DPA Keeps Brothers Comatose Alive

Despite the group’s name, the bluegrass-influenced Brothers Comatose is far from a state of unconsciousness. Currently touring the nation at several summer music festivals, the band’s mandolin player, Ryan Avellone, relies on DPA Microphones’ d:vote™ 4099 Instrument Microphone to give his instrument a clear and natural sound.
Avellone discovered DPA Microphones during his search for an alternative amplification method to the traditional acoustic pickups. He wanted something that provided quality sound, was durable and still discreet enough not to interfere with the physical beauty of the instrument. The DPA d:vote fit that bill. Despite its small size, the d:vote amplifies the natural sound of an instrument, adhering to DPA’s strict reputation for high-quality audio.
"Most pickups produce a similar sound that doesn’t sound like the instruments, so I just don’t like them," says Avellone. "I was searching for a while, and finally found the DPA d:vote. I decided to try it and I love it. It’s amazing for a live performance and is really good at recreating the sound of my mandolin for both myself and the audience. We play at venues and get loud, and I still have the microphone coming into the monitor. I pretty much never have feedback issues. The d:vote topped all of my expectations."
A highly durable microphone that can be used across many musical applications, the d:vote is a unique, lightweight and versatile microphone that has mounting options for almost all instruments. It can easily be unclipped and repositioned without marring the finish of the instrument. Built with the touring musician in mind, the d:vote has a modular design that allows the user to swap out or upgrade individual pieces, such as the cable, which is also available as a heavy duty option.
"The microphone is great, it’s really durable," says Avellone. "All of the cables and accessories are really well designed and can withstand anything. I’ve played probably over one hundred gigs with it all over the country and it has never let me down."
Avellone wants to see more acoustic musicians using the d:vote to highlight the natural sound of their instruments, starting with his band mates. "I just know that once they try the d:vote it’s going to be their solution, too," he adds. "I go to a lot of shows and have watched a lot of bands. They are good bands with good music, but their instruments just don’t sound ideal. They have nice instruments, like a $3,000 guitar, with cheap $50 pickups on them. That just doesn’t make sense to me. That’s what’s cool about the d:vote; when you put it on the instrument, it sounds like the instrument."
Hailing from San Francisco, Brothers Comatose was formed by brothers Alex Morrison (banjo and vocals) and Ben Morrison (guitar and vocals). The duo got their start performing for friends and family at their home, alongside other local musicians. It was there that they met bassist Gio Benedetti. Avellone later joined the pair, along with fiddle player Philip Brezins. No matter where they are performing, an occasional fan on chopsticks can also be found on stage, as the band often invites audience members to participate. The band is currently on tour performing songs from their latest album Respect the Van (2012), a tribute to the Chevy G20 that takes them across the country to music festivals such as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Kate Wolf and SXSW.
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