Breech: How we got started by james, 11/30/07 06:32:18

Two dramatic years in the making, Breech’s long-awaited fifth release, Tarnish and Undress, hit the streets in October 2007.

While in the throes of recording the CD, lead singer/songwriter Missy Gibson popped out a kid, enduring long months of morning sickness and pregnancy-related ailments, yet never missed a session. Breech also lost a drummer and a bassist before the album was ever released. Pulling it together during these trying times, guitarist/songwriter/producer Mike Flanagan proved to be a pillar of strength and tenacity, surviving long hours in the studio on Coke Zero and pita chips.

Breech embodies the musical vision of Missy Gibson and Mike Flanagan. The two met through their mutual association with the notorious experimental artist, Detroiter Frank Pahl. Their first endeavor together was a traditional Irish pub band called Paddy’s Pig, which is still in existence. In 1999 Gibson asked Flanagan to just “sit in” for awhile with Breech and thankfully he never left.

Lead singer and songwriter, Gibson is a Detroit native who formed her first band, The Black Widows, at the ripe old age of 7. She continued to play in bands throughout her grade school career but found herself burnt out and bitter by the 6^th grade. She took a couple of years off to regroup in junior high school then joined cover band sensation, The Platonics. The band split up after awhile and Gibson went on to form Strange Bedfellows. Her performances in this band earned her the title “Iggy with a shirt on”. Later she formed Breech.

Gibson moved to L.A. in 1996 and signed a publishing deal with EMI shortly thereafter. Her performances back in Detroit with Breech and Strange Bedfellows earned her the Metro Times notice as "the best unsigned singer/songwriter in the country." Gibson had released two independent CDs with Breech, in 1999 and 2000, and, with Flanagan on board, in 2002 released the first full-length Breech CD (APRON STRINGS, which won DIY Album of the Year in 2003).

Prior to meeting Gibson, Breech guitarist/songwriter Flanagan performed and wrote with L.A./Oakland-based band Giant Ant Farm as well as fronting alt-rock band Willoughby, where his songs appeared in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as well in several independent films. He's currently also performing and writing with The Lisa Marr Experiment, which in 2003 released "American Jitters", their sophomore release on Sympathy for the Record Industry. A native Angelino, Flanagan has received many accolades for his multi-instrumentalist and songwriting abilities.  “Flanagan is a striking talent… an impressive songwriter… a commanding vocalist… (with) Elvis Costello’s tunefulness and full-bore passion…” says the Los Angeles Times.  Beginning with the piano and clarinet in elementary school, Flanagan never stopped playing music, adding the sax, guitar (self-taught) and bass to his arsenal by the end of high school, and mandolin, pennywhistle, banjo and others since then. He also played the cowardly lion in a childhood production of “The Wizard of Oz” and suffered from a bad acid trip at a Steve Miller concert early on.

Drummer Dan Hughes joined Breech right around the same time as Mike Flanagan. Fresh out of the Jug, he was confident and poised for some rock-n-roll abandon. He had played in several LA bands but was still seeking the right situation when the opportunity to play in Breech arose. What really sealed the deal is that Flanagan and Hughes share the same birthday … coincidence? Sadly though for Breech, shortly after finishing the latest album “Tarnish and Undress”, Hughes turned to the Kabbalah and began painting. It was at this point that he stepped out from behind his snare and ended his illustrious drumming career with Breech. In his absence, Breech has had great pleasure of playing with new Breech drummer, Greg Berella, formerly of Lava Diva fame.

Believe it or not, Breech Bassist Ian Barstow moved to Sweden to become a reindeer farmer before “Tarnish and Undress” was even finished. He had joined the band a year or so prior after moving to Los Angeles from Boston, where he played in a band that, among other things, were known to fling live fish into the audience during their shows, and had been touring with Breech right up until his move. His wife was from Sweden and her father-in-law died from a bad batch of moonshine. In his will, he generously left his reindeer farm to his daughter and husband and the rest is history. Barstow was a trooper though, he completed the last of his bass tracks with his bags packed and sitting next to him before the band whisked him off to catch his plane to Sweden. Breech has been lucky enough to replace Barstowe with seasoned LA bassist, Mike Sattin.

Several special guests also can be heard on “Tarnish and Undress”.  David Philips of Frank Black & the Catholics added pedal steel on “SABOTEUR” and “UNREQUITED”, and violinist Rebecca Kaplan, formerly of the Volebeats (Safe House), played on several tracks. LA’s own Jen Corday played some cello as well.

In 2002, Breech decided to combine their musical talent with their prowess in the kitchen, garnering much attention from their series of "rock and roll bake sales,” which funded the recording costs of their full-length release Apron Strings. Their delicious treats and DIY genius impressed the Los Angeles Times, LA Weekly (who dubbed Missy "Betty Rocker"), Rocker Girl and Venus magazines, among others. It is not surprising then that the “Apron Strings” CD won the 2003 DIY Album Of The Year.  Breech was also nominated “best indie band” by the OC Weekly, an opinion shared by Music Connection magazine, which has contended that Breech is one of LA’s best independent bands.

Breech has consistently delivered praiseworthy releases, including their self-titled debut (1999), cd single “Junk” (2000), the above-mentioned “Apron Strings” (2002) and “Demos Dust and Debris” (2003), a collection of live acoustic tracks and recordings seldom heard.

Breech’s music has been featured in film and television, on shows such as the WB’s "Dawson's Creek" and "Black Sash.”  They have also appeared on Canadian TV's "Much Music," and PAX TV’s “Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star.” Breech have toured the country extensively on their own, as well as opening for many national acts, including Weezer, the late Jeff Buckley, White Stripes and Liz Phair.

Gibson and Flanagan continue to perform together in their other musical projects as well, including Nellie Bly, who released a self titled Cd in 2002 and Ep “In This Light” in 2004. As mentioned prior, traditional Irish band, Paddy’s Pig continues to perform on a regular basis as well.  Visit Breech