
Neil Anders & the Brothers Merritt
Season 2 Episode 207 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Neil Anders & the Brothers Merritt perform an original sound that is refreshingly unique.
Midwestern quartet Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt perform their original sound that is both familiar and refreshingly unique. Coupled with front man Neil Anders’ introspective lyrics, the band has carved out their own musical niche.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Studio 3 LIVE is a local public television program presented by Iowa PBS

Neil Anders & the Brothers Merritt
Season 2 Episode 207 | 56m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Midwestern quartet Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt perform their original sound that is both familiar and refreshingly unique. Coupled with front man Neil Anders’ introspective lyrics, the band has carved out their own musical niche.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Studio 3 LIVE
Studio 3 LIVE is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ But it's always too far gone and the picture ♪ That you've drawn ♪ Davis: Coming up on "Studio 3 LIVE," we welcome Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt.
♪ Now take your [indistinct], excuses that you use ♪ ♪ Wrap it all up in cellophane ♪ The music comes first, and then I kind of just sing gibberish and figure out what my subconscious is trying to channel, with just the right amount of mystique and all that.
♪ It's that song again ♪ Woman: Musco Lighting is honored to support Iowa PBS.
We're an Iowa company that lights local schools, community fields and stadiums, arenas and venues in more than 125 countries.
While our reach is global, our commitment is local.
♪♪ Woman: The Pella Rolscreen Foundation is a proud supporter of Iowa PBS.
Pella Windows and Doors strives to better our communities and build a better tomorrow.
Man: Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.
Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 LIVE."
I'm your host, Mickey Davis.
Tonight we are joined by Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt.
The Iowa based quartet pull from influences and folk, country and rock to create an original sound backing Neil's introspective lyrics.
The band released their most recent full length album, Miles From Nowhere, in 2022, and recently released a new single "In Between" with more music on the horizon.
Please help me.
welcome to the stage Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I think it's best if I just follow through and relax ♪ ♪♪ ♪ If there's a way, I will just run the same old tracks ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I always thought that if I left I wouldn't get back in ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Remember you and I when we were just friends ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can't decide what was worse ♪ ♪ Was it my head or my heart that went first?
♪ ♪ I love ♪ ♪ Speaking of ♪ ♪ If I was ♪ ♪ It was just because ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I couldn't see it right, I never found my tongue ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This isn't what we were planning when we ♪ ♪ We were young ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I really thought that I might cash it out on my own ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And then you found me and we, we took the long way home ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can't decide what was worse ♪ ♪ Was it my head or my heart that went first?
♪ ♪ I was alone ♪ ♪ Postponed ♪ ♪ Disowned ♪ ♪ Into the unknown ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can't decide what was worse ♪ ♪ Was it my head or my heart that went first?
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can't decide what was worse ♪ ♪ Was it my head or my heart that went first?
♪ ♪ I love ♪ ♪ Speaking of ♪ ♪ Bombs above ♪ ♪ Oh, get the gloves ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Thought I hit a streamline then it was done ♪ ♪ Thought I hit a streamline then it was done ♪ ♪ Now I'm flippin coins, I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Champagne session, the weekends done ♪ ♪ Champagne session, the weekends done ♪ ♪ Champagne session, the weekends done ♪ ♪ I guess you could say, we had some fun ♪ ♪ I guess you could say, we had some fun ♪ ♪ I guess you could say, we had some fun ♪ ♪ Going where the wind blows around the town ♪ ♪ Going where the wind blows around the town ♪ ♪ Play it again, ♪ till upside down ♪ ♪ Play it again, ♪ till upside down ♪ ♪ Some will say, but won't see ♪ ♪ Some will say, but won't see ♪ ♪ All the things that I'm to be ♪ ♪ All the things that I'm to be ♪ ♪ So don't give me that ♪ ♪ Sick and tired of the run around ♪ ♪ Oh, its running me into the ground ♪ ♪ Oh, its running me into the ground ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ All the little pretties, they're on the tease ♪ ♪ All the little pretties, they're on the tease ♪ ♪ Watching you watching them, is that all they need?
♪ ♪ Watching you watching them, is that all they need?
