Brown Bird was an American folk duo originally from Providence, Rhode Island. The band consisted of MorganEve Swain (upright bass, cello, vocals) and David Lamb (guitar, vocals). They were known for their energetic live performances and blending of multiple music genres including folk, blues, country, and Eastern European folk. At their peak, Brown Bird toured extensively across the United States and Europe. However, in 2013, Lamb was diagnosed with leukemia, forcing the band to go on hiatus. Tragically, Lamb passed away in 2014 at the young age of 35 after his year-long battle with cancer. This raises the question – with the death of one of their two key members, does Brown Bird still make music?
Brief History of Brown Bird
Brown Bird was formed in 2003 by MorganEve Swain and Martin Luther. The duo released their debut album Twos in 2007 and a second album The Devil Dancing in 2008. However, Luther left the band soon after to focus on his family. David Lamb was brought in as a replacement, and this kicked off the most prolific period in Brown Bird’s history. From 2009 to 2012, the duo released 5 studio albums – Hard Times, Salt for Salt, The Sound of Ghosts, Axis Mundi, and Fits of Reason. Their music blended elements of blues, bluegrass, folk, punk, Eastern European, and Americana roots. Brown Bird toured relentlessly during this period, performing over 1000 shows across North America and Europe. Some of their major festival appearances included SXSW, Baltic Soul Weekend (Lithuania), and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Their song “Blood of Angels” was featured on the TV series Sons of Anarchy in 2011, exposing them to a wider audience.
The Illness and Death of David Lamb
In April 2013, David Lamb was diagnosed with leukemia while the duo was working on their 6th studio album. This forced Brown Bird to cancel the remaining tour dates to prioritize Lamb’s health and recovery. However, Lamb’s condition continued to deteriorate. In July 2013, Lamb and Swain made the difficult decision to go on an indefinite hiatus with a final statement:
“We are going to take a break from touring so Dave can continue to get better. Any and all support would go a long way towards that goal and be much appreciated.”
A fundraiser concert was held in Providence in October 2013 featuring Swain, with contributions going towards Lamb’s medical expenses. However, Lamb sadly passed away on April 5, 2014 at age 35 after losing his battle with leukemia. His partner MorganEve Swain and Brown Bird fans across the world mourned the tragic loss of an incredibly talented and creative soul.
Activity of Brown Bird members after Lamb’s death
Understandably, MorganEve Swain took a break from music after Lamb’s passing to grieve and process everything. In interviews, Swain made it clear that Brown Bird would not continue without David Lamb. In Lamb’s obituary, she wrote:
“I will never again stand on stage with anyone but David Lamb.”
In 2016, Swain surfaced again musically by releasing a solo album titled MorganEve Swain Presents Brown Bird – An Album by MorganEve Swain. This album featured unreleased songs that Lamb and Swain had written and recorded together from 2009-2012. In the album notes Swain wrote:
“These songs were written with David Lamb for Brown Bird between 2009 and 2012. I recorded them in Providence, Rhode Island and Seattle, Washington in January 2016 in dedication to David and to all of you who have supported Brown Bird.”
This solo release allowed Swain to share more of Brown Bird’s unreleased music with fans, as a tribute to Lamb. Since then, Swain has continued to occasionally perform Brown Bird songs live as a solo act. She released another album in 2021 titled They Know My Name under the moniker Rumors by Rachels. While these recent projects have featured a more electric folk pop sound compared to her work in Brown Bird, Swain’s powerful cello playing and vocals continue to shine through.
As for other Brown Bird members, violinist Mike Samos joined the New England folk rock band Crooked Coast after Lamb’s passing. Martin Luther, the original Brown Bird member, has remained active playing with various bands in the Rhode Island area including Brother JT Project.
Will Brown Bird release new music again?
Given MorganEve Swain’s statements that she will not continue Brown Bird without David Lamb, it is unfortunately unlikely that any new Brown Bird albums will be released. While Swain has been open to occasionally performing the band’s existing songs live and releasing previously unheard material, she has made it clear that the special musical connection she had with Lamb is irreplaceable. So in that sense, Brown Bird as a creative duo crafting new music together appears to have retired along with Lamb’s passing.
However, that does not rule out the possibility of Swain or other Brown Bird members re-recording or re-imagining existing songs for special projects in the future. Lamb’s musical legacy will undoubtedly live on through Brown Bird’s 6 studio albums and extensive catalog of unreleased material and live recordings. Fans still have plenty of content to re-visit and discover that captures the duo’s essence during their incredible run from 2003 to 2013. While new Brown Bird albums seem unlikely, the band’s existing music undoubtedly stands the test of time.
Impact and Musical Legacy
Though Brown Bird’s recording career only spanned about a decade in the early 2000s, they left an indelible mark within the modern Americana and folk scenes. Their unique blending of multiple genres into a raw, energetic roots music sound garnered them critical acclaim and a passionate fanbase. Songs like “Danger and Dread,” “Down to the River” and “Blood of Angels” exemplified their talent for writing foot-stomping folk anthems accentuated by Lamb’s bluesy vocals and growling guitar and Swain’s virtuosic cello.
Brown Bird’s tireless touring also helped grow the Providence and Rhode Island music community beyond its borders. Having played over 1000 shows across North America and Europe, Brown Bird expanded their fanbase far outside of their New England hometown. Yet they remained dedicated to fostering Providence’s local music scene. Lamb and Swain often organized and participated in benefit shows and open mics in town. In her 2021 interview looking back on Brown Bird’s legacy Swain stated:
“The band was very involved in the local music scene. We organized shows and supported each other…We all just really cared about music.”
The band’s musical ethos of relentless touring, genre-blending, and community-building left a lasting impact. Their music served as an entry point into folk music for many contemporary listeners. Brown Bird’s catalog still feels fresh and relevant today. Their songs have amassed over 2 million Spotify streams, demonstrating their continued appeal to new audiences. While Brown Bird’s story ended painfully too soon, Lamb and Swain’s musical legacy persists. They raised the bar for modern folk music and continue inspiring new artists and fans today.
Conclusion
In summary, while Brown Bird is no longer active as a creative duo releasing new music, David Lamb and MorganEve Swain’s musical legacy remains strong. Swain has made clear that the unique chemistry and spirit of Brown Bird cannot exist without Lamb, who tragically passed away from leukemia in 2014. However, fans still have access to the band’s extensive catalog of 6 studio albums and unreleased material that Swain has shared. Lamb’s inimitable vocals and blues folk guitar paired with Swain’s powerful cello gave Brown Bird their distinct sound. Though their recording career was relatively short-lived, Brown Bird had an outsized influence through their genre-blending music and relentless tour schedule. They helped grow the Providence music scene and carved a path for modern folk artists. Brown Bird’s story was cut painfully short, but their music lives on as a testament to the immense creativity and passion Lamb and Swain poured into the project.