99% of the time i'm all alone up there, but every once in a while i find a friend. Matt Raum is the mandolinist/multi-instrumentalist who has been my main man when it comes to fleshing out my albums, but my pal Greg Koons has played some guitar at some shows as well.
Influences
Dylan, Difranco, Springsteen, Dan Bern, Stuart Davis, Patty Griffin, peter gabriel, greg brown, chris smither, and the list goes on and on. oh, also alcohol, my parents, carol han, my mood, peer pressure.
Sounds Like
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The first guitar Brooks West picked up belonged to his uncle, a wheat farmer in North Dakota (and not a guitar player himself). Since then, this Fargo North Dakota native has gone on to write over one hundred songs, blending elements of contemporary folk, country, and pop.
The son of a mortician and a school teacher, Brooks has a unique outlook on life that shapes his repertoire. His songs cover subjects ranging from death and destruction to love and hope and even the occasional ballad to office supplies.
Over the past ten years, Brooks has performed in coffee shops, bars, colleges, festivals, and benefits across a good portion of the country. Some career highlights have included playing the national anthem for a sell-out crowd of more than 4,500 minor league baseball fans, and having opening slots for such nationally known acts as Grammy Award winning Doc Watson, Dan Bern, The Roches, KellyJoe Phelps, Jeff Lang, blues wunderkind Shannon Curfmann (A&M Records) and indy-rock icons, LOW.
These days Brooks has branched out to the east coast, where he's traded bitter cold for heavy traffic. He's back in the station wagon-- with his second full-length cd, cruising the back roads and pumping out a fresh load of tunes wherever he goes.
Think you might have a gig on Sunday, Oct. 5? I'll be in town for the night. And if you have no gig, then perhaps a beer at the pub will do. Tell your roommate I said hello. =P
ha! we were just as sad and tired last night! we ended up eating then going home for some much needed rest! it was a pleasure meeting you...take care-s
brooks! what have you been up to. have you gone to london and belieze and not even visited me, shame on you! are you that big star yet? missyaloveyabigkisses
hi brooks. hope things are going good up in pa...i've been painting lots of pots since you left. i need your email so i can send you pictures. :-) talk soon, lori
Brooks! i love run away more and more everyday...i'm so glad i got to meet you and thanks so much for the cd single you gave me. i'm sorry i didnt get to see you perform more while ihad the chance. i've been playing open mics here and meeting lots of cool musicians... i hope you play nyc someday...peaceLOVEcompassion frankpaul
I enjoyed the conversation on the bus - please don't apologize :) I really enjoyed listening to your music. Can you email me Snowflake...that was such an amazing song!
Good seeing you the other week. Glad to see you made it out of Fargo with alcohol poisoning. Next time your in town hopefully I can get Ben and Jen out.
Hey Brooks, it was great to see you out in Big Sky here. That was by far the best music I've heard at a wedding. Always remember where you came from and here's hoping I don't have to wait a decade for the next live performance!!!
hey.. i was thinking there was an august 2nd date on here... guess things changed? thanks for hanging with me at the coffee house, btw. was nice to hang with you, and loved the new song!
See...all I needed was a reason to come to a show. Good times! That stuff was a good time and the host was hilarous. Sorry your 22.5 minutes was only 19.835! It was nice to see and hear you...
Did I tell you how much I like "Black Sky"? Good shit...I actually dropped dictator from my profile song for it. I need to come see a show so I can buy and EP from you!
