Highway 200 is the latest release from Chicago based singer songwriter Brad Cole: A 10 song disc of heartfelt originals cut from the same folkie pop rock vein as Counting Crows and The Wallflowers. "Highway 200" is about relationships: from quicksand to magic carpet rides, mercy to
murder, permanence, transience and everything in between”.
Brad has been part of Chicago music scene for over 15 years. Original member of a ska-reggea-rock band Treatment. Played along side
other Chicago fav's like Smashing Pumpkings and Material Issue. Brad went on to form Psycholove with Frankie Hill (Heavy Manners, P-1) which was a continuation of blending international musical genres like African Souk and Reggae with funk and rock.
But the heart and soul of this disk come from Cole developing as a more introspective singer-songwriter. “Guess if I had to sum it up, I'd say my songs are about the road: the road to nowhere, getting there, and trying to get the hell out...trying to get home. I am inspired by great artists like Patty Griffin, Amiee Man, Bob Dylan, Marley and, Townsend. By example, they taught me that it is my job as songwriter to serve up the truth and
make it delicious-no matter how tasty or unpleasant the truth might be”
In 2001, Brad formed The Second Story with David Injeski, Joseph Cartagena, Mike Mitchel and Chicago songbird Sandy Lee. Played an
number of dates around Chicago and the West Coast including
The Viper Room in The Summer of 05. “The Second Story really created the sound around these songs and they were a blast to play with live”. I teamed up with Producer Josh “The Colonel” Shapera and some of Chicago’s best hit men, including 6-stringer Grant Tye (Robbie Fulks) to round out the sound”
The result is HIGHWAY 200. Don’t let the infectious melodies and sweet harmonies fool you: this disk rocks from head to toe and will leave you wanting more.
Read more...