♪ ♪ Bloated phones, jealousy ♪ ♪ Bloated phones, jealousy ♪ ♪ Got you playin' games ♪ ♪ Got you payin' fease ♪ ♪ So don't give me that ♪ ♪ Sick and tired of the run around ♪ ♪ Sick and tired of the run around ♪ ♪ Oh, its running us into the ground ♪ ♪ Oh, its running us into the ground ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
That's Jay Schneider on the keys over there.
Davis: Thanks guys for being here .
How did the band come together?
How did you all kind of start -- start playing music together?
So we used to play in a cover band So us used to play in a cover band So us used to play in a cover band and various cover bands, yeah.
and various cover bands, yeah.
And, um, sort of out of one of the bands, we've kind of fell together and we added Jay, we've kind of fell together and we added Jay, uh, not too long actually.
Greg: Almost right away.
Yeah, almost right away.
And Neil, kind of, you know, when we were doing the cover band stuff, he had always been writing his own stuff, and it was almost a natural step when we were done with that to makwith his stuff,o of it and we were thankful he let us do that with him, too.
I know something you talk about, I know something you talk about, you know, starting in a cover band.
I know even some of your sets now you're playing both originals and covers.
Sure.
Uh, you know, something I talked to a lot of musicians about is, I think, covers, uh, teach you how to read a room pretty well.
Right?
Maybe you're playing covers in a in a bar or brewery Maybe you're playing covers in a in a bar or brewery where you might be competing for attention a little bit with -- with everything else that's happening.
What did that -- how did that kind of, uh, help you learn about how you kind of put yourself on stage help you learn about how you kind of put yourself on stage and how you -- how you interact with your audience?
Well, it's been interesting playing like, Well, it's been interesting playing like, more original shows, because I think it is like a slightly different bit of, like, skill set of just being professional and prepared like, skill set of just being professional and prepared and, um, you know, growing up playing in all the cover bands I did, growing up playing in all the cover bands I did, it was just kind of like, you know, it was just kind of like, you know, how -- how are we going to entertain and have a good time with the crowd.
And so that's very important.
It's obviously a big side of things.
But yeah, that's kind of informed our just live stage presence for sure.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Our yesterdays, have never found us far from home ♪ ♪ Even though they've left us all alone ♪ ♪ Even though they've left us all alone ♪ ♪ I traveled the cost in vain ♪ ♪ Left me standing here just the same ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We were young, but we were laying it down ♪ ♪ We were young, but we were laying it down ♪ ♪ We were always the last ones home ♪ ♪ We were always the last ones home ♪ ♪ We were always the last ones home ♪ ♪ Now all the late night fires are gone ♪ ♪ What of this, still belongs ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I still remember that sound ♪ ♪ I still remember that sound ♪ ♪ It still hits your heart of stone ♪ ♪ It still hits your heart of stone ♪ ♪ It still hits your heart of stone ♪ ♪ I know it's gone ♪ ♪ I feel it there ♪ ♪ I feel it there ♪ ♪ I know they're gone ♪ ♪ I know they're gone ♪ ♪ I feel them there ♪ ♪ I know it's there ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ 9 to 1, and the loading out and change ♪ ♪ 9 to 1, and the loading out and change ♪ ♪ Passing time lost and strange ♪ ♪ Passing time lost and strange ♪ ♪ Passing time lost and strange ♪ ♪ I still remember that sound ♪ ♪ It still hits your heart of stone ♪ ♪ I know it's gone ♪ ♪ I know it's gone ♪ ♪ I feel it there ♪ ♪ I feel it there ♪ ♪ I know they're gone ♪ ♪ I know they're gone ♪ ♪ I feel them there ♪ ♪ I feel them there ♪ ♪ I feel them there ♪ ♪ I know it's there ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪ I know ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.
We do have some new music coming out, hopefully later this year.
We're going to do one of those for you right now.
This one's called "Where She Belongs."
This one's called "Where She Belongs."
