The Brothers Comatose is a five-piece bluegrass band based out of San Francisco, California. The band consists of brothers Ben and Alex Morrison, who play guitar and banjo, respectively, along with Steve Height on the bass, Philip Brezina with the violin, and Addie Levy on the mandolin.
History Born in Petaluma, California, frontman Ben Morrison along with his brother, Alex Morrison began playing guitar and singing songs at age 12, taking a liking to Rock and Roll. The brothers grew up around music, hosting music parties. “The Morrison house was a gathering place for local musicians – everyone would bring an instrument, call out tunes, call out changes, and just play for hours” says former Brothers Comatose bassist, Giovanni Benedetti The band began with the two brothers doing arrangements of songs by bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Since then, the group has released numerous albums, including: Songs From The Stoop (2010), Respect the Van (2012), City Painted Gold (2016), Ink, Dust and Luck (2018), Turning Up the Ground (2022) and Golden Grass (2025). They have played and headlined bluegrass festivals like Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, High Sierra Music Festival, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, and Kate Wolf Music Festival. The Brothers Comatose have also led extended tours with The Devil Makes Three, Yonder Mountain String Band and Lake Street Dive.
Musical style and influences The Brothers Comatose's style is often described as a high-energy, foot-stompin', "rowdy" folk-rock string band. The Acoustic Guitar Magazine describes their music as an "upbeat brand of Americana with lots of twang, a dash of wit, and a splash of surrealism." At many of their shows, the Brothers Comatose would encourage crowd participation, including clapping, sing-along, and passing around chopsticks to use as percussion instruments. The band redefines bluegrass music as a blend of contemporary rock and traditional bluegrass. Glide Magazine claims that the Brothers Comatose "bows both to tradition and contemporary designs. Theirs is a rugged, rustic sound that’s implied in each of these eleven songs, one that allows their old timey string band approach to ring with an air of authenticity."
Both the Morrison brothers' parents were musicians. They were inspired mostly by their mother, who was in a folk band, harmonizing with other singers in their living room. They have re-created that in their string band with three-part harmonies, with Ben Morrison's warm, gritty baritone usually taking the lead.
Discography
Albums YearTitleLabel2010Songs from the StoopSwamp Jam Records2012Respect the VanSwamp Jam Records2016City Painted GoldSwamp Jam Records2018Ink, Dust, and LuckAntiFragile Music2022Turning Up the GroundSwamp Jam Records2023Ear SnacksSwamp Jam Records2025Golden GrassSwamp Jam Records
EPs YearTitleLabel2012The Covers EPSwamp Jam Records2016The Metal EPSwamp Jam Records2016The Covers EP: Vol. 2Swamp Jam Records2017The Punk EPSwamp Jam Records
Singles YearTitleLabel2017"Don't Make Me Get Up And Go"Swamp Jam Records2018"Sugar Please (feat. Nicki Bluhm)"AntiFragile Music2020"Enjoy the Silence"Swamp Jam Records2020"Strangers"Swamp Jam Records2020"No Quarter (SongAid)"SongAid2021"Steel Driver"Swamp Jam Records2021"Soft and Blue"Swamp Jam Records2021"Too Many Places"Swamp Jam Records2021"Gone Gone Gone"Swamp Jam Records2021"Are You Waiting?"Swamp Jam Records2022"Hole in my Pocket"Swamp Jam Records2022"18 Years"Swamp Jam Records2022"When It All Falls Apart"Swamp Jam Records2022"Harvest Moon (feat. AJ Lee)Swamp Jam Records2023"The IPA Song (feat. Ronnie McCoury)Swamp Jam Records2024"Run Boy Run"Swamp Jam Records2024"Running On Back To You"Swamp Jam Records2024"These Days"Swamp Jam Records
Live Albums +YearTitleLabel2023Kickin' Up the Dust (Live at Moe's Alley)Swamp Jam Records
References