Their HQ is on the corner of Mott and Broome, on the edge of New York's Chinatown. Push through the graffiti-ed door, clamber up the rotten stairs, past the sweatshops, and you'll find the place. It's where the Bravery have spent the past two years planning operations, obsessively working up their wire-y garage-electronics, and occasionally venturing out into the city to play the results.
Their first gig was in the Stinger Club in Brooklyn in 2003. Twelve months later, their name was plastered all over the Lower East Side to celebrate a sold-out residency at Arlene's Grocery on Stanton. In that time, the Bravery -- singer/guitarist Sam Endicott, guitarist Michael Zakarin, bassist Mike H, keyboardist John Conway, and drummer Anthony Burulcich -- had honed their sound to a dark garage-electro and made sure everyone knew what they were all about.
"We're called the Bravery because that's the mindset I was in when I was writing the songs," explains Sam now. "Everyone in my age group wants to know what they're going to do with their lives. They all think that they're worth nothing and they're heading nowhere. People are drowning in these thoughts and I just got sick of it. I didn't want to be like that."
"The name is also connected with living in New York in this really weird time. People are constantly waiting for something bad to happen. I wrote these songs and formed this band to make sure I didn't get overcome by that sense of fear. That's what this band is about--standing tall and not being afraid."
Sam has no time for excuses. He grew up in Maryland, in the D.C. suburbs, and was heavily influenced by the area's intense post-punk scene. He'd go and see bands like Fugazi and Jawbox and be impressed by their DiY ethic. He quickly adopted it as his own philosophy and it's something that feeds directly into the Bravery. They do everything --they make the records, the artwork, the videos. Everything. They know what they want and how they want to do it.
"I don't really like mainstream music at all," admits Sam. "When I listen to the radio or watch MTV, 99% of it is like listening to an air-conditioner or a hair dryer. Sometimes, though, something comes along that jolts you. When I was growing up, it was bands like Nirvana and Jane's Addiction. Those bands elevate culture. I don't think there's any point in aiming for anything less."
One thing that sometimes puzzles people about the Bravery is why they sound electronic when all the bands they like are punk guitar bands. Sam doesn't know why they sound like they do. He just wanted to do something different. Of course, the circumstances in which they recorded their album (most of which was constructed in a Sam's bedroom with Radio Shack mikes and an old iMac) and the fact that Sam's best friend John Conway is totally obsessed with analog keyboards obviously helped shape their sound.
The Bravery are now signed to Loog in the U.K. and Island Def Jam in America. Their first release arrived in November, 2004 in the form of a brilliant three-track EP. The Bravery have since had success with their self titled debut album, released in 2005, and a top ten hit in the UK with their single 'Honest Mistake'.
In late 2006, the band played a limited number of small shows on the US East Coast and in South America to showcase new material from their upcoming 2nd album. Endicott describes the new album as a departure from the synth-heavy sound of their debut. The Sun and the Moon is currently scheduled for release May. In February, the band uploaded a medley of three new songs onto their official page, with minute long clips of three new tracks due to be included on the forthcoming album. Since then, their newest album 'The Sun and The Moon' has been climbing the charts, with the first single 'Time Won't Let Me Go' receiving praise from critics. its test
After the release of The Sun and The Moon, The Bravery has taken a leave of absence for the members to pursue their own individual projects. An excerpt from The Bravery's official website:
"To answer your many queries, the band has not “broken up,” nothing so dramatic as that. We just aren’t doing anything together and don’t have any plans to for the foreseeable future. There’s been no “falling out,” no bad blood, we all just have different interests now and are involved in our own projects." -Sam Endicott 4-25-14
This Is Not The End
The Bravery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on tell me what you can
Even as you wait for death
You're wiser than I am
Tell me
What does it mean to exist
I am not a scientist
I cannot accept
Everything that's real
Is only what our eyes can see
And our hands can feel
Not even Earth could hold us
Not even life controls us
Not even the ground can keep us down
The memories in my head
Are just as real as the time we spent
You'll always be close to me my friend
This is not the end
I see
I can see you're so afraid
You wear it like a silver hood
On you, even fear looks good
I wish
I wish I had some words to give
But all that I can think to say
Is "I'll be with you every day"
Not even Earth could hold us
Not even life controls us
Not even the ground can keep us down
The memories in my head
Are just as real as the time we spent
You'll always be close to me my friend
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
I don't care
I don't care what you believe
As long as you are in my heart
You're just as real as me
Maybe
Maybe even more
Someone who's touched so many lives
Could never ever die
Not even Earth could hold us
Not even life controls us
Not even the ground can keep us down
The memories in my head
Are just as real as the time we spent
You'll always be close to me my friend
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
This is not the end
La la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la
This is not the end
The Bravery's song "This Is Not The End" is a powerful anthem about the permanence of memories and the enduring nature of human relationships. The lyrics ask existential questions about the meaning of existence and the limits of reality, ultimately concluding that the memories and connections we hold with others are just as real and tangible as anything we can see or touch. The chorus reinforces this sentiment, declaring that not even death can separate us from the people we love or erase the significance of the time we spent together.
