Album Notes

From an early age, it was clear that Brian Donahue was drawn to irony and melancholy in music. As a toddler he could be found gleefully singing along to the Beatles' tongue-in-cheek murder anthem, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer," or listening in fearful amazement to Taj Mahal singing the story of "Stagger Lee." So it's not surprising that when Brian began to write his owns songs, he found himself drawing inspiration from the deep well of sadness and loss, and a sense of unfulfilled idealism, that seems to be a powerful source for so many songwriters. A strong lyricist whose introspective and personal verses strike universal chords of emotion, Brian finds catharsis in his songs. By completely immersing himself in a feeling or moment, he is able to achieve a sense of release that is evident in his performance.

Based in Philadelphia, Brian started his former band, Glori-H, in 1992, and performed and recorded with them through 2000. A rock group, Glori-H drew comparisons to contemporaries such as Live, Smashing Pumpkins, and Sunny Day Real Estate. After Glori-H, Brian focused on writing and performing solo acoustic material, while developing a new sound. With wide ranging influences - including artists such as Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, and Kristin Hersh - Brian combines elements of folk rock, pop, and emo to create a sound that is both moving and beautiful, exploring the full range of his dynamic tenor voice.

In early 2002, Brian joined with Russell Gellman on drums, and Russ Starke on bass to form a three-piece band that instills a powerful new energy in the music. After a successful debut show in June of 2002, and a spot on the Philadelphia showcase of the national TourBaby tour, they recorded Strangest Love and are eager to make themselves heard.