Sometimes it seems that there’s so much great music from Michigan artists, we can almost be forgiven for spawning Kid Rock. I like to think this state has some sort of magic in its soil: the incomparable Blind Willie McTell even spent some time here!
Alongside the greatness of those ’90s Kalamazoo bands, there was an amazing wave of indie/emo acts that filled that era with creative urgency and unforgettable sounds. (We also had a huge ‘ska’ phenom that no-one really understands, but I’ll save that for another blogpost).
I came across an old CD-R compilation of stuff I had put together from various EPs & samplers, and heard (as if for the first time) the exhilarating “The Benefit of Losing Courage” by Flint, MI ensemble Kid Brother Collective.
The song is a brilliant snapshot of what young, aspiring indie rock bands sounded like at that time. It’s a fearless, confident guitar-swinging juggernaut that borrows from Quicksand, Shift, and Samiam the way Britney borrows from Madonna. It’s sheer reverence, like a shorthand lesson in their pop culture influences.
Kid Brother Collective has apparently done a few reunion shows recently, and its nice to see their myspace is alive and teeming with original fans. They even have a link for you to get a free download of ‘Snowball Fight in Death Valley’, their final proper release. I also found their self-titled disc and ‘Highway Miles‘ (2003) on the excellent Fascination Bleeds Me Alive blog.
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