The song's verses are directed to a friend or loved one who is facing the end of their life, and the singer acknowledges their own fears and limitations in the face of mortality. However, he also expresses a deep belief in the power of human connection to transcend physical existence, and promises to keep his loved one close in his heart even after they're gone. The song's message is ultimately one of hope and resilience, affirming that our memories and bonds with others are what give meaning to our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me
The singer wants to hear what another person has to say.
Come on tell me what you can
Encouraging the person to share everything they know.
Even as you wait for death
The person may feel like they are nearing their end, yet they still have something to say that is important.
You're wiser than I am
The artist acknowledges that the person they're talking to may have more knowledge or experience than they do.
What does it mean to exist
The artist is questioning the meaning of life and what it means to truly exist.
I am not a scientist
The singer admits they do not have scientific knowledge or answers to these philosophical questions.
I must believe in more than this
The singer is suggesting that they believe there is more to life than what they can see or understand.
I cannot accept
The artist is stating that they do not agree with the following concept.
Everything that's real
The artist is referring to everything that exists in the world that we can observe.
Is only what our eyes can see
The artist believes that our experience of reality is limited by what we can perceive with our senses.
And our hands can feel
Our sense of touch is also limited, further restricting our understanding of the world.
Not even Earth could hold us
The artist believes that even the limits of our physical world cannot ultimately contain us.
Not even life controls us
The singer is suggesting that our experiences and choices are not dictated solely by the fact that we are alive.
Not even the ground can keep us down
The force of gravity itself cannot keep us from breaking the chains of physical limitation.
The memories in my head
The singer is referring to their personal memories that they carry with them.
Are just as real as the time we spent
Those memories reflect a reality that is just as valid as any moment from the past.
You'll always be close to me my friend
The artist has a close relationship with someone they care about deeply.
This is not the end
The singer believes that even though things may be difficult, the end is not yet here.
I can see you're so afraid
The singer notices that the person they're talking to is feeling very scared.
You wear it like a silver hood
The fear is very visible and prominent, like a hood worn over the face.
On you, even fear looks good
The person is so used to feeling afraid that it seems almost natural or appealing to them.
I wish I had some words to give
The artist is expressing a desire to provide comfort or help to the person they care about.
But all that I can think to say
Despite wanting to help, the singer is struggling to find the right words.
"I'll be with you every day"
The artist promises to be there for the person they care about, offering their presence and support.
I don't care what you believe
The singer does not judge the other person's beliefs or opinions, and does not see that as a barrier to their connection.
As long as you are in my heart
The singer values the emotional connection that they have with the other person more than any differences in beliefs or opinions.
You're just as real as me
The relationship between the two people is just as real as any other aspect of reality.
Maybe even more
The artist is suggesting that the relationship they have may be more important or transcendent than other aspects of reality.
Someone who's touched so many lives
The person the artist is talking to has had a significant impact on others and has made a positive difference in the world.
Could never ever die
Even if the person perishes physically, their impact on the world and the memories they leave behind will always endure.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Samuel Bingham Endicott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind