When I got the news that I was going to have the chance to interview Them Vibes at SoundHarvest I did not expect to be serenaded with Boys II Men’s “I’ll Make Love To You” by their bass player Tim Braisted. And in spanish, nonetheless. I told them I couldn’t put a voice recording in an article, but I forgot that this is the 21st century and I most definitely can. You’re welcome.
If you’re looking for an article with a description of the band’s sound and a comparison of the band’s music to another band you’d be familiar with, you’re in the wrong place. The members of Them Vibes are some of the coolest East Nashvillians I’ve ever met, and that’s the cherry on top that makes their music so damn good.
There’s a different connection you get with a band’s music when the band is made up of a group of really awesome people. The second that Larry Florman, better known as Brother Love, introduced himself with an enthusiastic hug I knew that this band was something special.
Before SoundHarvest, I hadn’t been familiar with their music other than the couple of songs I’d heard on the local radio station. The most I knew of the band was from watching their music video for “Lorelei”. (If you haven’t seen it, click here right now.) The video immediately grabbed my attention with its indie short film aesthetic cut with scenes of a live performance at one of Nashville’s favorite dive bars, Santa’s Pub. This song not only yielded a unique music video, but it paved the way for a sensational live band.
“The beautiful thing about where we are now is that we have so many talented friends. When we started the band it was just [Larry and I], but we wanted to take the song live. We were able to get Kyle Lewis, we were able to get Tim, and we were able to meet Sarah. It was through the great relationships that we have in this town that led to this band,” Alex Haddad said.
And from what I can tell, it’ll be their great relationships with people that will take them all the way. I may have drunkenly compared them to The Rolling Stones when talking to a friend the next night, so I’m not saying their music couldn’t take them all the way on its own. But I won’t be surprised if they end up headlining for audiences of thousands in the next couple years, so make sure you get cheap tickets while you still can.
The relationship they have with each other is also something special. Drummer Sarah Tomek shared the story of the night she first met Alex and Larry.
“It was late one night. We had a little bonfire about this time of the year. Around eleven or midnight they got out the paint gun and we tried to shoot shit in the front yard,” Sarah said.
Alex chimed in, “That’s good. I vaguely remember that.”
“They don’t remember that.”
“I have zero recollection of that.” Oh, Larry.
Good times.
Oh, and their guitar player Kyle Lewis might be an Allman Brother that has a case of the Benjamin Buttons. And Tim was a huge Hanson fan back in the day. He even had the Christmas record. Thought you should know.
