The Brass Kings

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The Brass Kings play old-time instruments in very unconventional ways. Metal-bodied resophonic guitar, washtub bass and scrubboard chart the bermuda triangle of old-time, latin and experimental music from jug-band swing to improvisational ragas. The Brass Kings featues Steve Kaul on guitars and vocal, Mikkel Beckmen on scrubboard and fridge door, and Brad Ptacek on washtub bass.

Steve has performed at festivals in the US and Europe and has garnered accolades for his guitar playing and songwriting. He continues to write and record both for his solo project and for The Brass Kings. His blending of aggressive country-blues fingerpicking with world music influences gives the Brass Kings a unique style. Mikkel Beckmen began playing with Charlie Parr on a case of beer bottles many years ago. He honed his skills playing with a host of great musicians including the legendary Greg Brown. He plays a Brass King washboard, refrigerator parts and pieces of wood. Brad Ptacek grew up in Babbit, MN - a feisty punk-loving kid on the range. Moving to Minneapolis, he attended art school, landed a bass gig with the Urban Guerillas and toured regionally. He plays his homemade washtub bass with a punk-rockers energy - coaxing notes from an instrument most people have a hard time just keeping in tune.

"I'll forgive you for not realizing country blues could be comfortably married to Eastern music, because I never would've thought of that pairing either. Fortunately, the Brass Kings did... a unique multicultural musical fusion, one that sounds like very little of what gets labeled 'Americana'. And thank goodness for that."
- Pop Matters

Live Humdinger "Each track is it's own gem. Guitarist and vocalist Steve Kaul is a master of phrasing and precision. The rhythm section which is made up of household items keeps a low but much needed profile. It all works splendidly together and live maybe the best way to listen to this type of music. It gives it a new energy that would be hard to capture in the studio." - Rift Magazine CD Price: $14.97

Washboard Rope Guitar "The second CD by The Brass Kings features new songs by Steve Kaul and an interpretation of the traditional 'Tanz, Tanz Yidelehk'. Everything but the kitchen sink. That's what your stage looks like when The Brass Kings show up to play a gig. They haul in a washboard, part of a refrigerator door, an old washtub, some rope, a pole, and an arm load of various guitars." - MPR CD Price: $14.97

The Brass Kings Metal-bodied resophonic guitar, washtub bass and scrubboard chart the bermuda triangle of old-time, latin and experimental music from jug-band chugging to wild improvisational ragas. Ranked among the top 10 CD's of 2006 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dale Connelly of MPR. "The back porch, stripped-down approach of the Brass Kings on their self-titled debut release is refreshing, comforting and a knee-slappin' good time." - Rift Magazine CD Price: $14.97

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