songs from the right verien 2006 $3.00 $2.00

Verien Brotzman, veteran session drummer/percussionist, boldy steps onto the stage with his debut solo EP – Songs from the Right. For years Brotzman has backed up artists all over the globe and made a name for himself as the perfect side-kick. Now, the only name you need to know is “VERIEN“. Taking on singularity, Verien has become the quintessential pop songwriter picking up where the likes of Brian Wilson, Jack Johnson, Ben Lee and Ben Kweller leave off.

Songs from the Right is filled with quirky hooks and compelling rhythms. You just can’t listen to this disc for very long before you catch yourself tapping your foot or drumming on your desk (don’t let the boss catch you). Similar to your desk but altogether different, Verien brings to the table a hand percussion instrument which is basically just a wooden box with some metal strings attached to one side. It is called a cajôn, and they are taking this nation by storm. You might typically find these intstruments in drum circles, church bands, your run-of-the-mill hippie bands, and of course in most world music circles. In a very unique way, Verien brings this instrument, along with many other conventional percussion instruments, into the world of pop producing a full and driving beat without ever touching a drumset.

Couple great laid-back hand percussion beats with catchy insidious melodies which get stuck in your head like a virus, and you’ve just caught a text-book case of Songs from the Right. No antibiotic will help you. You’ll just have to let the songs run their course. Fortunately for you, Verien plans to follow up Songs from the Right with a full length album sometime in 2007.