Lee Ahlbrandt

Lee Ahlbrandt ◎ Singer Songwriter ◎ Austin, Texas

The music of Lee Ahlbrandt ranges from poignant and heartbreaking to otherworldly. We are proud to release "First Time Slow Second Time Drunk" on streaming, hi-res digital, CD and most importantly, limited edition white vinyl. (see pics below!) 

There is an important story around the making of this record.

Lee's brain cancer had come out of remission in 2019 and he knew his opportunity and ability to record his music was shrinking fast. His dream was to record his songs and press a vinyl record. 

This album is the culmination of an intense, 6 year collaboration with producer, musician and Lee's old friend Brute Florist. The songs span the progression of his cancer from when it was still in remission to shortly before his final surgery. But the center of this project is not cancer. 

It is song-craft. Stories with rhythm, melodies, harmonies, soliloquies. Stories with big hearts. Stories about loss and love and friendship and family.

Brute Florist turned Lee's living room into a makeshift analog recording studio based around a TASCAM 34 1/4" 4-track reel-to-reel, a Mackie VLZ 1604 mixing board, a smattering of good sounding but nothing fancy mics, and their combined collection of instruments, amps and effects. Lee and Brute Florist met regularly for recording sessions despite everything life and the pandemic threw at them. They worked out arrangements and took turns playing various instruments.

Some songs came together like clockwork. With others they struggled. Due to his chemo treatments, Lee's ability to play guitar the way he wanted was a moving target. He was often frustrated and stymied by this. Brute was insistent that they not try to hide the sound of Lee fighting his hands to play his instrument. Instead they would experiment and figure out ways to turn it into a musical feature. This lead to creative exploration that began to embue the recordings with a unique sound. One such innovation became the haunting acoustic guitar sound in the title track 'First Time Slow Second Time Drunk'. They persevered. 

While they were recording in Lee's living room, Brute Florist started going through his archive of various recordings they had made over the years. He found material with great potential that they had recorded at their frequent "smoke weed and record whatever happens" sessions between 2016 and 2019. Brute was determined to make sure there would be enough great songs for a full album, so he got to work. A couple pieces just needed a buff and polish. Others were bare scaffolding and experiments. He quietly molded these pieces like clay, adding backing vocals and additional instrumentation. Then nervously revealed his work. Lee loved them! Picture two dudes hugging and pretending their eyes aren't wet.

The result of all this is a sonic chapter-book that is gorgeously raw, beautifully scarred and as ancient as forever. 

It's uncomfortable to pigeonhole this record into a specific genre. The songs transcend simple sums of country, folk and rock - though those elements are indeed woven in. This is a life laid as bare as a mirror mirage on the Llano Estacado into which we cannot help but gaze as we put one boot in front of the other. 

From his hospice bed Lee got to hear his record on Spotify and hold his test pressings. Unfortunately the production run of 500 vinyl records in their gorgeous jackets would come too late. He passed on Nov 16, 2022 at the age of 52. 

Our sorrow at Lee's passing was sweetened by the satisfaction of being able to deliver his vinyl records and CDs to our incredible group of Kickstarter supporters, Lee's family, awesome friends and some random strangers. Lee's final musical dream fulfilled. 

We invite you to enjoy and experience Lee's songs.

Vinyl, CD & hi-res digital versions available on Bandcamp

Available for listening on all major streaming platforms