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ These small towns and endless rows ♪ ♪ These small towns and endless rows ♪ ♪ These small towns and endless rows ♪ ♪ She still finds pieces of her, no one could oppose ♪ ♪ She's grown ♪ ♪ She's grown ♪ ♪ Found home ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ From a sea of green and gold ♪ ♪ From a sea of green and gold ♪ ♪ Tall grass the water ways where ♪ ♪ We took all we could hold ♪ ♪ Time was slow ♪ ♪ Nights glow ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now she's living with a void ♪ ♪ Now she's living with a void ♪ ♪ Now she's living with a void ♪ A world came and went, left town ♪ ♪ You can hear the faded noise, oh ♪ ♪ You can hear the faded noise, oh ♪ ♪ You can hear the faded noise, oh ♪ ♪ You can hear the faded noise, oh ♪ ♪ Not a lot that you can do today ♪ ♪ Gotta move on ♪ ♪ Time to move on ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Have she found where she belongs?
♪ ♪ I guess city lights will always be on ♪ ♪ Even when she's gone ♪ ♪ Oh, gone ♪ ♪♪ [ Vocalizing ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well you could never run away, you sit stuck inside your head ♪ ♪ Could never understand exactly what was said ♪ ♪ Look around, look around at the company you found ♪ ♪ Misery, I guess, has no shame ♪ ♪ Well, it's the way they all move ♪ ♪ With their love-sick attitudes ♪ ♪ Do you like it, are you one in the same?
♪ ♪ Well, if it's true, what can you do?
♪ Poor me, oh, poor you ♪ ♪ Guess I'll pack it in and crawl back in bed ♪ ♪ Ah, you got to move along, it's that sad song again ♪ ♪ Ah, you got to move along, it's that sad song again ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ah, you can't quit even if you tried ♪ ♪ Ah, you can't quit even if you tried ♪ ♪ Ah, you can't quit even if you tried ♪ ♪ Gonna get back what you lost ♪ ♪ But it's always too far gone and the picture ♪ ♪ That you've drawn has got the whole world crashing down ♪ ♪ Now take your [indistinct], excuses that you use ♪ ♪ Wrap it all up in cellophane ♪ ♪ And you can sell it to yourself ♪ ♪ And the people who you tell it to ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ And you got to move along ♪ ♪ No sad songs, my friend ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Won't be long and you'll be looking back and getting old ♪ ♪ Your mind scattered and pale ♪ ♪ Living in a new home ♪ ♪ Living in a new home ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Would you feel the same?
♪ ♪ Would you feel the same until the end?
♪ ♪ Don't want to be lovesick ♪ ♪ Can't quit, one trick ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Moving on, no sad songs, my friend ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪ Stop holding on, holding on to the end ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, thank you.
Davis: You all pull from a lot of different influences.
Can you talk about, I guess, Neil, some of the influences for you for this band?
And then I'd love to hear from all of you some of your own influences in kind of, you know, when you were learning your craft as well?
Neil: Sure.
Um, yeah.
Like I said, I grew up playing, you know, the folky stuff.
So I feel like that's kind of at my -- that's my roots.
Um, playing some of those singer, singer/songwriter type stuff.
Um, you know, in high school, started listening to The Shins and Fruit Bats and Jack White, and, you know, kind of what the indie bands that were popular.
And then I had older siblings that exposed me to a ton of stuff, you know, '90s grunge stuff.
And I mean, you name it, you know, jazz.
So, yeah.
Yeah, Jake and I, we're brothers, you know?
Growing up, our dad was a percussionist.
His dad was a percussionist, his dad was a percussionist.
So we kind of had it in our blood.
There's just this really odd edge I think, that we kind of bring to this band.
-Yes.
-You know We kind of balance each other out with the -- the indie folk rock, and like there's a little harder edge, I guess, with some refinement, you would say.
And Jay -- Jay's the wild card.
[ Laughs ] He does it all.
Depends on the day.
Yeah.
Um, a lot, like, the -- the first big love for me was Journey, like, growing up.
Uh, it'sthat I was --ew bands I listened to a lot, along with some -- some punk, uh, lanother big one.as Uh, but more recently, I went through a big, um, like, progressive, like indie progressive era with a band called The Dear Hunter, um, and their concept albums and like Coheed and Cambria and things like that.
And then in the, I would say, in the past three or four years, it's been more thing -- people like Allan Stone or even like Jacob Collier or, um, a lot of really good country, too.
And I think I really got chops playing country, like guitar.
That's kind of where I started to -- to learn how to be a little bit of a pro, at least.
I always kind of find it funny how like quickly your musical taste can change, too.
Because like one week, like, I'll listen to Phil Collins.
