By: Avalon Lee
It’s the late 1980’s, and Bricklin is at their prime. Madison Square Garden is packed with eager fans. The excitement is stirring, every note of music is resonating through the walls… and the power goes out. Without a warning, the music is silenced, and Madison Square Garden becomes nothing but a dark void. Through the confusion, a steady rhythm can be heard, growing louder and bolder with each beat. Eddie Bader, Bricklin’s drummer, decides to embrace the misfortune of a power failure, and begins an arena wide percussion jam.
While a power failure at the Electric Factory during the anticipated reunion show on November 23 is highly unlikely, Brian Bricklin confirmed that there is an exciting surprise that is sure to create an energy surge: a brand new song. This is the first song that the band has created together since they had parted ways in 1990, and it will be making its debut at the reunion.
It’s not everyday that this type of gathering can take place. The band members have spread themselves out as far as France in pursuit of their dreams since the Bricklin days. The last time Bricklin had performed together, two years ago, was sadly under unfortunate circumstances, as they were holding a Cancer Benefit in honor of Cori Cross, guitarist Ian’s sister. Under different conditions, this reunion will be showcasing the talent of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, another Philadelphia based band that made it to the Top Charts over two decades ago. And it was Chris Day, the guitarist for the Young Rumblers that had reached out to Bricklin, in hopes that they would participate in their holiday blast from the past.
Of course, before shows at Madison Square Garden or reunion concerts, Bricklin had to begin somewhere. And for every rising (Philadelphia) talent, Bricklin is a band to take notes on. After being signed to A&M Records and produced by Neil Dorfsman (Sting, Paul McCartney), the band began to receive airplay on a regular rotation, nationally. They had even been featured in Teen Beat, adding to their swooning teenage girl fan base. One of their most popular songs, “Walk Away”, was featured in the classic 1989 film, “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”.
Since those exhilarating days, brothers Brian and Scott Bricklin, the founding members of the group, are still vigorously working within the music industry. Brian’s credits feature a wide array in both producing and engineering, with releases on record labels such as A&M, RCA and Columbia as well as television credits on networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN to name a few. Another credit on his long list of accomplishments is mastering his brother’s self-titled album. Scott is a talented musician all in his own right, having written, produced, engineered and mixed this album himself. With its folk-rock vibes, open-journal like lyrics and crisp vocals, this album is definitely one to check out if you are into the likes of Pete Yorn, Elliot Smith or The Wallflowers.
Currently, Brian keeps alarmingly busy with a multitude of jobs, one of which is his title as the Director of Performance Programs for the Music Training Center. As of today, the Music Training Center consists of five different “Schools of Rock”, which teach children (from infants to teenagers) how to play various instruments, put on live performances, work together, and most importantly: have fun.
And when it comes to today’s up and coming talent, Brian has reputable advice: “Work at it like it’s your business. Work hard on your craft. Work hard to be as good as you can be.” He stresses the necessity of following through with college, because not only do universities offer their students a degree (as a backup, of course), but the environment of a college campus will help guide and support a young musician’s dream by allowing them to branch out and make themselves known. “If you truly love what you’re doing musically, you’ll play music regardless,” Brian explains to me, “in the end, you have to commit yourself. It’s the hard work that pays off.”
Certainly, if anyone knows about hard work, it would be Brian Bricklin and everything he has accomplished as pure proof. And after Friday’s showcase, he will be adding “a successful Bricklin reunion at the Electric Factory” to his ever lengthening list of triumphs.
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