From the heart of Eagle Colorado, United States, emerges a voice that carries the weight of roads traveled, nights performed, and stories lived, Brendan McKinney, the seasoned singer-songwriter and frontman of Brendan McKinney & The 99 Brown Dogs. A true craftsman of Americana and blues-rock, McKinney’s music transcends borders and eras, echoing the spirit of resilience that defines every artist who has lived by their songs. His journey is not one marked by shortcuts or overnight fame, but by a lifetime of experience, persistence, and devotion to honest storytelling through sound. McKinney’s musical path has cut across Colorado, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Europe, leaving traces of his distinctive tone and soulful energy wherever he’s performed. Whether commanding a stage solo or backed by the raw chemistry of The 99 Brown Dogs, his performances are known for their emotive storytelling, dynamic delivery, and heartfelt sincerity. His artistry carries that lived-in authenticity that only years of crafting and refining can bring, each note, lyric, and phrase shaped by the dust and distance of countless performances.
Beyond the stage, McKinney’s work has resonated widely across film and television, earning him placements in acclaimed series such as Trust Me, United States of Tara, Justified, Army Wives, Drop Dead Diva, and Shameless. His evocative sound has also made its mark on the big screen with a feature in the film Lean on Pete, reflecting the cinematic scope of his songwriting. With licensing deals in both Los Angeles and the UK, record deals in Nashville and Colorado, and publishing representation through Harlan Howard Songs, McKinney has become a respected figure in both the American and international music scenes. His compositions, celebrated at SXSW, reveal a songwriter who doesn’t just perform, he translates lived experience into melody, crafting music that feels personal yet universally relatable.
Together with The 99 Brown Dogs, McKinney channels a sound steeped in grit, groove, and genuine emotion. Their music stands at the crossroads of alt-blues rock and Americana, a blend of earthy rhythm, lyrical bite, and the kind of honesty that only comes from playing with heart rather than ambition. It’s this authenticity that has earned McKinney comparisons to artists like Chris Stapleton and The Black Keys, while his work continues to stand apart through its own grounded individuality. With “Get On With It,” released on October 1, 2025, Brendan McKinney & The 99 Brown Dogs deliver a defiant and soulful anthem that feels like a conversation between heartache and hope. The single captures the band’s essence in its purest form, raw, bluesy, and unapologetically human. It’s a song that hits with grit and swagger, merging smoky harmonica tones, grounded guitar riffs, and McKinney’s soulful, weathered vocals into a sound both classic and contemporary.
Described by McKinney himself as “part kick in the teeth, part pep talk,” the track speaks to the inner struggle of breaking free from the weight of the past. It’s a self-directed message of perseverance, urging both the artist and his listeners to stop making excuses and move forward, to face the present with courage rather than hesitation. Featured on the album Skin a Cat, “Get On With It” exemplifies the band’s signature blend of alt-blues rock energy and Americana storytelling, built on tight instrumentation and unfiltered emotionality. Every note feels lived-in, every lyric drawn from experience. The song’s gritty drive and lyrical conviction make it more than just a blues-rock single, it’s a mantra for anyone learning to push past inertia and reclaim motion. In “Get On With It,” McKinney doesn’t just perform resilience, he embodies it, proving once again why his music resonates so deeply across borders and hearts alike.
The magic of “Get On With It” is not only found in Brendan McKinney’s songwriting and performance but also in the masterful production touch of his longtime friend and collaborator, Erik Horvitz, a Philadelphia native whose name carries weight in the region’s music scene. Their creative relationship stretches back decades, rooted in shared history, artistic trust, and a mutual dedication to authentic sound. McKinney and Horvitz first worked together years ago in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, when Horvitz helped produce one of McKinney’s earliest original projects, a formative experience that would later shape the artist’s career trajectory. That early collaboration planted the seeds of a creative bond built on honesty, experimentation, and a shared love for capturing raw, human emotion through music. Now, years later, their reunion on this project rekindles that same chemistry with a renewed sense of purpose and maturity. Horvitz’s deep understanding of McKinney’s musical identity allows him to draw out the emotional core of every note, enhancing the performance without diluting its authenticity.
His production on “Get On With It” elevates the band’s blues-rock sound, adding warmth, clarity, and dimension while preserving the grit and groove that define McKinney & The 99 Brown Dogs. Each instrument breathes under Horvitz’s direction, the harmonica howls with vitality, the guitars shimmer with purpose, and McKinney’s vocals sit right where they belong: front and center, raw and real. Renowned throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding music circles, Horvitz is celebrated for his meticulous ear, technical precision, and uncanny ability to turn organic performances into fully realized, emotionally resonant recordings. On “Get On With It,” he doesn’t just produce, he curates atmosphere, giving the track its analog warmth and live energy, as if the listener were right there in the studio. His intuitive approach allows the song to unfold naturally, balancing power with subtlety and giving each sonic layer room to shine. The result is a production that not only complements McKinney’s artistry but also deepens it, proving once again that when two longtime collaborators reunite with shared passion and purpose, the music speaks louder, and more truthfully, than ever.