It's like, you know, people always ask is like, do you like Phil Collins?
I'm like, I do have a heart, so...
But then the next week, like, there's like just some tech death metal band from, you know, Europe that it's like...
Sandwich Sugar Bob.
Yeah, just a made up name.
But, you know, I get the same feeling from listening, you know, to both because it's like -- This is an old song, probably one of the older songs I've written.
probably one of the older songs I've written.
This one's called "She Left Again."
This one's called "She Left Again."
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ And she left again ♪ ♪ And I'm headed out ♪ ♪ To weed it thin, stomp and shout ♪ ♪ Well, it's a hard thing to feel ♪ ♪ And I can't keep still ♪ ♪ Gotta find a way to make a deal ♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪ Black to brown gives to green ♪ ♪ Her eyes are the prettiest things ♪ ♪ Well, how long must I wait to forget your ways?
♪ ♪ So I can breathe in sigh and see sunny days ♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Her song was so beautiful ♪ ♪ Her song was so beautiful ♪ ♪ And bold ♪ ♪ And bold ♪ ♪♪ ♪ That it made me squirm ♪ ♪ That it made me squirm ♪ ♪ That it made me squirm ♪ ♪ Made me hurt ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Cars and bars, hums that stain ♪ ♪ Cars and bars, hums that stain ♪ ♪ I gotta keep it rolling, gotta grab them reigns ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losing myself to something new ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losing myself to something new ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losing myself to something new ♪ ♪ Well, I'm losing myself to something new ♪ ♪ Growing closer and further between the two of you ♪ ♪ Growing closer and further between the two of you ♪ ♪ But she left again and I'm headed out ♪ ♪ To weed it thin, stomp and shout ♪ ♪ To weed it thin, stomp and shout ♪ ♪ I've got memories of you today ♪ ♪ I've got memories of you today ♪ ♪ To rearrange and make okay ♪ ♪ To rearrange and make okay ♪ ♪♪ ♪ For meeeee ♪ ♪ For meeeee ♪ ♪ For meeeee ♪ ♪ For meeeee ♪ ♪ For meeeee ♪ ♪ For meeeee ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's the road and miles of skyline ♪ ♪ It's all waiting for you ♪ ♪ It's all waiting for you ♪ ♪ There's people who wanna stay ♪ ♪ There's people who wanna stay ♪ ♪ People traded shoes ♪ ♪ People traded shoes ♪ ♪ You could be miles and miles from nowhere ♪ ♪ Any old shade of blue ♪ ♪ And I'll still be there ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ With you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's a fire that lights up the east ♪ ♪ There's a fire that lights up the east ♪ ♪ And burns leaves for us ♪ ♪ And burns leaves for us ♪ ♪ You might sit there at the table ♪ ♪ Sifting ash and dust ♪ ♪ From this big old rushing current ♪ ♪ From this big old rushing current ♪ ♪ Impossible to tell ♪ ♪ Impossible to tell ♪ ♪ Where you're going ♪ ♪ Where you're going ♪ ♪ What to sell ♪ ♪ Who to wait for ♪ ♪ Who to trust ♪ ♪ Get up in the morning ♪ ♪ Let rust ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ But please, babe, don't be scared now ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's only me ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's only me ♪ ♪ 'Cause it's only me ♪ ♪ You're gonna be who you wanna be in time ♪ ♪ You're gonna be who you wanna be in time ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's the road and miles the skyline ♪ ♪ It's all waiting for you ♪ ♪ It's all waiting for you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Where do you draw inspiration for your songwriting?
Usually, for me, it starts with even if I'm like writing in the car and I have just like a musical idea just recorded on my phone quick or, you know, usually it starts with an acoustic guitar and just getting a line on chord progression and the feel of the melody.
A lot of times for me, um, the music comes first and then I kind of just sing gibberish and figure out what my subconscious is trying to channel through that song and try to write it in somewhat of a coherent but like accessible way with just the right amount of mystique and all that, you know?
So -- But that's kind of how they start.
When you bring that, whether it's like fully baked, I have the song or this is the idea to the group, can you talk a little bit about that process and kind of what everyone brings to the table?
I've got a little basement studio, and so I make demos and sort of flesh out maybe what I think the vibe of the song or the direction that it's going, and maybe have a melody line and some guitar parts worked out, but -- but then, then it's just like, okay, what do you guys want to do with it type of thing, you know?
