the story
A Detroit native, Eric Brendo first developed his taste for the music business as the tour manager for a Detroit-based soul singer Robert Bradley a.k.a. Robert Bradley’s Backwater Surprise. After several laps around the country, he began writing w/Andrew & Michael Nehra, who would later enter White Room Studios in Detroit for a series of recording sessions that also included Matt Chamberlain (Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, The Wallflowers) and legendary Motown composer/arranger Paul Riser (Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers). It was during this time that Brendo met producer/songwriter Bob Ebeling. Slowly, a partnership was formed and the band Downtown was born.
Fast-forward a year and a half. Brendo has taken the plunge and hunkered down in the festering streets of lower Manhattan, perfecting the Downtown sound. Long hours in the studio. Late nights of promotion & networking. Tiresome gigs in the clubs of New York. And on. And on. And on. Then, suddenly… after a rather successful residency of the legendary NYC club Pianos, they’re “discovered” and within weeks, find themselves transported to London, courtesy of Polydor Records. It just so happened that producers Flood, Alan Moulder & Toni Halliday (Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Depeche Mode, The Killers) were intrigued by their sound.
After spending copious amounts of studio time, Downtown released their debut self-titled album on Coup de Grace Records in NYC to rave reviews, substantial record sales and several tours of the U.S.
Fast-forward once again to 2010. Brendo, now solo, has finished his debut EP entitled ‘Over The Dunes and Into The Cave’ which he produced along with Howard Wulkan in Brooklyn, NY. The EP will be released digitally on June 15, 2010 followed by limited edition 7” vinyl thru The Council http://www.councilpartners.com . A full length album is also in the works!
