Biography

In his debut album, Patrick Brooks, an Ohio native, laments the final descent of the once great Steel Belt into what is now known as the Rust Belt. Drawing from personal experiences and the true stories of Western NY farmers, Youngstown & Pittsburgh steel workers, and Pennsylvania oil field hands, Patrick paints a vivid, yet morose picture of the daily grind of Middle America.

Musically, the record is steeped in the Americana and Bluegrass roots from which Brooks came. “Another Cigarette,” in a style reminiscent of James McMurtry, takes the listener through a mundane life like so many of us lead. “Road Trip” a track that would be at home on a Lyle Lovett record, takes us on a jazzy trip to NYC, far away from the harsh realities of home. “The Annals of My Youth,” a solo acoustic number, plucks at the heart strings with tasteful guitar playing and homegrown imagery. “The Old Feed Mill,” shows Brooks’ bluegrass side with a whirlwind of banjo, fiddle, and high tenor harmonies. His two most significant influences, Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, are covered as well.

In an effort to produce a sound as honest as the content, the self-produced record was recorded live, with very few overdubs and NO 'frankensteining,', at Electric Wilburland Studios in Newfield, NY by Grammy-winning sound engineer, Will Russell