Photo by Stevan Alcala
Brownout’s transformation into Brown Sabbath these past few years has been an unexpected gift to Austin and beyond, even earning well-deserved praise from Ozzy himself. But lest we forget, Brownout isn’t just a covers band; this is easily one of the best bands in Texas, period. The cheekily-titled new EP Over The Covers makes this explicit: four original songs, spearheaded by Brownout’s inventive stew of Latin soul, funk, and psychedelic rock.
On the EP, Brown Sabbath MVP Alex Marrero continues his spotlighting turn as the band’s singer, adding a heavy metal edge to the mix. There are so many things going on in a song like “You Don’t Have To Fall”–funky backbeats, crisp horns, sludgy power chords–and the fun is hearing how in the hell Brownout combines it all. Even if the band is turning the page on its Sabbath garb, there’s still plenty of room to both headbang and cumbia.
“You Don’t Have To Fall” appears on Over The Covers EP, out June 2. Brownout plays live in our Studio 1A on Friday, May 26 at 2 p.m. and at Antone’s on May 26 and 27.
–Art Levy // host, Sunday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., producer, My KUTX
