Meet Brian Grilli, who has a new album you should hear

Singer/songwriter/musician is releasing his third studio record, Great Big Sky

Brian Grilli has a new album, Great Big Sky. It’s the third album from Grilli, who recently toured with The Steepwater Band.

Brian Grilli has been making music for more than a decade, but never better than his latest album, which releases Friday (January 10).

I wrote a profile on Grilli’s path to making Great Big Sky for the Northwest Indiana Times, which can be found by clicking here. It does take a subscription to read, but it’s only a $1 for the first three months, and you can cancel anytime.

In addition to that story, there was plenty during my conversation with Grilli that didn’t make the story but that fans of Grilli and also The Steepwater Band, who Grilli recently opened for during their Southbound 2024 Tour, will find interesting.

Here’s a breakdown of what Grilli had to say about several subjects:

Grilli’s family background

Brian’s dad, Averardo Grilli (then known as Russ Grilley), had a hit song in 1950 with singer Gloria Van called “Knock, Knock, Knock.” After the war, he played all over the Chicago and Northwest Indiana area as well as Michigan and Wisconsin.

Several of Grilli’s brothers went on to become musicians, too. He has a brother who plays drums and another who plays saxophone and clarinet — “He plays on the jazz scene,” Grilli said. “He’s in a Dave Brubeck-Chick Corea tribute band. And he’s real into world music and Afro-Cuban music.”

Brian had no interest in learning anything from his dad, but when he showed interest in guitar, Averardo bought him his first guitar from the Sears Music Center, where Averardo worked. He encouraged his son to take lessons, but they never really stuck.

“I wish I’d learned piano from my dad, but when I was a kid, I had that attitude of, ‘I’m not going to learn anything from you.’” Grilli said. “I would try lessons through the years but would never last more than three or four, so I’d just go home and try to learn it from the record — taking the needle back and forth, scratching up all my records.”

Influences

On his influences, Grilli said: “Growing up the youngest of eight, I ran the gamut — big band, rockabilly, Sabbath and Zeppelin, Cheap Trick, the Beatles.

“When I did the Rumble Fish album, I wanted to be the next Jellyfish, Beatles, Cheap Trick … power pop. I love the Chicago power pop sound, Enuff Z'Nuff. The Glory Hounds took that Cheap Trick punky power pop to the next level.

“Then, after 9/11, my life took a completely different turn. On Damn Good Day, I had started listening to current country, but also The Black Crowes and Pearl Jam, but also Social Distortion, Wilco, Ryan Adams — a lot of influences.”

Songwriting/playing guitar

Grilli said: “I consider myself a songwriter first and a guitar player second. What I’m playing on guitar has to be for the song — not trying to show what kind of theatrics I can do on the guitar. I want my solo to be part of the song — almost a melody or hook in itself.

“One of the guys who does that to perfection is Neal Shawn from Journey. Most people can hum along with his solos. They’re almost like vocal lines in themselves. The guy can shred, but those solos are what you’ll remember. That’s how I approach my playing.

“When I write songs, I want them to have good hooks. But I also want them to be honest, heartfelt and relatable. I want them to tell a story that people can relate to.

“I learned a little bit of theory on my own, but I can’t read music. I’m just an old hack guitar player.”

Debut album, Damn Good Day

Grilli said: “My vision for Damn Good Day had been a cross between the Black Crowes, Cheap Trick and Lucero,” Grilli said. “I had a management company that signed me to an artist development deal and kind of pushed me toward a Keith Urban type of sound. The Keith Urban songs from back then … it was cool. But Damn Good Day … it’s me, but it’s not me.

“I had some good success on that album, though. It resonated with a lot of people. ‘Damn Good Day” is my most successful song to date, and I’m glad people gravitated to it.”

Second album, Deep South Symphony

Grilli released a demo version in 2016, then “really spiced it up” with more guitars and harmonies and released it officially in 2018.

