Brian Krumm

Brian Krumm and His Barfly Friends is the first solo project from Brian Krumm, front man for Chicago’s Americana-noir group The Great Crusades. His debut album, Just Fade Away was recorded with members of his regular band as well as a who’s who of Chicago music scene notables with Crusader Christian Moder and Brian producing. Just Fade Away was released by Pravda Records as a digital download, 12” vinyl LP, CD and via streaming platforms June. 2. The band completed a sold-out tour of Germany in June 2023, with shows in the United States scheduled for the rest of the year.
Krumm wrote the songs on Just Fade Away in 2020. In an effort to stay sane during the first days of the lockdown, Brian would drink a shot of whiskey each evening at 5PM and try to write a song. Twenty-five days later, he had 25 songs, 11 of which he’d take into his and Moder’s home studios. Along with long time band mates Brian Hunt (bass, vocals), Brian Leach (keyboards, vocals, guitars), and Christian Moder (drums, percussion, keyboards, vocals, production), he recruited Dana Anderson (vocals), Tony Artimisi (drums), Erik Attkisson (bass), Jake Brookman (cello), Laura Coy (vocals), Pete Galanis (guitars), Jessie Hotaling (vocals, co-lead vocals on “Just Fade Away,” “Stuck in the Van” and “Wasn’t Born Yesterday”), Hazel Krumm (vocals), Vivian Krumm (vocals), Dirk McElravey (bouzouki, mandolin), Kristina Priceman (violin), Nelson Strange (guitars), Brian Wilkie (pedal steel, guitars) and the Montrose Horns: Jon Boley (trumpet), Rich Lapka (trombone, horn arrangements) and Justin Past (saxophone).