San Francisco, California
Short Bio:
Brothers Alex (on banjo and vocals) and Ben Morrison (guitar and vocals) form The Brothers Comatose, a band rooted in a musical upbringing characterized by lively gatherings at their family home. “The Morrison house was a gathering place for local musicians—everyone would bring an instrument, call out tunes, call out changes, and just play for hours,” recalls Gio Benedetti, bassist for The Brothers Comatose and a frequent participant in those music parties. “I learned more in that living room than in any class I ever took.” The brothers carried this vibrant, inclusive spirit onto stages throughout San Francisco. Joined by Philip Brezina (fiddle) and Ryan Avellone (mandolin), the band transforms their original string music into the ambiance of an intimate music party for audiences all over the United States.
The atmosphere they cultivate at their performances diverges from the typical rock and pop dynamic, fostering a sing-along, stomp-along environment that honors the roots of string band music. While the band has graced festivals such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Strawberry, High Sierra, Outside Lands, Kate Wolf, and SXSW, they remain grounded in their origins, fans, and the connections that have propelled them forward.
Despite their name, The Brothers Comatose are anything but lethargic. Their performances are marked by playful antics, such as tossing inflatable alligators into the crowd, distributing chopsticks for audience percussion, and even jumping down to play acoustic encores amidst the audience at set's end. This transforms each show into an expansive Morrison music party, now traveling from state to state in a Chevy G20 Conversion Van.
Long Bio / Respect The Van Press Release:
“The good thing about a string band is that things tend to culminate with dancing rather than elbows flying in a mosh pit,” notes Gio Benedetti of The Brothers Comatose. The original members, including brothers Alex and Ben Morrison, forged their bond during family acoustic music gatherings before exploring punk and rock bands, eventually returning to the folk roots they learned in that living room. They attribute this eclectic background to the essence of their current sound. Their skillful energy has already landed them at major festivals, including the notable Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, The Strawberry Festival, and High Sierra.
On their upcoming album, Respect The Van, set for release on May 22, the band presents a focused and robust bluegrass-influenced folk rock sound. With Philip Brezina (fiddle) and Ryan Avellone (mandolin) joining the ensemble, they aim “to offer a damn good time, with a no-bullshit style that we found in those original living room parties and our live shows,” explains Ben. “We tracked everything for the album live in one big room—treating the studio like a stage.”
The band's name originates from an observation by guitarist and vocalist Ben, who noted that when brother Alex Morrison plays his banjo, “his eyes roll back in his head like he's in a coma.” This description, however, belies the lively nature of their music, which is characterized by strong musicianship delivered in a spirit of community that encourages audience participation. During live shows, the band often hands out chopsticks for the audience to create percussion on nearby surfaces.
While their music is vibrant and engaging, it also explores serious themes. The lead track, “Modern Day Sinners,” serves as a Guthrie-inspired populist sing-along infused with elements of '50s R&B and doo-wop harmonies. “I wanted to call 'bullshit' on the type of politician or fat radio host who gives advice while living a terrible and shameful life,” shares bassist, vocalist, and banjoist Gio.
Ben wrote “Scout” as part of “The 52 Week Club,” a songwriting group that provides weekly themes as prompts. “It was my first contribution. I wrote it from an autobiographical perspective of a young boy scout spending time with his grandpa,” Ben explains. “My grandpa was a nice man some of the time, but he could also be bitter, and I always wondered what he was so angry about. This song reflects the young scout's struggle to hold onto his youth.”
“120 East” captures the brotherhood within the band, inspired by The Brothers Comatose’s travels to and from the Strawberry Music Festival. “I wanted to encapsulate the feeling of being with your best friends and the willingness to trust and follow them anywhere,” Gio adds.
The band also wrote a lively fiddle tune dedicated to their 1988 Chevy G20 tour van, aptly named “The Van Song.” “Phil wrote all the instrumental melodies, and it didn’t have any official lyrics for a long time,” Gio recounts. “After two raucous live performances where we improvised verses, we finally penned real lyrics. We love our van in a way that borders on obsessive.”
“Morning Time” features Ben in a folk-country duet with breakout artist Nicki Bluhm, exploring the ongoing struggles between a man yearning for the excitement of city life and a woman seeking a more tranquil existence. “It’s about finding a compromise and setting aside quality time together in the morning,” Ben shares.
“Feels Like The Devil” showcases a drop-tuned, resonator-driven sound that fits seamlessly within bluegrass tradition, while “Pennies are Money Too” highlights the band’s musicianship through an old-timey instrumental.
Despite their name, The Brothers Comatose embody a lively spirit. “It’s just one big, extended Morrison music party,” they assert. The band will be touring throughout the spring and summer, with performances scheduled in Boise, Portland, Eugene, Washington State, North Carolina, and across California, including appearances at the Banjo-B-Cue Festival and the Kate Wolf Festival. Additional dates and new videos will be announced soon.
