Brett Nelson (born 1969) is an American

multi-instrumentalist A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays two or more musical instruments, often but not exclusively at a professional level of proficiency. Also known as woodwind doubler, doubling, the practice allows greater ensemble flexibility and mor ...

, singer and songwriter best known as the former bassist for the

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band

Built to Spill Built to Spill is an American indie rock band that formed in Boise, Idaho, in 1992. Centered on lead vocalist and guitarist Doug Martsch, the only permanent member, Built to Spill has released nine albums since its inception. Martsch originall ...

. In high school, Nelson played in a band called Farm Days along with

Doug Martsch Doug Martsch (born September 16, 1969) is an American singer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Built to Spill. Career Martsch's first band was Farm Days, with Andy Capps and Brett Nelson in the ea ...

and Andy Capps. Nelson's next band, Butterfly Train, released two albums on

Up Records Up Records was a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen. Some of the label's best-known artists were Duster (band), Duster, 764-HERO, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi (band), Quasi and Tad (band ...

, in 1994 and 1996, before breaking up (Andy Capps was drummer for the latter album). In 1994, Nelson and Andy Capps joined Martsch's

. Nelson has appeared on every album except the debut, ''

Ultimate Alternative Wavers ''Ultimate Alternative Wavers'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Built to Spill. The line-up consisted of Doug Martsch on guitar and vocals, Brett Netson on guitar and bass, and Ralf Youtz on drums, although there was s ...

'' and ''

Untethered Moon ''Untethered Moon'' is the eighth studio album by American rock band Built to Spill. The album was released on vinyl for Record Store Day on April 18, 2015, and on CD and digital format on April 21, 2015. It is the band's first album in nearly si ...

''. Nelson sings and plays guitar and keyboards for The Suffocation Keep, which released its debut album ''John Hughes Was Never So Wrong'' in 2002. The band completed a second album in 2004,''A Few Minor Modifications of the Stars''. The album was never released; however, the band did make it available for free download. Nelson lives in

Boise, Idaho Boise ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Idaho, most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, there were 235,685 people residing in the city. Loca ...

. He sometimes calls himself "Brett Not Netson" or "breLson" to distinguish himself from Built to Spill bandmate

Brett Netson Caustic Resin is an American indie rock band from Boise, Idaho consisting of Brett Netson on guitar and vocals, Tom Romich Jr. on bass guitar, and James Dillion or Pat Perkins on drums. Biography Caustic Resin formed in Boise, Idaho in 1988, the ...

. In November 2009, Nelson re-recorded seven Built To Spill songs "synthesizer/drum machine only" with bandmate Doug Martsch re-singing the songs and released it as an EP titled The Electronic Anthology Project in July 2010.
The new edition of The Electronic Anthology Project takes nine songs from Dinosaur Jr. with new vocals by J Mascis. It was released on

Record Store Day Record Store Day is a semi-annual event established in 2008 to "celebrate the culture of the independently owned record store". Held on one Saturday (typically the third) every April and every Black Friday in November, the day brings together f ...

, April 21, 2012, in a limited edition of 500 purple vinyl copies (with digital, CD and standard vinyl to follow). Brett Nelson departed from Built to Spill, along with then-drummer

Scott Plouf Built to Spill is an American indie rock band that formed in Boise, Idaho, in 1992. Centered on lead vocalist and guitarist Doug Martsch, the only permanent member, Built to Spill has released nine albums since its inception. Martsch originall ...

in 2012, after 18 years with the band. The reasons behind the decision are said to be benevolent. Nelson was replaced by Jason Albertini and Scott Plouf by Steve Gere. Built to Spill promptly began touring again in early 2013. After his exit from Built to Spill, Nelson joined Sleepy Seeds. They self-released their only album on June 24, 2014. After Sleepy Seeds disbanded in 2015, Nelson started a four-piece post-wave band called Sick Wish featuring his son Jonah Nelson.

References

External links

Brett Nelson on MyspaceButterfly Train on MyspaceButterfly Train on the Up Records websiteThe Suffocation Keep (official home)The Suffocation Keep on Myspace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Brett 1969 births Living people American male singers Singers from Idaho Songwriters from Idaho American rock bass guitarists Built to Spill members American male bass guitarists 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male musicians People from Boise, Idaho American male songwriters