Yeah, we kind of come in and just screw it up.
Yeah.
[ Laughter ] It gives us a flavor and we were like, yeah, alright.
I feel like you have -- you have some creative freedom in where you take it as a band.
Well, and he's really good, you know?
You know, they're mostly his songs, but he's really good about letting us kind of do our thing, too, yeah, absolutely.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I can survive long enough to be a clone ♪ ♪ Tell me lies while we stand out for ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ New life born to fate ♪ ♪ Making time to find space ♪ ♪ Making time to find space ♪ ♪ Try to fly away, come back home ♪ ♪ I keep time on my own ♪ ♪ I keep time on my own ♪ ♪ Repeat soul call me a clown ♪ ♪ Of all the people in the all-known ♪ ♪ Of all the people in the all-known ♪ ♪ They've all gone and I've grown ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Walking paths through the same mistakes ♪ ♪ Walking paths through the same mistakes ♪ ♪ Living in and with same clichés ♪ ♪ I'll try not to be for the rest of my days ♪ ♪ Predisposed to the script of the age ♪ ♪ Predisposed to the script of the age ♪ ♪ I keep time until I'm old ♪ ♪ My life another story told ♪ ♪ Memories unfold ♪ ♪ Every line from a mold ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I keep time on my own ♪ ♪ Repeat soul call me a clone ♪ ♪ Repeat soul call me a clone ♪ ♪ Repeat soul call me a clone ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Give me another day ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Got to be better way ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I keep time on my own ♪ ♪ I keep time on my own ♪ ♪ I keep time on my own ♪ ♪ Repeat soul call me a clone ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take a trip down south, leave all the pain behind ♪ ♪ Started living for himself ♪ ♪ But sunny days and his take-home pay ♪ ♪ But sunny days and his take-home pay ♪ ♪ Still never let him forget ♪ ♪ That she was still on his shelf ♪ ♪ Big shining stars and loud rock guitars ♪ ♪ Always kept him ♪ ♪ Always kept him ♪ ♪ All alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is this wrong?
♪ ♪ All wrong ♪ ♪ Maybe right ♪ ♪ No, not tonight ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You stuck around the old hometown ♪ ♪ Put some money down ♪ ♪ Sitting on the wasted plans ♪ ♪ Sitting on the wasted plans ♪ ♪ She had your heart right from the start ♪ ♪ She had your heart right from the start ♪ ♪ You couldn't pull apart without blood on your hands ♪ ♪ You couldn't pull apart without blood on your hands ♪ ♪ Late nights, top down flights ♪ ♪ Still never let you ♪ ♪ Kill that soul ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is this wrong?
♪ ♪ Is this wrong?
♪ ♪ All wrong ♪ ♪ All wrong ♪ ♪ Maybe right, but not tonight ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is this wrong?
♪ ♪ Is this wrong?
♪ ♪ All wrong ♪ ♪ Maybe right, oh, not tonight ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You and I know that we shouldn't be apart ♪ ♪ But we're stubborn as a morning fog ♪ ♪ And we finish what we start ♪ ♪ When I look back on the wreckage of my life ♪ ♪ Try to scrape together memories ♪ ♪ Of when I felt just right ♪ ♪ Runnin' blind here beside you ♪ ♪ Runnin' blind here beside you ♪ ♪ Runnin' blind here beside you ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪ Oh, you started it, you started it for sure ♪ ♪ Oh, you started it, you started it for sure ♪ ♪ Oh, you started it, you started it for sure ♪ ♪♪ ♪ It doesn't take the Scotland Yard to figure out the culprit ♪ ♪ It doesn't take the Scotland Yard to figure out the culprit ♪ ♪ And I know, I know it's never ♪ ♪ One-way traffic down that street ♪ ♪ Cuz I grit and grind teeth ♪ ♪ Instead of saying anything ♪ ♪ Instead of saying anything ♪ ♪ Instead of saying anything ♪ ♪ Runnin' blind here beside you ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Runnin' blind here beside you ♪ ♪ I don't know anymore than you do ♪ ♪ I don't know anymore than you do ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Running right here beside you ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you do ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you ♪ ♪ I don't know any more than you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, thank you.
