I love a good cover version. Covers have become a bit of a dirty word over the years, something reserved for karaoke nights or reality singing shows on commercial networks. But interpreting a beloved song and making it your own takes a real skill. So while the title gave me some trepidation, I was excited to discover Brave Mistakes new EP, Some Good Songs … Done Badly.
Brave Mistakes are a DIY band from Tarntanya/Adelaide. That city has always been a rich breeding ground for talent, giving birth to acts like Cold Chisel, The Angels, and Masters Apprentices. There’s an energy about these bands that I hear echoed in Brave Mistakes. The songs on this EP are pretty raw and unfiltered, but what’s more rock and roll than that?
This EP definitely has some good songs, as its title suggests, and while the delivery’s probably not what you’re used to it’s far from bad. Actually it’s pretty amazing. Brave Mistakes have made some really clever song selections here. Frontman Garrett R. Cooper has a rich, resonant voice that lends itself perfectly to these diverse numbers. Darker material like Chris Isaak’s haunting “Wicked Game” and Iggy Pop’s tortured “Candy” are natural fits. But Brave Mistakes brings out the yearning in Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel.” This is no slick, matinee idol performance; it’s much more interesting. Their version of “Who Do You Love?” reminds me a lot more of The Doors’ sexy take than Bo Diddley’s rockabilly original. Brave Mistakes take their biggest left-turn with the closer, “Be My Baby.” I’ve never heard a male-fronted band deliver this Ronettes’ hit, let alone one that’s so unpolished. But there’s a retro charm about Brave Mistakes that makes this work too.
Leave your preconceptions at the door. Brave Mistakes don’t sound like so many other rock outfits that record their music in high-end studios with acclaimed producers. They’re doing it their way, and that’s a big part of their appeal. Some Good Songs … Done Badly is out now. Brave Mistakes will play the following festivals in the coming weeks:
8 February 2025 – High Fever Festival @ Three Brothers Arms Hotel, Kangowirranilla/Macclesfield
1 March 2025 – Pirate Life Brewing 10th Birthday @ Pirate Life Brewing, Yartapuulti/Port Adelaide (SOLD OUT)