“A lot of artists have to go with a formula because of their producer or record label, then when they get to a certain point they start branching out, and that’s when the honesty comes out,” Grilli said of where he was at when making the album. “I got on the road, I was going through a divorce … life was happening and more experiences built up on me. I went though a little bit of a darker period, and that shows up in Deep South Symphony, which has a darker theme overall.

“But I think I was still torn somewhat with where my sound should be.”

Compilation album, Progression

Grilli said: “When COVID hit, I did an album of songs I’d done in the 1990s with a band called Rumble Fish, and then from the 2000s with a band called Glory Hounds that I was with even when I was in the Navy. It was that along with some live stuff and demos. It was something I could do from home and have something out there while everyone was Door-Dashing.”

New album, Great Big Sky

Highlights are the biographical song, “It’s My Story,” “Little Things,” and the trio of songs, “Love Sweet Love,” which features Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr “Ain’t Gonna Be Easy,” which features Blackberry Smoke’s Paul Jackson, and “Leave Me Alone,” which features The Steepwater Band’s Jeff Massey.

Grilli said one song that has seemed to resonate with a lot of people is “Little Things.”

“It tells the story about how my life has gone. It’s a story of people needing to slow down and cherish the things that are in front of you. Be present in the moment. Don’t just reach for your phone and take the picture. Stop and breathe it in. The line is: ‘Don’t let the little things pass you by. The best camera that you have is your eyes.’ If you don’t stop and experience it, you miss out. There’s so much, ‘I have to show I was there.’ But you don’t have to prove it to anyone. Experience it.”

Connection to The Steepwater Band

Grilli said: “I had met Jeff (Massey) and the guys from the Steepwater Band when I played in Chicago in March. We hit it off. Jeff wound up playing on the album.

“Talking with Jeff and (drummer) Joe Winters, I got to do some dates on their Southbound Tour. We had a great time. Those guys are amazing.

“(Late Steepwater Band manager Steve Sime) and I were friends through high school. And even when I was in the Navy we’d talk about every month-and-a-half. I knew all about the Steepwater Band. I didn’t really listen to them, but he’d talk to me about them and I’d known about them since he was first involved with them.

“To, then, 20-some years later, meet them and play with them … they were freaked out that I knew all about Steve and their history. I would mention something funny Steve would always do or say, and they were like, ‘Dude, you do know him!’ Then they found out I worked at Hegewisch Records, and we were like, ‘How have we not met?’ We knew so many of the same people.

“I made sure it didn’t cost them a dime (to tour with them). They weren’t planning on having openers. They did me a big favor and it was great. They have a great history. It was cool to see people drive three, four, even six hours to come see them. That’s what I want. I want people to like my stuff that much. And to like me that much.”

Lansing roots

Grilli said: “My children are keeping me here in Virginia Beach or I'd probably move back home either in Illinois or maybe even further north. My wife and I, we’re like the opposite of snowbirds — we want to go to the snow.”

Grilli’s discography

— Damn Good Day (2014, then re-release in 2016): Grilli’s debut can best be described as country power pop.

— Deep South Symphony (2018): Grilli’s sound continued to evolve on his second album, which was a more consistent overall effort.

— Progression (2020): Grilli dug into his archives with an album including songs from his bands Rumble Fish and The Glory Hounds.

— Great Big Sky (2025): Grilli returns from an absence and finds his sound, with some help from some friends and some great production from Levi Lowrey.

I haven’t seen Grilli live, but based on the YouTube video posted by Dave Gorman, I need to. Here’s the first two songs. You can find the whole clip here.

Great Big Sky

Release date: January 10, 2025

Production: Levi Lowrey produced at Nebari Studios in Athens, Georgia

Of note: Brian Grilli’s third album features the singles “Can You Feel It,” “Love Of A Hurting Kind” and “Little Things.” … Grilli’s music gives off classic rock and Americana vibes. … Features guest spots by Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr and Paul Jackson, and The Steepwater Band’s Jeff Massey. … Grilli is a former U.S. Navy Veteran from Lansing.

To purchase: Go to briangrilli.com/store.