Yellow Brick Road musician talks about return to Somerset Abbey

Yellow Brick Road’s Gerald Brann. Corey Groll photo

There are some acts that I just can’t chat with enough, such is the case with Yellow Brick Road … a Tribute to Elton John, so when I found that that band was heading back to the Somerset Abbey in Madison for a show on Saturday the 19th of this month I gave Mr. Gerald Brann, who performs as the famed British pianist and singer, a call to get an update on how things are going with his venerable band.

Q: I guess you guys made it through the pandemic.
Brann: Yes, we survived COVID. Through the COVID time, looking at how all the restrictions were rolling out, most of our shows were out of state and there were always restrictions for crossing state lines. So I started to book shows within the State of Maine that were outside and, even with the attendance and distancing requirements, we managed to keep playing through the pandemic.

Q: Well, that’s good, many other acts were pulling out their hair trying to make ends meet.
Brann: It forced you to do things a little bit different, I even did some streaming. I’d never done that before, streamed a show, and that went really well, and I streamed it in conjunction with the Chocolate Church, as a matter of fact. I live here in Bath, and can walk to that venue from my home.

Q: And you have a show there on Dec. 10, I believe. I was going to ask you about performing on the internet, I did several stories with folks who were doing that during the pandemic.
Brann: Yeah, I’d never done that before and I knew that COVID was affecting our local community, and affecting the Chocolate Church, so we did it and just split the proceeds. That way they get a little something to help them through, and it gave me something to do, too. It was very successful and went extremely well — way better than I ever thought it was going to.

Q: It must be nice to get out in front of a live audience and receive immediate gratification and feedback.
Brann: Oh, absolutely!

Q: How long have you been doing this Elton John tribute?
Brann: Well, we’re over the 20-year mark and it has just been getting better and better every single year. It’s kind of grown out of control. This has been my baby since the very beginning. When I started, it was just a fun idea to get together with some friends. I had an image of what I wanted it to be like, so there were little stresses of trying to get it just right, trying to pick the songs and things like that. But now I feel like I’m clinging to the roof of a runaway train. The whole thing is just barreling out of control, but the shows have been unbelievable. It’s been an amazing run, and I know the guys are excited about what’s happening and we just want to keep going with it. We’ve been incredibly lucky.

Q: Have you played at the Somerset Abbey before? Could you talk about how your show works within their frame work?
Brann: Yes, we have performed there before and true, they don’t have a giant venue. But they do have a nice sound system, a talented sound man, an intimate setting with great acoustics. It’s a nice, comfortable setting that’s close to home. It’s actually not very far from where our bass player lives, and we enjoy doing the concert there. The crowd is very receptive, the people are good to work with, so it’s just a pleasure to play there. It doesn’t have to be a 8,000-seat venue for it to be a good concert and a good time. In fact, I think the intimate setting brings a different dynamic to the show and I personally really, really enjoy it.

Q: Speaking of the show, Elton John has so many great songs from all the albums he’s released over the decades of his career. Does your show span that time period?
Brann: Up to a point. It’s right from the very beginning all the way through … we have one song that’s in the ’90s. Everything else is the ’80s and before, and I think there are a couple of reasons for that. Physically, I can pull off that persona a little bit better, it’s a little bit more my singing range. The other side of it is, that was the era that mostly focused on all the costumes and the high energy and the craziness and everything. That’s what we’re trying to bring to the concert. And it’s so much good music. My favorite Elton John music is from the ’70s and ’80s.

Q: I’ve got to agree with you on that, for sure.
Brann: And I think the way it was produced after that point, I mean, I enjoy his music but I like it a little bit rawer and I think that after that point it just became a little more processed and a little more affected. There’s nothing the matter with that, I just enjoy the ’70s stuff more.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to pass on to the folks reading this article?
Brann: (Chuckle) Well, I would like to say a couple of things, I guess. We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunities that we’ve been given to be able to live our dreams and perform these shows that we dreamed about doing ever since were little kids with our instruments playing in the garage. It’s the fans, the State of Maine, and all the people that have been so supportive of us and helping us on this journey; and I want to recognize the other musicians that come from the State of Maine. There are so many of them that are so incredibly talented. You’ve got to go out and see these people. There’s original music, there’s tribute bands that are popping up, and they are all doing a very, very good job. So I am humbled to be in this music scene. There’s a lot of talent, I’d just like to recognize that, and on behalf of the band I’d like to thank everybody that’s supported us. The mantra we have is: The band has fun, and as long as it’s fun and everybody’s enjoying it, we’ll keep on going!

Lucky Clark, a 2018 “Keeping the Blues Alive” Award winner, has spent more than 50 years writing about good music and the people who make it. He can be reached at luckyc@myfairpoint.net if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

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Yellow Brick Road musician talks about return to Somerset Abbey

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