Weekly Volcano

The Number of the Squirrel

By weeklyvolcano on September 2, 2009

MATT DRISCOLL: BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLACK SQUIRREL CD RELEASE SHOW SATURDAY AT BOB’S JAVA JIVE >>>

Brotherhood-of-the-Black-Sq The name? Well, that’s a secret. But everything else about Tacoma’s Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel is public record. A slightly old-school mix of classic rock and current day indie goodness, Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel is a band on the rise, having moved to Tacoma from Olympia and currently taking no prisoners. Celebrating the release of The Number of the Squirrel, and album four years in the making, on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Bob’s Java Jive, the band is one deserving of your radar. Trust me.

I caught up with frontman Patrick Baldwin this week for an article on modern day record releases in the age of the Internet. You can find it by clicking here.

However, Baldwin and I talked about more than just ways the Internet is totally fucking up the world as we know it. Here are a few points of insight the Tacoma rocker (by way of Olympia) laid on me.

On his songwriting style, and the way the band creates:

“It mostly just came out how it came out. I kind of pretend to be Tom Waits.”

“When I’m writing, I just try to be honest. I try to draw from as many areas as I can.”

On describing Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel’s sound:

“I hate it when people say ‘It’s hard to classify us.’ Usually, that stuff is easy to classify. I just think people are a little thirsty for honesty.”

On the difference between Olympia and Tacoma:

“Olympia’s scene seems to be more hip-hop and bluegrass. Tacoma is more gritty, and we’re a pretty gritty band.”

On how The Number of the Squirrel turned out, and why it took so damn long to produce:

“It’s a mix of procrastination and attention to detail. It’s mostly exactly how I wanted it to be. For a while, I was so sick of it I could even listen to it anymore, but I listened to it again and I’m pleased. Overall, I’m pretty happy with it.”

“Thematically, it seems mostly about stuff I’ve been dealing with for the last 4 or 5 years. It’s my life.”

On his hopes for Saturday’s CD release show at Bob’s Java Jive:

“I mostly just hope people come out, pick up (the new record) and enjoy it.”

[Bob’s Java Jive, Brotherhood of the Black Squirrel CD release show with the Fun Police, Ghostwriter, Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 p.m., $5, 2102 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843]