The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
A lifetime later
So much has changed for rockin’ country act the Brothers Osborne in recent years
On the surface, the Brothers Osborne’s “We’re Not for Everyone Tour,” which comes to Cleveland for a show Sept. 2 at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, is playing off the group’s single “I’m Not for Everyone” from its latest album “Skeletons.” ¶ While that’s not necessarily incorrect, there’s a lot to unpack here regarding the sibling act. ¶ Even though it’s been only two and half years since the Brothers Osborne — featuring singer TJ (vocals) and John (guitars, vocals) — came through Cleveland, the rocking country act, like all of us, has lived a few lifetimes. ¶ However, in addition to surviving the pandemic, the duo disclosed John’s personal battle with mental health, while TJ publicly revealed he’s gay.
When it’s noted the last time we talked was in 2019, John laughed, “That was about 100 years ago.” He’s not wrong.
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“It’s about seeing yourself no matter the cost,” said John, calling from Asbury Park, New Jersey. “Part of that mantra for us is being ourselves publicly with who we are. That’s just as rock ’n’ roll as anything else, even though it goes against the grain — just be yourself no matter the cost.
“My brother and I grew up in very humble beginnings, and we have no qualms with having to go back there again. We’ve been through it. So we’re not going to risk our own integrity and our own self-worth by not being ourselves.”
Despite the fact Brothers Osborne scored six Grammy Award nominations, four Country Music Association awards, five Academy of Country Music trophies and more than a half-dozen hits over the last five years, John’s on-and-off struggle with mental health, which began in childhood, came to a head in late 2019.
After spending months working on himself, he made a few important realizations. The first was the more he was open to family and friends about his struggles, the more he realized he wasn’t alone.
More so, he had a platform that could really help make change.
“I want to get rid of the stigma of mental health,” John said. “One of the issues that we face as a society is that we sweep our mental struggles under the rug. In order to get on with your life and focus on your own struggles mentally, you need to talk about it. I want people to know that a guy in his late 30s, who had a lot of success with music and his career, also struggles with it and it’s OK to talk about it.” There was a time not so long ago that John talking about his mental health issues and TJ coming out would have made Brothers Osborne persona non grata in the Music City. “The reception has been nearly unanimously amazing,” John said. “... I’m sure someone out there isn’t happy but you can’t make everyone out there happy anyway.” What is making folks happy is the band’s new album, “Skeleton,” which finds the group finally marrying its keen songwriting with rocking on-stage magic. “Conceptually going into Skeletons, we agreed to make a record that reflects our live show,” John said. “That’s why this album has a bit more punch. I’d say the title track reflects who we are as a band the most. It sounds how we sound live. There’s a big energy to it, a lot of big guitars, big group vocal moments. “And the songs always evolve live, as they should. If you’re going to see a band play, and you want them to sound exactly like the record, you can save yourself a lot of money by staying home and listen to the album. But if you want a song to be a little different, even if the notes are the same, that’s what live music is about.” These days, Brothers Osborne is happily all about being a little different
“One of the issues that we face as a society is that we sweep our mental struggles under the rug. In order to get on with your life and focus on your own struggles mentally, you need to talk about it. I want people to know that a guy in his late 30s, who had a lot of success with music and his career, also struggles with it and it’s OK to talk about it.” — John Osborne