Middle Brother

They may not be the next CSNY—or even the next Monsters of Folk—but Middle Brother’s folky supergroup shtick still proves well worth the effort. Composed of frontmen John McCauley (Deer Tick), Matt Vasquez (Delta Spirit), and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), the band and its self-titled debut are equal parts country twang, whiskey-soaked Americana, and lovelorn acoustic balladry. Expectedly, McCauley’s voice stands out strongest (“Daydreaming,” “Mom and Dad”), drenched in booze and melancholy, where Vasquez and Goldsmith play it gruff and sweet, respectively. Ultimately, the trio is less a cohesive outfit and more a perfect blending of three similarly minded songwriters, but it’s no matter: especially after realizing they can riff Paul Westerberg’s “Portland” without doing him disservice. Matt Vasquez and John McCauley play SOhO this Tuesday, April 5. Call 962-7776 or visit clubmercy.com for info.