The first demo from Richard Brisbois & The Haiku Mavericks!
Richard Brisbois & The Haiku Mavericks
Beginning with his early band The Buckets and on to his exceptional '90s powerhouse rock outfit 4 Hr. Ramona, and to his one-off tracks offered via the socials, there is a “wear it all on his sleeve” emotional honesty to Richard Brisbois' songwriting that comes into sharp focus with his solo albums Anytime You Think About Her (2021) and Between the Light and Me (2025), both proudly released by Drums & Wires Recordings.
Brisbois deftly places subtle layers of sonic ambiance throughout his folk-rock solo albums, using layered sounds to voice the narrative. His recordings utilize acoustic and electric, slide and bass guitars, keys, mandolin, light drums and percussion, ambient sounds and sing-along melodicism, recalling the best of early R.E.M., Jeff Tweedy's Wilco, The Go-Betweens and Neil Halstead (Slowdive, Mojave 3).
And while Brisbois is a compelling solo artist, writing the songs and playing all the instruments, he has missed the collaboration and excitement of playing with a band; the discoveries and surprises that only playing with other musicians can bring to a project, each player’s unique musicality adding more color to his songs.
Enter The Haiku Mavericks. Recruited from a cohort of Seattle musicians who have recorded and performed with the likes of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, The Walkabouts, The Silos, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Karl Blau, Dean Johnson, and other notable artists, the band brings a depth of musical knowledge, experience, chops and emotional heft to Brisbois’ music. The Mavericks are The Band to Brisbois’ Dylan, the E Street Band to his Springsteen, all of whom are foundational influences on his songwriting.
“Everyone in the Mavericks spend as much time listening as they do playing. No one steps on toes, musically” says Brisbois. “A musician friend who saw our first show said ‘you guys don’t sound like a seven piece,’ which to me was a great compliment.”
This is a band with a vast arsenal at their disposal. Between just a few of the players there is violin, mandolin, lap steel, electric guitar, synthesizer, harmonica and glockenspiel. Despite this the music never sounds bombastic or cluttered. Add to this an alternately rock solid and light as a feather rhythm section who sound like they’ve played together for years (they haven’t), and three terrific singers who can give CSNY a run for their money, and you’ve got a band that can shift from quiet vulnerability to roof-raising power in the space of a nod.
Richard Brisbois & The Haiku Mavericks are actively booking gigs around the Pacific Northwest and beginning work on their debut full band album to be released in 2026.
Meet the Mavs!
Richard Brisbois - Songwriter, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Katy Palmer - Vocals, Tambourine
James Palmer - Vocals, Guitars, glockenspiel, Harmonica, Synth
Bruce Wirth - Violin, Mandolin, Dobro, Lap Steel
Jon Hyde - Electric Guitar
Michael Wells - Bass Guitar, Harmonica
Kevin Warner - Drums
Jim Wood - Drums
Pictured: Jon Hyde, Katy Palmer, Bruce Wirth, Richard Brisbois, Kevin Warner, Michael Wells. Not pictured: James Palmer, Jim Wood.
