Tim Bluhm and The Coffis Brothers will appear at the Alibi Ale Works – Truckee Public House on Friday, Jan. 3. Bluhm is a bandleader with The Mother Hips. He produced a recent album by The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men, a rootsy rock n’ roll band born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Influenced by those early surroundings, songwriters Jamie and Kellen Coffis’ blend of folk, blues, R&B and straight-ahead rock is evidence an upbringing spent listening to all of the right records from Tom Petty, Neil Young and The Beatles.
On their third full-length album, “Roll With It,” The Coffis Brothers put that rock into overdrive, looking ahead to the good things coming and suffering no fools. First single “You Ain’t Got the Heart” is a barn burner and a fan favorite, having already been part of the band’s live set for a couple of years. “There’s a little bit of that sense of angst and that sort of ‘I don’t need this’ attitude,” says Kellen Coffis, “but don’t overthink this one.”
Tracks like “Bad Luck” and “Better Days” reflect on how to live with and learn from rough times, while “You and Me” is a testament to how people can make it through these things together. But on every song, The Coffis Brothers & the Mountain Men stay true to a rock sound that draws from Southern grit and California hills.
“Roll With It” was recorded on analog tape over a week at Barefoot Studios in Hollywood with producer Andy Zenczak and engineer Cian Riordan. The band’s near-constant touring throughout California and elsewhere has earned them not only devoted fans, but lots of critical praise as well:
“The Coffis Brothers & The Mountain Men have developed a sound that has an easy rock vibe that’s actually hip.” – San Francisco Chronicle
“The Coffis Brothers mix a blend of folk, country and rock with the intensity of personal lyrics into a gritty and often tender harmony of sound… a show that delivers one part Avett Brothers and one part early Neil Young for a full night of dancing and fun.” – Santa Cruz Weekly
Jamie and Kellen are joined by Kyle Poppen on lead guitar, Aidan Collins on bass and Sam Kellerman on drums. Their debut self titled full-length album was released in 2011 and was followed by 2012’s “Waiting For You” EP, 2014’s “Wrong Side of the Road” and 2017’s “Roll With It.”