Editor’s Pick: Brett Dennen

For MCAB’s fall concert this semester, Brett Dennen will be performing this Saturday at 9:30 PM in McCullough Social Space. Although Brett Dennen does not have the big name status of Kid Cudi or the Roots (who have performed at Midd in years past), he is an excellent artist that is definitely worth the $10 (order now!) or $15 at the door to see him and opening act Split Tongue Crow.

Being an avid Brett Dennen fan myself, I was ecstatic when I read that MCAB had arranged for him to perform at Middlebury. I

Dennen's latest album, loverboy.

had heard, though, from many students around campus that they had never heard of him and were wondering why MCAB hadn’t or couldn’t find a more recognizable artist. For those who are not familiar with Dennen’s music, his style of pop/folk/rock is very accessible. His musical and lyrical talents alone are reasons alone to show up on a whim this Saturday night. But for anyone who is still left wondering, here is the scoop on Dennen:

Brett Dennen hails from Northern California and his ability to perform in front of an audience shows it. He is relaxed, composed, and charmingly comical while putting on a live show. He commands the microphone as if you and him are sitting in the room alone and adapts to the audience second to none. This easily translates into his style of music. He writes fun, witty, and purely enjoyable lyrics about love and life. However that is not to say he doesn’t have the guts to explore other subjects. For those looking for more lyrical creativity, he does not shy away from the depths of drunken despair and the constraints of life. Even in these songs, although, he seemingly still manages to pull them off with his general optimistic outlook on life.

Brett Dennen will leave all of us this Saturday just as excited about life as he is. Granted, he will not get your feet stomping like Yeasayer’s “onesie man” or screaming The Roots’ “The Seed 2.0,” but he will leave you fulfilled with your decision to attend. If I get one song to sell you on Brett Dennen, it would be Syndey (I’ll Come Running) off of his latest album Loverboy. He has four studio albums along with a couple live EP’s and he has supported the likes of John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Jack Johnson to show that he knows what he’s doing. If you are looking for great folk rock, then Brett Dennen is the perfect choice. If you are looking for pop music, then Brett Dennen is again the perfect choice. But more importantly, if you are looking for a surefire way to spend a blissful two hours enjoying the company of an individual who is fascinated by the world around him, then join me in seeing Brett Dennen this Saturday night.