If you were talking to someone who had never heard your music before -- this is a hard question -- how would you describe it?
What?
The way we want to or the way that's appropriate?
Yeah, yeah.
[ Laughter ] Maybe indie rock.
There's kind of this, like interesting juxtaposition, like, of like the dynamic that we have because like they said.
Like, they add some edge and like so, in some senses, we have this, like, kind of indie rock that's maybe a little more aggressive with this newer stuff.
Um, but then like on the same record, I'll probably try to like, sneak in like a -- like a few, like, soft acoustic, you know?
Yeah.
Because those are usually my favorite.
And so, like, you know... That's what's fun about the independent, everything too is you get to have -- do an album of what you want to do.
It doesn't have to be the same thing straight across the board.
You can just try what you want, experiment, have 10 different styles of songs, but you know it's fun.
Pull the cord.
Pull the cord.
There you go, man.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Is this real?
♪ ♪ These two scenes caught out of phase ♪ ♪ I feel ♪ ♪ Could be time for me to walk away ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Flower bloom ♪ ♪ How long and where you hard to find?
♪ ♪ Sway still ♪ ♪ Could be time for me to say goodbye ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't really wanna see you out of touch ♪ ♪ It's been hard, yeah I know ♪ ♪ I'm caught in between, fallin' out of dreams ♪ ♪ Going out of my head ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Nerves tick, can't breath ♪ ♪ Nerves tick, can't breath ♪ ♪ How many times have you wanted, said what you need?
♪ ♪ Cracked road under open skies ♪ ♪ Make it hard to keep tonight ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't really want to see you giving up ♪ ♪ It's been hard, yeah I know ♪ ♪ I'm caught in between, fallin' out of dreams ♪ ♪ Going out my head ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Your heart is twisted ♪ ♪ Caught on the coast again ♪ ♪ I'm good at coastin' ♪ ♪ I'm good at coastin' ♪ ♪ I'm good at coastin' ♪ ♪ I'm good at coastin' ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Don't really want to see you ♪ ♪ Don't really want to see you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Don't really want to see you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't really want to see you giving up ♪ ♪ Feeling hard, out of lovin' ♪ ♪ I'm caught in between, fallin' out dreams ♪ ♪ I'm caught in between, fallin' out dreams ♪ ♪ Going out of my head ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I don't really want to see you giving up ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Caught in between, fallin' out of dreams ♪ ♪ Caught in between, fallin' out of dreams ♪ ♪ Going out of my head ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.
♪♪ This one's, uh, we always close with this at shows.
This, uh, you hear some horns.
You know, maybe someday we'll have a full horn section on stage.
But for now, we just gotta replicate it a little bit here.
This one's called "Crooked Homes."
Thank you so much.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I see you there, your crooked home ♪ ♪ I see you there, your crooked home ♪ ♪ And I don't know how I even managed to get along ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I do believe this mess has got to go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This place has got us feeling so alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But the only thing that I can see ahead ♪ ♪ But the only thing that I can see ahead ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Between the two of us is dead ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ But more, I want more ♪ ♪ I want more ♪ ♪ I want more-e-e ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ But the only thing that I can see ahead ♪ ♪ But the only thing that I can see ahead ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Between the two of us is dead ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ More, I want more ♪ ♪ I want more ♪ ♪ I want more-e-e ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-h ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh-h ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ Oh, oh, oh-h-h ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Thank you so much.
Thanks for having us.
Thank you, PBS.
We are Neil Anders and the Brothers Merritt.
Thank you so much.
[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Davis: "Studio 3 LIVE" is also available as a podcast.
Get it wherever you get your podcasts.
Woman: Musco Lighting is honored to support Iowa PBS.
We're an Iowa company that lights local schools, community fields and stadiums, arenas and venues in more than 125 countries.
While our reach is global, our commitment is local.
Woman: The Pella Rolscreen Foundation is a proud supporter of Iowa PBS.
Pella Windows and Doors strives to better our communities and build a better tomorrow.
Man: Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

- Arts and Music
The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross
A pop icon, Bob Ross offers soothing words of wisdom as he paints captivating landscapes.













Support for PBS provided by:
Studio 3 LIVE is a local public television program presented by Iowa PBS
