Rock/Review Pennan Brae - Paint (feat. Steve Ferrone)
Pennan Brae is a Vancouver musician whose music is influenced by 1970s & 80s rock & roll. Pennan enjoys the marriage of music & film & composed a pair of soundtracks for films he wrote ('The Astronot' & '2 Below 0'). His latest album, 'Paint,' features the legendary Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty, Eric Clapton) on drums. Pennan's music has received airplay on Sirius XM, North American college radio, & community radio in the UK & Australia.
With “Paint,” Vancouver singer-songwriter Pennan Brae crafts a vibrant, era-spanning tribute to the rock and roll that shaped him. Rooted in the unmistakable grit and swagger of the 1970s and ’80s, the album leans unapologetically into its influences — from the ragged, riff-driven cool of The Rolling Stones to the polished, radio-ready punch of Bryan Adams. Yet rather than mimicry, Brae filters these inspirations through his own melodic sensibilities, creating a record that feels both nostalgic and distinctly his.
Tracks like “Slide” and “Do What You Do” channel classic Stones energy, complete with tight grooves, swaggering guitars, and a loose, live-wire feel that evokes smoky bars and summer headlights on long highways. But “Paint” refuses to be a one-note homage. The country-rock ballad “Girl In The City” broadens the album’s palette, offering a warm, reflective counterpoint that shows Brae’s versatility as a storyteller.
At the heart of the album is legendary drummer Steve Ferrone — whose résumé spans Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran, and beyond. Ferrone’s presence is more than a feature; it is the rhythmic backbone that ties the album together. His effortless feel, impeccable timing, and understated power elevate every track, bringing authenticity and rock-royalty gravitas to Brae’s vision.
A blend of classic rock, funk-rock swagger, and country-rock charm, “Paint” is a lovingly crafted ode to the music of earlier decades — polished enough for contemporary playlists yet steeped in the timeless spirit of rock’s golden years.