Brian Kraff
&
the Three Hour Decantors
New LP
“Allen’s Sound Investments”
coming in 2026
Some say he may not exist at all. But I know different…
Brian Kraff doesn’t publish his gigs in advance. They just happen.
Brian Kraff doesn’t release his music via normal channels. But we know he’s written 300 songs over 40 years.
Having followed his music for decades, I can assure you that I have witnessed Brian Kraff’s Zelig-like, right place, right time non-career in music. Yes, Mick Jones did encourage him to jump on-stage during that Clash show. The purple haze of Robert Cray’s tour bus was real. That smoke filled van ride to Auckland from Kare Kare with Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie – a bit scary, but he kept his cool. We know that years later, his band opened for Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens. But ask him about a career highlight, and he’ll quickly note the invitation from his hero, Neil Finn, to play the song of his choice at DC’s 9:30 Club (after an impromptu on-stage band negotiation). I was at that show.
It’s been 20 years since he recorded “Shine” with Jeff Tweedy and Mikael Jorgensen at Wilco’s Loft in Chicago. He was strangely tight lipped about that one. I’m still not sure why, other than I know that Brian Kraff is one of the most private people on the planet. To know him is to understand why.
He hasn’t touched hearts around the world because almost no-one has ever heard his music. Says Kraff, “Whether you’re a pro musician, an occasional XM listener, or a devoted music-junkie, you may find my work utterly forgettable…. because I have the luxury of writing for myself. I learned that from Jeff.”
Insiders know that, after seasons of sloppy, raw, unscripted appearances at Iota, Roundtable and Whitey’s, Brian Kraff played regularly with Tom McCarthy of Wax, before Tom decided to get a real band (that later became No Second Troy).
Currently Brian Kraff is an occasional utility guitarist and vocalist with NYC’s long-practiced outfit Same Day Service. Rumors abound about his new LP “Allen’s Sound Investments” – I hope to hear refined versions of some of my favorite demos and unlike most fans, I look forward to the newer songs which I’m told are brighter and power pop driven. We’ll see…
– Andrea Laurie, Journey Girl Productions
