Spencer Bohren came from the open sky and the cold hard realities of prairie fundamentalism.
His early life was a routine of relentless sun, strong winds, drenching rains and miracle springs after dusky winters that froze your soul. Surrounded by God’s creation and the abundance of nature, he grew within a discipline meant to keep the darkness outside of the campfire’s glow at bay. But Spencer was always attracted to the mysterious shadows beyond the safety of the firelight, compelled to plumb their secrets. Maybe that’s why he became one of America’s premier storytellers, a soul whose...
The Write Brothers are very pleased to announce the release of their new album entitled “Into the Sky” on Threadhead Records. Including a host of new original Write Brothers songs, as well as reinterpretations of some old favorites, the new album features the production, arranging and drumming of auxiliary brother André Bohren. Sadly brother Spencer Bohren was taken from us in the middle of recording, but we were able to capture his final performances on record. Paul, Jim, Alex and André hope you are as thrilled with the results as they are…
Names like Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew, Allen Toussaint, Earl King, and Dr. John a.k.a. Mac Rebennack come to mind when talking about hit songs emanating from New Orleans. Over the past few years, however, the biggest hits from a Big Easy songwriter have come from the pen of Jim McCormick.
Formed in 2014, the Write Brothers are Spencer Bohren, Jim McCormick, Alex McMurray and Paul Sanchez, four of New Orleans’ finest songwriters who have traveled very different roads to becoming critically and commercially acclaimed tunesmiths and performers. With more than a century’s worth of experience between them, the Write Brothers have rendered songs in the genres of rock, folk, blues, country, and rhythm and blues. These four distinct voices find common ground in their love of songwriting and of performing. Their debut album, First Flight (Threadhead Records), was released in 2015. Sadly, brother Spencer Bohren died of prostate cancer during the recording of their follow up album “Into The Sky”, which was released in May of 2020.
In January of 2010 Off Beat Magazine awarded Paul Sanchez three Best of The Beat Awards: Songwriter of The Year, Best Song of The Year, Best Folk/Rock Album for Stew Called New Orleans, his duet record with friend and collaborator John Boutte. In April of that same year Gambit Weekly awarded him Best Roots Rock Performer at The Big Easy Awards. Sanchez has written songs for Darius Rucker of Hootie and The Blowfish, The Eli Young Band, and Irma Thomas. Paul resides in the Treme neighborhood with his wife Shelley, where he sings and breathes everything New Orleans.
Jim McCormick recently celebrated two #1 songs on the Billboard country charts: Jason Aldean's “Take A Little Ride,” which spent 3 weeks in the top position, and Brantley Gilbert's "You Don’t Know Her Like I Do." McCormick’s songs also have been recorded by Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Jamey Johnson, Randy Travis, Ronnie Milsap, and many others. He is a staff songwriter at BMG Chrysalis, and his album, the Middle of the River, is available on iTunes or at jimmcormicksongs.com
Guitarist and singer Alex McMurray has been writing and performing music professionally in New Orleans for 25 years. Past and current bands include Tin Men, The Valparaiso Men's Chorus, Royal Fingerbowl, 007, Debbie Davis and the Mesmerizers and Happy Talk Band. He has released three CDs of his own music, and has worked as a sideman with Paul Sanchez, Johnny Sansone, Ingrid Lucia, "Papa" John Gros, Lynn Drury and many others. He spent six months performing sea shanties as "Cap'n Sandy" at Tokyo DisneySea. Awards include a 2014 Big Easy award for best Roots Rock and 2010 Big Easy award for Album of the Year. He was seen and heard on the HBO series "Treme" several times. He is currently keeping busy with his many projects, including "The Write Brothers.
Spencer Bohren played with rock, country and blues bands throughout the western US before moving to New Orleans in the the mid-1970s. Since 1984 he performed over one hundred concert tours in nearly every country on the European continent. Spencer made 20 solo albums, many of which are available at SpencerBohren.com, and continued to tour Europe and the US regularly as a musician, educator and storyteller until his until his untimely death from prostate cancer in 2019.
These hi-res photos are available for download and publication. Click to view and download. Credit: Elsa Hahne.
Dig the Write Brothers while sipping a Mint Julep in the gardens. $10.
Had a great time here last time. Looking forward to playing in this beautiful spot. Hey Cathe!
A beautiful old dance hall. Amazing sound and vibe. Should be a good night.
Our first time in ol' B.R....high hopes!
The Bros are very proud to have been invited to the Ogden After Hours series.
| 2:47 |
Do It
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1
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| 3:34 |
Good Luck, I Love You
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2
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| 3:47 |
Every Highway
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3
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| 2:13 |
Late so Early
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4
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| 2:07 |
Fence Line
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5
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| 3:40 |
Another Day
Spencer Bohren Music/BMI
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6
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| 7 |
She Picked Up What I Was Putting Down
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3:16 | |
| 8 |
Let's Not Go There
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3:29 | |
| 9 |
I Don't Wanna Play Rock and roll
Paul Sanchez Music/BMI
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2:29 | |
| 10 |
Making a Life for Myself
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2:37 | |
| 11 |
Say it Like You Mean It
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3:13 | |
| 12 |
When the Wheels Come Off
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4:30 | |
| 13 |
The Last Train
Alex McMurray Velvety Pod Music/ BMI
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4:17 |
All songs written by the Write Brothers (Spencer Bohren Music/BMI, Jim McCormick/BMI, Velvety Pod Music/ BMI, Paul Sanchez Music/BMI) except as noted above.
Additional musicians:
David Pomerleau - bass
André Bohren - drums, piano, lap steel, banjo, percussion
Susan Cowsill - vocals on Let’s Not Go There
Craig Klein - trombone
Joe Cabral - saxophones
Scott Frock - trumpet
Produced by André Bohren Recorded at Marigny Studios Engineered by Rick Nelson with Justin Armstrong and Paul McDonald Additional recording by Mike Mayeux Mixed by Mike Mayeux Mastered by Bruce Barielle Cover art by Leon Fried Photography by Kristin Fouquet Design by Kourtney Keller (Threadhead Records)
| 3:20 |
Cup Full of Soul
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1
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| 3:03 |
Broken Lines
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2
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| 3:15 |
Lost Eskimo
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3
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| 3:47 |
Too Many Times
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4
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| 3:41 |
New Orleans
J. McCormick
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5
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| 6 |
Jet Black and Jealous
P. Sanchez
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3:09 | |
| 7 |
The Ballad of Lito Benito
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2:33 | |
| 8 |
Losin' You
S. Bohren / J. McCormick / P. Sanchez
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2:57 | |
| 9 |
Wedding Day
A. McMurray
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5:09 | |
| 10 |
Borrowed Time
S. Bohren
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5:29 | |
| 11 |
We'll Be Together Again
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3:40 |
- Jim McCormick, New Orleans, 2015
produced by Mark Bingham
Engineered by Chris George and Daniel Majorie
Mixed by Mark Bingham
Mix assistant: Albert Fish
Mastered by David Gasser at Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO
Andre Bohren - drums, percussion, keyboard
Dave Pomerleau - acoustic bass
