Breanne Marie & The Front Porch Sinners – Two Trees
This is an alt-country/Americana effort by Breanne Marie Tepler (guitar/vocals/piano/all songs) & her Minnesota group The Front Porch Sinners. The 10-tracks were produced by Jillian Rae (violin/bgv) for Two Trees (Dropped Nov 14/Independent/37:56). A showcase of originals that deal with childhood trauma, being a teen mother, a foster mother & two tall trees (one living & one dead). Makes for a compelling listen.
While musically the bluegrass-savvy band taps into the country percussive texture of the genre’s more pop-oriented flavors, the finger snapping “I’m Gonna Bend” with Breanne’s vocal generously sweetened with ’60s mainstream country-rock hit-making female connective tissue. Such as Sue Thompson (“Paper Tiger”), Sandy Posey (“I Take It Back,” “Single Girl”), Diane Renay (“Navy Blue”), Jackie DeShannon (“Don’t Turn Your Back On Me”), & Jody Miller “Silver Threads & Golden Needles” The vocals are from the discernible past & done with finesse. “Half Truths” is wonderful, save the colourful language.
With the percussion taking a front row spot on “Ida Mae,” featuring C-Silence, heavy-duty country, unlike many. This has the required fiddle, but the drums/percussion are heavy like Kelsy’s burgers on Saturday. But that’s what makes the tune stand out. The rap doesn’t diminish the country’s context; it’s actually cleverly applied. The drama works without an aggressive tone. It’s different, & that’s what matters. “Judged by 12 & carried by 6,” strong lyric. The contrast between their voices is a highlight.
Breanne’s voice, while country in tradition, has just enough bluesy grace to maintain a mellifluous sound.
More traditional, square dance is the upbeat “Under the Grove” performed with lots of gusto. The title track is more serious. “Two Trees” are melancholy, deep & well-articulated. Some tunes are playful & that helps move the set forward. “Dashboard Dandelion” is constructed with a nod toward Tom Petty & possibly if The Travelling Wilburys had Jackie DeShannon singing with them.
The ballads are excellent. Whenever the group goes upbeat, even in the oom-pah-pah carnival stretch of “Mirror Ball Wife,” it may suggest Ms Breanne would be a good stage singer in a musical. With this kind of example, she’d fare well singing a dark duet with Tom Waits.
Final word, this is a hell of a good band with an entertaining, diversified vocalist in Breanne Marie Tepler. She’s the type who cuts a slice of cake & when there’s crumbs left on your plate, you pick them up with your wet finger. That’s her music. That good.
Highlights – “I’m Gonna Bend,” “Half Truths,” “Ida Mae,” “Under the Grove,” “Two Trees,” “Dashboard Dandelion,” “Mirror Ball Wife,” “Carried Me Through,” & “Most of All.”
Musicians – Evan Tepler (guitar), Johnny Peterson (pedal steel), Kailyn Peterin (fiddle/bgv), Tarek Makky (bass), Matt Groom (drums/percussion), Dicky Brooks (piano), & Tim Cheesebrow (bgv).
Color image courtesy of Breanne’s Bandcamp site. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.breannemarie.com/
