Brian Sagrafena

Brian Anthony Sagrafena (born August 8, 1978) is an Italian-American drummer and producer. He is notably known as the founding member of Echobrain where he drummed, co-wrote, and produced Echobrain (©2002), Strange Enjoyment (©2002), and Glean (©2004). A lawsuit from a Texas band for copyrights caused Echobrain to disband in 2005. Alongside his work with Echobrain, he has been a member of Disco Jefes, Pathetic Honey, and Guido & His Second Cousin. Sagrafena has produced such bands as Peel, Sodium Channel, Echobrain, Pathetic Honey, and Guido & His Second Cousin, Todd Novak (BMI artist), Nathan Payne, and more. Brian is still actively playing, recording, and producing bands in his own studio, Sloth Mountain Studios, in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Career

Albums

Disco Jefes (1995 - 1998)

Drums - Percussion - Engineer

• "A Ding Dang Doo" (1996)

Echobrain (2000 - 2004)

Drums - Percussion - Engineer - Producer - Writer

• "Echobrain" (2002)

• "Strange Enjoyment" (2002) (EP)
• "Glean" (2004)

Pathetic Honey (2010 - Present)

Drums - Percussion - Engineer - Producer

• "Early for Tomorrow" (2015)

• "Again at Last" (2020)

Guido & His Second Cousin (2018 - Present)

Drums - Percussion - Engineer - Producer

• "A Lucky Dozen" (2018)

Peel (2003)

Engineer - Producer

• "?" (2003)

Sodium Channel (2005)

Engineer - Producer

Todd Novak (2020 - Present)

Drums - Percussion - Engineer - Producer

Voivod (2005)

Drum Tech

Bands/Musicians/Producers/Engineers Worked With

Echobrain

• Jason Newsted (Metallica)
• Dylan Donkin
• Chris Scianni (Dangerman)
• David Borla (Dangerman)
• Andrew Gomez (The Cons, NRVS Lovers)
• Adam Donkin (Debriah)
• Mike Soss (The Cons)
• Spencer Corey (Weapon 11)

Disco Jefes

• Dylan Donkin
• Dan Leech (Redwood)
• Andrew Gomez (The Cons, NRVS Lovers)
• Jim Nunan (Hammik)
• Chester Thompson Jr. (Young Ed, Selski, Santana)

Pathetic Honey

• Dan Newitt (Alec Lytle & Them Rounders, The Cowlicks)

Other Musicians

• Todd Novak (Ralph Stanley & Mountain Clinch Boys, The Cowlicks)
• Brian Belluomini (Lengua)
• Mark Belluomini (Lengua, LoFi Satellites)
• Taylor Fitzgerald (Meant to Bend)
• Jason Newsted (Jason Newsted & the Chophouse Band)
• David Rapa (Sam Chase & the Untraditionals)
• Bundy Browne, Rick Sigman, and Dennis Harper (Expresso Rhythm Section)
• Nigel Webb
• Garrett Morris
• Greg Fontana (Peel, Pinche Huevos, Guido & His Second Cousin)
• Myron Dove (Santana)
• Jim Martin (Faith No More)
• Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
• David Tae (Principal Cellist for San Francisco and National Symphony Orchestra)
• Gary Gates
• Jack Mullins
• Reid Genauer
• Alec Lytle

Producers/Engineers

• Marcus Garvous (B Street)
• Brian Joseph Dobbs
• Kevin Scott
• David Darling
• Chris Manning
• Kent Mackie
• Leff Lefferts
• Nick Peters
• George Marino
• Chris Leva
• Michael Romanowski
• Taylor Fitzgerald

Gear

Brian was offerred an endorsement with Gretsch Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, and Vic Firth Sticks in 2000.

He uses:

• 22x24 Kick
• 14"x6 Birds Eye Birch Snare
• 10" Hi Tom
• 16" Floor Tom
• 18" Floor Tom
• Vintage 18" Crash
• 22" Ping Sizzle Ride
• 16" Vintage Crash
• 14" New Beat Hi Hats
• Tama Cobra Kick Pedal with Dunlopi Beater
• Aquarian 22" Kick Head
• Remo Satin Emperors Tops & Bottoms

Brian's Musical Journey

Brian started on alto sax in 4th grade, then moved to snare drum in 5th. In junior high school, he started in jazz band on the trap set also playing snare drum in symphonic band.

In high school (1993-1996), he played timpani in symphonic band and trap set in jazz band where they won the CMEA contest his graduating year in 1996. During his high school career, he played in the funk-alt rock band "Disco Jefes" whom gigged regularly in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Their unique sound was reminiscent of Janes Addiction, The Meters, and Black Sabbath

In 1995, Brian went to a Super Bowl party in Walnut Creek to play a drunken drum off at half time. There he befriended Jason Newsted (Metallica) and was invited to Jason's studio. From that day on, Jason would include Brian in open free form jams with people such as John Marshal, Jim Martin, Sophia Ramos, Septura, IR8, Dangerman, Newsted Metal, The Chophouse Band, Papa Wheelie, and more.

In 1999, Brian and Dylan, long time friend and band mate from "Disco Jefes" took a road trip with friends to Baja Mexico where they found inspiration and isolation. Dylan, coming from a musical family of Bob Dylan and Black Sabbath, began writing songs with Brian. They recorded a 12 song demo at Brian's studio. Brian shared the demo with Jason and Echobrain was born.

Echobrain recorded their album at "The Site" in Lucas Valley in 2000. They had the unique pleasure of using Jason's Metallica crew to facilitate the recording. Drum tech, producer, guitart tech, computer tech, on-site chef, and lodging, etc. were all out of Brian and Dylan's sense of normalcy. They took 2 weeks to track the album with special guests, then moved camp to "The Record Plant" in Sausalito to mix. After mixing was complete, the band took their first road trip to New York to master the album with Hall of Fame mastering engineer George Marino.

Echobrain signed with Surf Dog Records in 2001. Echobrain toured 42 states and was well received from Metallica fans and new borne fans. They came close to a gold record and were even offered to open up for Ben Harper. Along the tour "Helio Sequence" was their opening support.

At the end of the tour, Echobrain was presented with a lawsuit from a Texas Band with one letter difference in the name. They cited "copyright confusion" and rights to Echobrain's name. During this time, Echobrain was invited for specific dates on Neil Young's Greendale tour. Echobrain was not permitted to sell their CD or merchandise during the time of the lawsuit. This eventually was the end of Echobrain. Echobrain ultimately won rights to their name and the case was thrown out, but the restrictions and financial burned from the lawsuit disbanded them in 2005.

Brian picked up the pieces and got back into music in 2012 joining local jam bands in his now area of La Honda, California. He has recorded (2) albums with "Pathetic Honey" and one with his cousin Greg Fontana "Guido & His Second Cousin." He has built a full-service hybrid studio of analog and digital, and is excited for the next chapter.

Related Videos

• Metallica "Some Kind of Monster"
• Neil Young "Greendale"
• Echobrain
  • "Strange Enjoyment"
  • "You're Sold"
  • "Keep Me Alive" official video (directed by Danny Clinch)
• Pathetic Honey
  • "When I Go"
  • "Dirty Lies"
    

References

This article "Brian Sagrafena" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Brian Sagrafena. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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