The Brothers Kaschak - Marching On

The Brothers Kaschak

Marching On
self-released; 2013

3.8 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

The Brothers Kaschak is a duo born in upstate New York and currently residing in Cleveland, Ohio. The band is comprised of two brothers who have been playing together for more than a decade. There’s nothing more real about family members getting together and making some real music, and on The Brothers Kaschak’s latest EP titled Marching On you can hear the honesty permeating every song. The entire collection has a soft yet rugged feel of down-home southern folk music. These are a few songs that are fit for grabbing a cheap brew, walking down to the lake in your boots, and laying out by the banks to soak up the dusk.

The track that named the album “Marching On,” is a solemn ode to the simplicity behind moving on after an event of misfortune, and remaining resolute throughout. The lyrics in the song, “the battle goes on” reflects on the innate strife of life, and the soft tempo of the song shares optimism with the listeners. Mark Kaschak, the lead singer, has an inquisitive voice as he softly sings through the gentle melodies on the EP. He also plays acoustic guitar and some percussion, sharing most of these roles with his brother, Sean who plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar and some percussion. It is hard to tell who is controlling any of the instruments just mentioned, and that’s a type of synergy between band-mates that is rarely seen. "The Orchard" relies of sparse instrumentation as the vocals and guitar need little accompaniment to let the solid songwriting shine through. The guitar picking is its most delicate and the vocals are there most fragile on "Real Thoughts" which exudes solace and melancholy.

The most upbeat track on the EP is “Shoulders,” the song maintains its southern folk vibe while also infusing some good old fashion strumming to get your foot a-tapping. The song definitely showcases the abilities behind the band; the song is clean and simple, while maintaining complexity in lyrics and melody. The song “Moonshine Kids” is a song for flailing about besides a blazing fire under a bright moon, they really give you the melodies and lyrics to construct a beautiful scene. The Brothers Kaschak is a band to watch for as they shimmer in the dawn out on the farm of fresh folk music

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