Project Description
Similar Artists: Jason Isbell, Drive by Truckers, Justin Townes Earle
When Brendan Shea first started out as a songwriter in the early 2000s, Buffalo was a broken-down, industrial “Rust Belt” city whose best days were behind it. Angsty, malcontented feelings came through in his writing. He felt an overwhelming sense in his day to day life to move somewhere else to realize his full potential. So he did… twice. And those experiences made for some pretty good songs.
Fast-forward 15 years and Buffalo has undergone a major cultural and economic renaissance. There’s an expanding creative and artistic scene, and a general buzz around town that the best is yet to come. Shea says, “I feel like that’s a pretty perfect reflection of where I’m at musically with this new album and this new band. There’s just a lot of hope and excitement about what’s ahead.”
RELEASES
Top Ten of the Week – The Alternate Root
Mercury in retrograde sets in motion on February 17 and Brendan & the Strangest Ways are ready with the release of the Americana single, “We Can Beat Mercury,” on that same day. An act in reflection, Brendan Shea challenges the optical illusion with the belief that we are not a victim to our circumstances, even when the planetary alignments seemingly create chaos around us.
People who believe in astrology will tell you that when the planet Mercury goes into retrograde you shouldn’t make any life changes, especially involving travel. In the spring of 2016, Shea didn’t heed that call. He quit his job, moved out of his apartment and into an RV with the woman he was seeing, and toured the country playing music for an indefinite period of time. As things began to fall apart with his relationship, he did the only thing he knew to do: turn to the heavens and find a scapegoat there.
Bio
When Brendan Shea first started out as a songwriter in the early 2000s, Buffalo was a broken-down, industrial “Rust Belt” city whose best days were behind it. Angsty, malcontented feelings came through in his writing. He felt an overwhelming sense in his day to day life to move somewhere else to realize his full potential. So he did… twice. And those experiences made for some pretty good songs.
Fast-forward 15 years and Buffalo has undergone a major cultural and economic renaissance. There’s an expanding creative and artistic scene, and a general buzz around town that the best is yet to come. Shea says, “I feel like that’s a pretty perfect reflection of where I’m at musically with this new album and this new band. There’s just a lot of hope and excitement about what’s ahead.”

Top Ten Songs of the Week

“solid country-rock song-writing”

“a powerful hook laden country rocker”

“Timeless, tasteful, and infinitely inviting Brendan & the Strangest Ways self-titled debut is a true delight.”