The Brook & The Bluff

Who would win a fight: a lion or a minion? The Brook & The Bluff have their own opinion, but to be honest, I’m pretty sure a minion would win. Bringing comedic energy and a performance that was through the roof, The Brook & The Bluff revisited our city of Pittsburgh with a bang! They played at Thunderbird Café & Music Hall on Thursday October 15, a special birthday show celebrating lead singer Joseph Settine! 

Welcoming us into the night, this indie band from Arizona gave us an array of new unreleased tracks. The Sways’ unbelievable harmonies captivated the room with a distinct base note that came through clearly. One exciting moment came when they performed the song “Are We Already There” that officially dropped that night at midnight. They also let us in on a secret that their new EP will be dropping sometime in January 2027, which gives you plenty of time to listen to their already released music, if you haven’t joined the bandwagon already!

As the lights began to brighten, The Brook & The Bluff took the stage, ready to get the room moving. Throughout the show, the lighting was complimentary to each song, and set the tone, bringing you all the feels of each and every song of the night. Even though it was a Thursday, the band kicked things off with “Super Bowl Sunday,” which was a perfect way to start the night.

As the set continued on, fans were blessed with favorites like “Bad Bad News,” “Close to Midnight,” “Werewolf,” and “Shelby.” They revealed that “Shelby” is about the Ford Expedition that they used to ride around in and apparently weren’t the best at taking good care of. One song that stood out to me the most was “Baby Blue.” The bands were mesmerizing and quickly pulled you in, making it impossible to turn away! 

Between the incredible music, dancing, and chaos, there was never a dull moment. Joseph knows how to control a crowd and the energy on stage filled the room quickly! As soon as you knew it, the whole room was grooving left and right. It was hard not to! 

Of course, they did the classic move by leaving the stage and reentering to complete their show with an encore, wrapping up the night with “105.” Each member was a joy to watch on stage, from Kevin Canada on keys to Fred Langford on bass and vocals, John Canada on drums, to Alec Bolton on guitar and vocals, and finally Joseph Settine on lead vocals and guitar! They have unbelievable chemistry on stage and make it clear to you just how much they enjoy putting on a show together! 

I’ll stand by my words, if keys are involved, you know it’s going to be a fantastic show!

The Brook & The Bluff are on the road for a few more weeks in the US, so be sure check those dates. If they are heading your way, then I highly encourage you to grab a ticket and see the magic for yourself!