(L-R) Brian K. Pagels, Stephen Russ, photo by Daniel Machado
(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Brian K. Pagels and Stephen Russ, the DC-area duo, Brian K & The Parkway, released their debut album Killing The Bear on March 29, 2024. The nine-song collection, a nod to the '70s rock sound of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Warren Zevon, is guitar-based, roots-oriented rock, infused with a healthy dose of soul and R&B. Piano and organ play a critical role in establishing the sound along with some horns thrown in for good measure.
The duo dubs their sound "coastal heartland rock," reflecting the fact that their major influences are artists that hail from coastal areas such as New Jersey, Florida, and California, but are known for their own mix of classic heartland rock.
"It's certainly been a long time coming” says Pagels about releasing the album. “In a sense, I've been waiting for this moment all of my life. Stephen and I are stoked to share our version of heartland rock with everyone and to play the songs live for the very first time. We can’t wait to see what they think!"
The duo have released two singles ahead of the album release. On March 1st they released “Straight Through” featuring Cat Popper, known for her band Puss N Boots with Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson and for her work with Jack White, Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson, among others, who provides guest vocals on the track
Pagels and Russ formed Brian K & The Parkway in 2021. Pagels is from Springsteen’s hometown of Freehold, NJ, Russ is from the Carolinas, both share an innate connection to The Boss and are acutely inspired by him. Although the guys refer to the band name fondly as “very Jersey,” it denotes Pagels‘s name and the fact that The George Washington Memorial Parkway connects the route between their Northern Virginia homes; Pagels lives in Alexandria, Russ lives in Arlington.
Most of the work on Killing The Bear was done by Pagels and Russ, but it was mastered by Justin Perkins (North Mississippi Allstars, The Replacements, Lydia Loveless), co-engineered by Zac Thomas at The Jam Room in Columbia, SC, and co-produced and mixed by Collin Derrick. Killing The Bear’s overarching theme is about our ever-increasing inability as humans to deal with the source of our problems and instead, look to surface-level, near-term solutions, and then declare immediate victory. The songs serve as vignettes about the things we do to cope, for better or worse. They were recently on WJLA-TV’s “Good Morning Washington,” watch HERE and on Voice Of America’s “Border Crossings” talking about the album, they also played a few songs, watch HERE.
They released their debut single “Wind The Clock” on January 12. On release day, Unrecorded named it a “best new track.” Mayhem Rockstar Magazine said it’s “…a light, infectious composition” while Alchemical Records says the song, “…really highlights this focus on songwriting and storytelling while embracing an energetic and uplifting musicality that is guitar driven, rooted in rock and roll…”
Now, with their debut album released, Brian K & The Parkway can’t wait to get out on the road to play it for audiences up and down the east coast. They kicked off their east coast tour with a special all ages album release party at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA on March 29.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
April 25 - Tin Roof, Charleston, SC
April 26 - Curiosity Coffee, Columbia, SC
April 27 - West Salem Public House, Winston-Salem, NC
April 28 - The Pinhook, Durham, NC
April 30 - The Camel, Richmond, VA
May 1 - Quarry House Tavern, Silver Spring, MD
May 2 - Fringe Bar, Philadelphia, PA
May 3 - The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel, Asbury Park, NJ
May 4 - Faces Brewing, Boston, MA
May 5 - Sleepwalk, Brooklyn, NY (with Diane Gentile)
May 11 - Monument City Brewing Company, Baltimore, MD
June 20 – Superfly Brewing Company, Charlottesville, VA
June 21 – Petra’s, Charlotte, NC
