16, the 11th annual A DOG Day at The Skatepark on 8/31, and Higher Ground on 9/14. Check’em out!