The Bacon Brothers have released twelve records since their 1997 debut, the most recent being 2024’s Ballad Of The Brothers, but have been making music their whole lives. It may be easy to dismiss the band as the vanity project of an A-list actor, but nothing could be further from the truth. Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael bring a lifetime of musical talent and knowledge and have created a unique sound that incorporates multiple genres into fun, accessible, feel-good music that transcends the success that each brother has seen on their own.
Please scroll below for MisplacedStraws’ exclusive Bacon Brothers live photos and review.
When the Bacon Brothers took the stage at the 400 capacity Cabaret Theater, not a single seat was empty. The full crowd was ready for a Saturday night party and the band obliged. Kevin Bacon and his older brother Michael were joined by long time bassist Paul Guzzone (Kevin mentioned Paul was in the Bacon Brothers before he and Michael joined), drummer Frank Vilardi, guitarist Tim Quick, and keyboardist Mare. Opening with “Let Me Happen To You Girl” from the 2022 release Erato, the band featured Michael on acoustic guitar and Kevin on bongos. Throughout the night, the brothers (and other band members) would cycle through a number of instruments displaying a fantastic musical range that only added to the sound and performance.
Kevin and Michael alternated on vocals and storytelling throughout the night. Each song was a mix of humor and poignancy. Tracks like “Old Bronco” compared aging to a reliable old truck, “Picker” was Kevin’s take on Michael’s childhood, and “Ballad of The Brothers (The Wille Door)” spun the fictional tale of two brothers and a fateful gig at the legendary Gruene Hall in Texas. Other songs, like “Beneath Perfection”, were introduced by Kevin as songs the brothers wrote and submitted to Kevin’s various TV and movie projects but were ultimately rejected.
The keys to a Bacon Brothers show are the pure joy, humor, and love of music they bring to the stage. Kevin pointed out that he loves when a band plays its big hit live, but since they don’t have any actual hits, they’ll play someone else’s, so they did a cover of Pat Benatar’s “We Belong”. The Brothers explained each of the instruments Michael played, from various ukuleles to the cello and autoharp, displaying an impressive talent and knowledge. The Brothers also made sure their band received due recognition. Each member was given the time and space to show off their talents and shine.
Another impressive aspect of the show came on the technical end. Lighting and sound were impeccable. A good portion of the capacity crowd may have been there just for the chance to see Kevin Bacon, while there were many who were also familiar with the music. For those who did not know the songs, the crystal-clear sound not only let you understand every lyric, but you heard the distinct sounds of each instrument, making for a very enjoyable experience. That experience comes to a climax during the encore which ends with the Bacon Brothers’ take on the classic “Footloose” which gets the entire crowd up and dancing.
Over the years, there have been many actors who tried their hand at music (and vice versa) with varying degrees of critical and commercial success. The Bacon Brothers are a different animal. Michael is a music professor who has lived his art all his life. Kevin isn’t just an actor who tried his hand at music, he’s an artist with the ability to express his talents in two crafts. More than anything, an evening with the Bacon Brothers is a fun, uplifting night that will certainly leave you with a smile on your face.
