Brothers Joshua and Jeremiah Zimmerman and their band The Silent Comedy know trouble. Rough-hewn, expansive American rock & roll that channels the blues, Honky-Tonk, and punk into a euphoric declaration that when trouble arises, we lift our voices high. Through grit and passion they grew their band, self-releasing a series of albums, selling hundreds of thousands, streaming millions and sharing bills with the likes of Queens Of The Stone Age, Dave Matthews Band, Mumford and Sons, Vampire weekend, Arctic Monkeys, Ryan Bingham, The Heavy to name a few. Born of a rough patch in the brothers’ personal and professional lives, their 2018 release Enemies Multiply marked a breakthrough in their sound, but it was too personal, too raw, and by the end of recording Joshua found himself struggling with an acute mental health crisis. After a tour of Europe, the band took a hiatus and largely stepped away from music.

This time away from the music sparked a creative renaissance for the brothers. Frequent collaboration on film projects has opened up new artistic doors. Fate has a way of conspiring with the muse, and after six years spent on opposite coasts the brothers Zimmerman find themselves both living in Nashville, TN. Energized by the return of sibling proximity, the musical embers began to glow bright. After releasing a few singles in 2022, the brothers decided it was time to shine a new light on their neglected masterpiece. Released initially on vinyl only in a very limited run, the reissue features artwork by Paul Drohan, including a full-sized poster/lyric sheet. As Joshua says, “there is still nothing like the tactile experience of vinyl. There is something so special about unwrapping and listening to a vinyl record for the first time; it is like a sacred ritual.”

“We incorporated everything we learned from years of playing shows around the world into the writing and tracking of Enemies Multiply” says Joshua. “Our producer, Chris “Frenchie” Smith brought a ton of ideas to the process to try and make the album match the feeling of our live show. All things considered, with some time and distance from the recording of Enemies Multiply, it is still the album that I am most proud of out of anything The Silent Comedy has released. This album serves as something of a sonic starting point that we are embarking from as we write and record new material.”

With most records the listener never really gets to see the process behind its creation. For the re-release of Enemies Multiply the brothers decided to lean on their visual storytelling abilities – and their partnership with award-winning director Krista Liney (veteran of music projects featuring, among others, Justin Bieber, Kris Kristofferson and Dierks Bentley as well as Emmy nominations and an NAACP Image Award win for documentary content) – to create a companion film titled I Am Alright. Making its world premiere at the Oceanside International Film Festival, the film follows the band’s journey from euphoric highs to devastating lows, giving the viewer an unfiltered look at the realities of life as a touring band and dangers of pursuing your dreams at all costs.

“We hadn’t felt comfortable sharing this very personal untold, story until now,” explains Joshua. “We made a film to dig into the journey of the band and what led to us walking away from it for a number of years. Sad to say, that story isn’t unique and has a great deal to do with the larger narratives of mental health and the state of the music industry. It is a cathartic watch for anyone who has been in a band, and a starkly honest view of that life for anyone who hasn’t experienced it first-hand. This story and chapter in our lives is deeply personal and painful for each member of the band in unique ways, but it has been healing for us to revisit it and lay it all out in a very candid way.”

A lot has changed in the world since the Enemies Multiply sessions, yet it feels timelier than ever.

The brothers Zimmerman look to both the past and the future when they write, infusing their music with a timely quality that doesn’t fade. “We’ve received criticism in the past for being overly dark” says Joshua. “We see it more as being open and clear-eyed about the darkness that is inherent in human nature, and desperately looking for some hope in art and music. The events of the past few years have made it abundantly clear that no one is immune from hardship.”

While their lyrics are often focused on the darker side of humanity, they also bring catharsis and comfort to people who find themselves in difficult times. Heeding the call, The Silent Comedy is ready once again to bring their medicine to the masses. The re-release of Enemies Multiply and the debut of the documentary is the end of a particular chapter of The Silent Comedy and the start of a new one. It is a beacon of hope for those who have dealt with similar struggles, and also provides welcome context for a brilliantly troubled piece of art. “We needed to tell this story so we can move on with our lives both creatively and personally” explains Joshua.  Writing and recording, cracking knuckles and shining up the live show, The Silent Comedy is hitting the road in 2023, stopping in Texas to cut a new record with long-time friend and collaborator Elijah Ford (Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses, Gary Clark Jr.) producing.

“Elijah has been a part of our creative family for years, touring with us and tracking in the studio. He knows our band inside and out, so we are really looking forward to seeing what our collaboration in this new chapter brings.” says Joshua. “This is the most fun we have ever had writing and recording!”

The road these brothers have wandered has been fraught, and not without peril. Yet, the music of The Silent Comedy has always served as a source of comfort in the face of uncertainty, chaos, and despair. “If our music continues to have that effect on anyone at all, then we will be here, making more of it” says Joshua. “Dark songs for dark days.” 

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