“Get On With It” by Brendan McKinney & The 99 Brown Dogs begins with a sound that feels both immediate and timeless, capturing the listener in its very first breath. The song opens with a harmonica that doesn’t just play, it howls with an unfiltered sincerity that cuts deep into the core of the blues tradition. Its cry is soulful and earthy, with just enough grit to paint the emotional landscape that will follow. As the harmonica fades into the mix, the electric guitar enters, offering a sturdy, rootsy rhythm soaked in blues-rock swagger. The bass soon joins, its low-end tone thick and resonant, weaving perfectly with the steady pulse of the drums. The percussion keeps a restrained but confident beat, each snare hit snapping like a heartbeat that drives the groove forward. There’s also a faint shimmer of cymbals, subtle organ undertones, and a natural room reverb that gives the track a warm, analog depth. Together, these instruments form an immediate bond, a sonic chemistry that feels like a band fully locked into their craft, letting the groove carry both the story and the soul of the song.
When Brendan McKinney’s vocals arrive, the atmosphere transforms from pure groove to storytelling magic. His voice has the rawness of someone who has lived every word he sings. It’s textured, raspy, and unpolished in the best way possible, full of emotion, honesty, and wear. There’s a kind of worldliness in his tone, one that makes his delivery feel like advice passed down through experience rather than performance. The harmonica steps aside momentarily as the focus shifts to his voice, allowing space for his phrasing to settle right on top of the beat. Beneath him, a soft swirl of organ chords fills out the harmonic space, gluing the arrangement together with warmth and richness. McKinney doesn’t force his words; instead, he lets them fall naturally, syncing with the rhythm of life itself. The lyrics carry a simple yet profound message about persistence, reminding listeners to push forward despite the weight of time and circumstance. His phrasing, slight growls, and pauses all carry emotional meaning, making his vocal performance not just expressive but deeply human.
As the song progresses, the instrumentation evolves in a way that feels spontaneous yet purposeful. The electric guitars expand their role, switching between rhythmic strumming and melodic fills that create moments of tension and release. The bass begins to groove with more presence, its warm, rounded notes pulsing steadily beneath the mix, anchoring everything with unwavering strength. The drummer adds flourishes to his groove, light ghost notes, soft ride cymbal touches, and gentle fills that add depth without cluttering the sound. The harmonica returns intermittently, echoing McKinney’s vocal lines like a second storyteller, sometimes sharp and assertive, sometimes mournful and reflective. Each instrument feels alive, breathing in unison with the others, creating a pocket so natural that it feels like the band recorded this song in one inspired take. The production captures the organic interplay beautifully; you can almost hear the room’s air move with each note. The groove settles into that rare balance between energy and restraint, strong enough to keep you moving, yet soulful enough to make you feel.
Halfway through the song, “Get On With It” begins to shift emotionally and sonically. The tempo relaxes slightly, the rhythm loosens, and the mood grows introspective. This transition feels like the calm after a storm, where reflection takes center stage. The harmonica now sings softer, with longer, more drawn-out bends that speak like sighs. The guitars trade their earlier bite for more delicate, echo-laden phrases that add emotional weight to the arrangement. The drums ease into a spacious groove, emphasizing the snare on the backbeat, while the bass flows gently beneath it, almost conversational in its phrasing. McKinney’s voice adjusts to this change too, his tone softens, his words linger longer, and his delivery takes on a confessional quality. This middle section feels like a moment of reckoning, as though the narrator pauses to look inward before finding the strength to rise again. The interplay between silence and sound becomes crucial here; every breath, every sustained note, feels intentional. It’s a powerful reminder that the blues isn’t just about rhythm, it’s about emotion, reflection, and the spaces in between.
Gradually, the band begins to reclaim the song’s energy, building back toward a strong, climactic finale. The drums pick up momentum, the bass grows firmer, and the guitar returns with renewed electricity. The harmonica flares back into action, this time with fiery improvisations that seem to mirror the song’s message of resilience. McKinney’s vocals grow more impassioned, his tone rising above the mix with conviction and urgency. His words feel like a rallying cry, encouraging not just himself, but everyone listening, to keep moving, to shake off doubt, to “get on with it.” The arrangement becomes richer, more layered, and more intense, yet still balanced. Each instrument knows its place, rising together in unity rather than chaos. The groove tightens, the energy surges, and by the time the harmonica hits its final wail, the song feels like a full-circle journey, from tension to reflection, from reflection to triumph. The band’s performance captures that perfect moment of synergy where passion and precision collide.
Gritty, soulful, and unflinchingly honest, ‘Get On With It’ is a blues-rock anthem of resilience, reflection, and unstoppable forward motion.
As the final chords fade, “Get On With It” leaves behind an afterglow that’s both powerful and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t just play in the background, it stays with you, resonating long after the last note. The harmonica’s haunting echo, the guitar’s lingering tone, the steady heartbeat of the drums, all combine to create a musical experience that feels raw, real, and alive. The production preserves the authenticity of the band’s sound, allowing the imperfections and textures to become part of the art itself. The track embodies the timeless essence of blues-rock, emotion-driven storytelling, unfiltered musicianship, and a rhythm that feels like the pulse of life itself. Brendan McKinney & The 99 Brown Dogs have crafted a song that’s not just about moving on; it’s about resilience, endurance, and rediscovering strength through music. Every detail, the tone, the rhythm, the grit, cements “Get On With It” as a powerful reminder that no matter the weight of the world, there’s always a groove strong enough to carry you forward.
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