Mr. Krebs' first solo release was a 7" single he did in 1994. He collaborated with Elliott Smith of Heatmiser, who also has a booming solo career. Mr. Krebs and Mr. Smith worked together to turn out "Shytown", a Krebs' tune also on Brigadier, and "No Confidence Man", written by Smith.

Some Thoughts On Brigadier
A beautiful trip through folk, rock, country, bluegrass, and Americana of Mr. Krebs' consciousness, Brigadier is a moving record. The contrast between the electric power of Hazel and the largely unaccompanied guitar of Brigadier is powerful, but Mr. Krebs' longing voice and emotional lyricism are strengths in both. The record is obviously a labor of love, if nothing else from the liner notes of "Recorded over what seemed like fifty million years by Brendan Bell".

When the album first came out back in 1996 or so, I had already heard Hazel, and the split 7" of Smith and Krebs. Despite loving the output, I figured I would wait to find a used copy of Brigadier. Sixteen bucks seemed like a big investment for a (so said the reviews in by Cavity Search and so forth) folk record made by a rocker. So it was a heck of a long time before I finally broke down and shelled out a good twelve dollars at the wonderful Portland record store Locals Only for the Saran-Wrapped slab of silicon.

Wow. An excellent investment, as the record is stunning. The quick opening chords hook you as they clue you in to the fact that this is a rock player normally, but one with a range of styles. The love of so many music styles is a fascinating melting pot, and the lyricism is engrossing. Please enjoy.