After a disastrous flood destroyed much of the musical gear and the practice room that Bryan Demory was using for another musical venture, he realized that he had to move forward, not back. He could only reminisce for so long on the great music made by the likes of Yesterday’s Boy, Big Boots, and Neon Kings, to name but a few of his earlier projects.

Bryan picked up the pieces and salvaged what he could. He contacted an old friend, bassist Gessner Harrison, and a drummer that he knew, Zack Bell. The three practiced in Bryan’s flat for quite a spell, recording and posting videos on YouTube, until they got their first few gigs in Staunton VA sometime after that. Knowing that they would not be entirely complete without the addition of some more textures in their reverb drenched musical gauze, Bryan kept an ear out for that elusive 4th member of the band now known as Bremen

They found that 4th part in the person of Brooke Ritchie, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, to polish off the music they were writing. Adding just the right amount of instrumental depth and ethereal vocals to the reverb wash that is taking the Virginia Music Scene by storm.

During the first part of 2024, Bremen had to sadly bid farewell to drummer Zach Bell for health reasons. After some due diligence, they realized that a major shift had to occur; wherein Gessner Harrison would return to his original instrument, the drums, and bassist Edmond Marchetti would take over for Gessner on the low end. They arranged a sets’ worth of material and successfully sold-out Staunton’s Baja Bean in a show with the WaxBats, and it felt like a “new” Bremen was upon us. However, after a few more amazing shows throughout the end of 2024, there remained a restlessness.

Upon discovering that a newly rejuvenated Zach Bell wanted to return to the roost, some important questions had to be asked -- and answered. The answers to the questions involved another transition. In this new transition, both Ed and Brooke decided that their lives would be best served apart from Bremen. Which then led to a new search for the fourth Bremenite. What they found was in the form of Viri: a multi-instrumentalist with an angelic voice perfect to counterpoint Bryan’s, and possibly the stage presence to match.

And so, we come to the hopefully forever lineup of Bryan, Gessner, Zach and Viri – Which could not be the hopefully forever that was hoped for. Ziri had to leave for some personal reasons, leaving Bryan, Gesner and Zach back to the original days. Perennial opener Gary Hawthorne (who played with Bryan (and Ges) in Yesterday’s Boy and then Neon Kings) tried to fill the space, but sadly scheduling was not their friend, although it became their best buddy when Matt Getsey was able to join, as Matt’s guitar perfectly compliments Bryan’s in a way that can’t be random luck, sounding often like one big guitar!

So, Now… 2026! Bremen is Bryan Demory, Gesner Harrison, Zack Bell and Matt Getsey. Reverb is their medium and rock is their calling.

The album On the Island on Ranch Hand Records is still getting touched up as Bremen integrates the latest version of the band. They will be seen playing significant sets at shows in Staunton, Lynchburg and wherever else the reverb carries them.

The name Bremen comes from Bryan’s heritage back to Germany, besides being one of his favorite Brothers Grimm tales The Bremen Musicians -- his joke, as they were not really musicians, and neither is he.