If you’re like me, you’ve already read the top 10 album of the year lists. And you’ve probably noticed the same bands showing up on every list – and on all the local radio stations, and in every magazine, too.
Don’t get me wrong, many of these bands deserve the press, but I’m still wondering how Beight (pronounced bait) managed to stay under the radar all year long and why his album, “File in Rhythm,” didn’t make these year-end lists.
I first saw Beight, aka Brad Senne, at the Iron Lung Acoustic Open Mic at the Terminal Bar. I was instantly drawn in by his falsetto and melodies, which set him apart from the other open mic participants that evening.
About a month later, I put two and two together and realized Beight was Beight from Sunday nights at the 331 Club. I found this page on www.myspace.com and listened to recorded versions of the songs I’d heard that night at the Terminal Bar. When the first song, “Parallels,” started to play, I heard a fully realized, full-band achievement with a beautiful pop melody that stuck in my head for days after.
I met with him soon after. What struck me is I had the sense he didn’t realize the extent of his talent.
“I started off in some hardcore bands in the late 90s,” Beight said. “I was asked to sing in a band and that was my introduction to the music scene.”
He was front man for the local band “Reach,” as well as the hardcore group, “Picturesque,” which recorded “Shine in Eyes” in 1999.
“After we recorded the EP, we signed an independent record deal with Trustkill Records out of New Jersey,” Beight said. “We got some great press and earned the ‘Pick of the Week’ from the College Music Journal, but I left the band when we were recording the second record, because I wanted to create a different sound.”
Beight retreated to his home and spent time crafting songs for his self-titled solo record, which was quietly released in 2004. “The record didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted it to,” he said. “I decided the next time around I was going to book time in a studio and get the sound I wanted.”
Beight contacted Ed Ackerson at his Flowers Studio and sent him demos of songs he was working on; Ackerson expressed his interested in working with Beight. The next 12 days in the studio were very productive: Beight played guitar, bass, piano and performed all the vocals; Ackerson played keyboard and bass on a few tracks; and Peter Anderson played drums. The end result was an amazing blend of pop and indie rock reminiscent of Elliott Smith and Tahiti 80.
Beight gained more than just the album he wanted working with Ackerson. “It was great working with Ed,” he said. “He helped me gain the confidence to try recording the next album myself.”
“File in Rhythm” has no shortage of great songwriting moments, but the highlight is a song called, “Junior High Smiles.” It’s a song that’ll take you back to a time in your youth when you were too shy to speak to that certain person you had a crush on. The song starts with a quiet, acoustic guitar strum, the gentle vocals invite you in and all the while, you find yourself relating to the emotions in the lyrics.
“File in Rhythm” is full of affirmations telling you not to get caught up in all the little battles and to look past things bringing you down. It’s that simple comfort in Beight’s songs which give it such commercial potential.
Beight’s future looks bright, and not just here in the Twin Cities. Pick up “File in Rhythm” and be sure to catch his weekly acoustic performances while you still can.
www.myspace.com/beight |
