Craig’s Brother

Craig’s Brother is an American punk rock band that formed in 1995 in Long Beach, California. With a sound inspired by bands like Lagwagon, the group gained recognition with their energetic performances and distinctive blend of melodic punk. Over the years, they’ve released multiple albums and EPs, captivating a loyal fanbase worldwide.

How The Band Got Started

In 1995, Ted Bond, the singer and guitarist from General Handywork, teamed up with Andy Snyder, Scott Hrapoff, and Heath Konkel to form Craig’s Brother. Their goal was to create a punk rock sound influenced by bands like Lagwagon and other prominent Fat Wreck Chords artists. The band’s name was inspired by a nickname, “Craig’s Brother,” given to Scott due to his brother Craig’s popularity in high school.

The band’s first major move came in 1997 when Adam Nigh joined and they signed a contract with Tooth & Nail Records. In 1998, they released their first album, Homecoming, recorded at Westbeach Studios in Hollywood and produced by Donnell Cameron. After touring to promote the album, the band’s lineup started to change when Andy and Adam left to form Too Bad Eugene. During this time, guitarist Ryan Key joined the band and later helped shape their future sound. However, the band faced significant struggles when they ran out of funds and couldn’t afford to buy a van for touring. Ryan Key eventually left to join Yellowcard, and Dan McClintock, formerly of Inspection 12, joined Craig’s Brother temporarily.

After recording their second album, Lost at Sea, in Vancouver, several more lineup changes occurred. Despite the setbacks, Craig’s Brother gained new fans, partly thanks to an uploaded track on Napster that brought attention to their music. The band supported the growing file-sharing movement, seeing it as a promotional tool despite the resistance from their label.

Reformation and The Insidious Lie (2003-present)

Craig’s Brother reunited in 2003 with Ted Bond, Scott Hrapoff, and Heath Konkel as the core members. Sam Prather joined as the new guitarist, and in 2004, the band released E.P.idemic on Takeover Records, run by former Yellowcard guitarist Ben Harper. After Sam left the band, Ted took over as rhythm guitarist, later recruiting Glade Wilson in 2006 to complete the lineup.

In 2009, Craig’s Brother began recording their third album, The Insidious Lie, with Kyle Black as the producer. Without a record label, they financed the album themselves, collaborating with former members like Andy Snyder, Steven Neufeld, and Adam Nigh. The album was completed by December 2010, and released in January 2011. The band promoted it with shows in California and a European tour. In 2013, they released a compilation titled The Early Years, which featured a collection of their early recordings.

Craig’s Brother continued to tour in support of The Insidious Lie in 2014, with an appearance at Groezrock alongside NOFX. In 2017, the band started recording new material and released “Meilynn’s Song” for the IndieVision Music compilation. The following year, they announced their new EP, Devils In The Details, which was released in early 2019.

Music Style and Influences

Craig’s Brother is known for their melodic punk rock sound, which draws heavily from the influences of Lagwagon, Bad Religion, The Beatles, and NOFX. Their music combines fast rhythms, catchy melodies, and introspective lyrics that have resonated with fans throughout the years.

Discography

Albums

• Homecoming (1998)
• Lost at Sea (2001)
• The Insidious Lie (2011)
• The Early Years (2013)
• Easily Won, Rarely Deserved (2022)

EPs

• Keepin’ It Real (1997)
• E.P.idemic (2004)
• Devils In The Details (2019)