JEFF the Brotherhood is a Nashville rock group formed in 2001 and centred on brothers Jake Orrall and Jamin Orrall, who play guitar and drums. The band also includes Chet Jameson and Kunal Prakash. Its sound is rooted in garage rock, neo-psychedelia and psychedelic rock, and it is also described in terms such as kraut punk, psychedelic grunge and noise pop.

Background and activity

The group grows out of the Orrall brothers’ upbringing in Tennessee, where they make music and develop a do-it-yourself approach. From the beginning, they play a wide range of small and informal spaces, including house parties, rooftops, backyards, bars and art galleries, while also issuing their own records, tapes, comic books and homemade videos. They are active from 2001 onwards and begin touring widely across the United States in 2006.

Style and live reputation

JEFF the Brotherhood is known for a stripped-back setup, using three guitar strings and a minimal drum kit. Their music draws comparisons with Hawkwind, Wipers and early Sonic Youth. The band builds a reputation in Nashville and beyond through energetic live performances and a willingness to play almost anywhere.

Releases and collaborations

In 2009, the band releases two split seven-inch records, one with Sisters from Brooklyn and another with Screaming Females from New Jersey. Their first full-length album, Heavy Days, appears on Infinity Cat Recordings, the family-run label associated with the group. Their major-label debut, Hypnotic Nights, is produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.

Shared bills

Across their career, the band shares bills with Oneida, Battles, Sonic Youth, Ex-Models, Jay Reatard, Black Pus and Dave Cloud.