The Brothers Creeggan

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The Brothers Creeggan
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresAlternative rock, jazz
Years active1992-2003
MembersAndy Creeggan
Jim Creeggan
Ian McLauchlan

The Brothers Creeggan was a Canadian alternative rock/jazz band composed of Jim Creeggan (upright bass, guitar, bass guitar, vocals), Andy Creeggan (guitar, piano, accordion, percussion, vocals) and Ian McLauchlan (drums). The group has released four albums: The Brothers Creeggan (1993), The Brothers Creeggan II (1997), Trunks (2000) and Sleepyhead (2002).

Biography[edit]

Growing up in Toronto, brothers Jim and Andy Creeggan started in music by recording cover songs of James Brown and George Thorogood on a rented 4-track.[1] As teenagers, the pair performed in several groups, including the Synthetics, an a cappella quartet that won a 1987 Canadian talent contest in which Alanis Morissette was runner-up.[2] The brothers went on to become founding members of Barenaked Ladies.[2] Andy left Barenaked Ladies in 1995 to pursue a musical composition degree at McGill University, while Jim continued as the band's bassist.[3][4]

The Brothers Creeggan released their self-titled debut album in 1993. The song "Places" features backing vocals by Alanis Morissette.[5] The album "was almost a demo thing," according to Andy. "We finished it up and sent it to some friends."[6] A second album, The Brothers Creeggan II, followed in 1997. Three years later, the duo added a third member, drummer Ian McLauchlan, and released their third album, Trunks.[1] Andy said the album was "definitely a natural evolution from the first two albums," as the songs on Trunks "were more accessible and more continuous to each other."[6] Jane Stevenson of Jam! called the album "a delicate and sweet-sounding effort that combines the best of folk and jazz with gentle lead vocals from both Jim and Andy."[7] Allmusic's Theresa E. LaVeck described it as "an extended evening lullaby: soft, sweet, and sleepy (think Simon & Garfunkel lite)."[8]

The group's fourth album, Sleepyhead, was released on Nettwerk in 2002. Barenaked Ladies member Ed Robertson and singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer guest on album track "Anna on the Moon".[9] Tom Semioli of Allmusic said that with the album, "the Brothers Creeggan have slipped a contemplative masterpiece into our midst."[10]

The band went on hiatus in 2003. Jim stayed with the Barenaked Ladies; Andy went on to a solo career.[11] On 13 July 2009, drummer Ian McLauchlan died [12] of complications following heart surgery.

Discography[edit]

Title Release date
The Brothers Creeggan 1995
The Brothers Creeggan II October 1997
Trunks 18 January 2000
Sleepyhead 2002

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b MacNeil, Jason. "The Brothers Creeggan – Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b Soeder, John (8 May 1998). "Event: Brothers Creeggan – Monday". The Plain Dealer. p. 13 ('Friday' section).
  3. ^ Hucke, Erin. "The Brothers Creeggan – Biography". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  4. ^ Harrington, Richard (18 February 2000). "Review: The Brothers Creeggan – 'Trunks' – Fat Chicken". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  5. ^ Robbins, Ira A. (1997). The Trouser Press Guide to 90's Rock (5th ed.). New York: Fireside Books. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-684-81437-7.
  6. ^ a b Brown, Mark (9 February 2000). "Partially Clad Two-Fifths of Original Barenaked Ladies Put On Some 'Trunks'". Rocky Mountain News. p. 11D.
  7. ^ Stevenson, Jane (16 January 2000). "Album Review: The Brothers Creeggan – 'Trunks'". Jam! (Quebecor Media). Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ LaVeck, Theresa E. "The Brothers Creeggan – Review – 'Trunks'". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  9. ^ Kisliuk, Bill (July 2002). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. 1 (103). College Media Inc.: 48. ISSN 1074-6978.
  10. ^ Semioli, Tom. "The Brothers Creeggan – Review – 'Sleepyhead'". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  11. ^ "Andy Creeggan". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  12. ^ McLauchlan, Ian. "Ian Andrew MCLAUCHLAN". Legacy.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.

External links[edit]