Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein and Son Debut Brownstein Family Band at Nectar’s

On Saturday, January 20, Disco Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein teamed up with his son, drummer Zach Brownstein, for a performance at Nectar’s–Burlington, Vt.’s storied jam haven. Alongside Eggy members keyboardist Dani Battat and guitarist Jake Brownstein (no relation), the duo debuted the Brownstein Family Band, first announced via Instagram in November. The group’s inaugural gig relished in the jam tradition of reframing rock classics, featuring a healthy serving of second-degree covers interspersed with originals from the Disco Biscuits and Eggy. 

The Brownstein Family Band kicked off the night with Chuck Berry’s “Let It Rock,” famously covered by the Jerry Garcia Band in 1975 and released on album of the same name. Next, the group performed Traffic’s “Feeling Alright,” best known for Joe Cocker’s rendition on his debut album With a Little Help From My Friends. Following a treatment of Little Milton’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do,” a live standard for the Jerry Garcia Band, the quartet refitted Keith Jarrett’s jazz standard “The Windup” for a new jam arrangement. To close the first set, the group called on the Jerry Garcia Band one last time with a cover of the 1978 classic “Cats Under the Stars.”

After opening the next set with a cover of the Band’s “Chest Fever,” the Brownstein Family Band leaned toward the discographies of its members. Eggy original “All Wheels Turnin’” introduced this second act, followed by Disco Biscuits favorites “Portal to an Empty Head” and “Home Again,” from the band’s third album They Missed the Perfume. The band then bridged Eggy’s “Golden Gate Dancer” into a stirring jam of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” concluding the second set with a testament to its virtuosity and historical literacy. For an encore, the Brownstein Family Band returned “Home Again,” tagging the song onto Eric Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally.”

While Zach Brownstein is currently pursuing a music degree at the University of Vermont, Marc Brownstein has a jam-packed year ahead. On January 25, the Disco Biscuits will begin its 33-stop American tour with a performance at Crystal Bay Club Casino Crown Room in Crystal Bay, Nev. This tour will support the band’s ninth studio album Revolution in Motion, set to release on March 29. For more information on the band’s forthcoming appearances and album release, visit discobiscuits.net.

The Brownstein Family Band

Nectar’s – Burlington, Vt. 

Jan. 20, 2024

Set I: Let It Rock# > Feeling Alright= > That’s What Love Will Make You Do+ > The Windup* > Cats Under the Stars&

Set II: Chest Fever! > All Wheels Turnin’@ > Portal to an Empty Head > Home Again > Portal to an Empty Head > Golden Gate Dancer$ > While My Guitar Gently Weeps^

Enc.: Lay Down Sally% > Home Again

Notes: 

# Cover (Chuck Berry)

= Cover (Dave Mason)

+ Cover (Little Milton)

* Cover (Keith Jarrett)

& Cover (Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia)

! Cover (Robbie Robertson)

@ Cover (Dani Battat, Jake Brownstein)

$ Cover (Dani Battat, Jake Brownstein)

^ Cover (George Harrison)

% Cover (Eric Clapton)

Setlist via Disco Biscuits management.