Mike Mains & The Branches Biography
Who is Mike Mains & The Branches?
Mike Mains & The Branches is an American indie rock band formed in 2009 in Gainesville, Texas, when Mike Mains began making music with his roommates. The original lineup included singer and guitarist Mike Mains, drummer David Denison and bassist Jacob Burkhart. Keyboardist Shannon Briggs soon joined, and the band later relocated to Michigan, the home state of Mains and Briggs, who married in 2012.
The band released its debut EP, "The Rustic," in 2009, followed by an independent release of its first full-length album, "Home," in 2010. In 2012, "Home" received a national release through Platinum Pop Music. A 12-track edition included the songs "Life" and "Free." The song "Miracle," from "Home," reached No. 3 on the American Christian Rock chart and received frequent radio airplay. "Stereo" also became one of the band's better-known songs. The band followed with the "Everything" EP in 2013 and its second full-length album, "Calm Down, Everything Is Fine," in 2014. The album was crowdfunded without label support and reached the top 20 on Billboard's New Artist Albums chart.
In August 2018, Mike Mains & The Branches signed with Tooth & Nail Records. Their third full-length album, "When We Were in Love," was released on April 5, 2019, and produced by Nathan Horst. The album includes "Endless Summer" and "Live Forever." Personal experiences, including difficult periods in Mike and Shannon's marriage, informed the songwriting.
The band released its fourth full-length album, "Memory Unfixed," on September 15, 2023, through Tooth & Nail Records. Mike Mains reunited with producer Nathan Horst and co-produced the album for the first time. The songs explore memories, painful experiences, relationships, and personal growth. Mains has discussed how therapy and songwriting helped him confront painful experiences from his past, including difficult experiences growing up. These experiences informed the personal themes explored on "Memory Unfixed."
Christian faith is an important part of the band's background and musical context. Its music explores faith alongside relationships, personal struggles, identity, and purpose. Through a combination of indie rock, pop melodies, and personal lyrics, Mike Mains & The Branches addresses subjects relevant to Christian music audiences and listeners beyond that market.
The band's lineup has evolved over the years. In addition to Mike and Shannon Mains, members associated with the group in recent years include guitarist Alex Hirlinger, bassist Allison Barnett, and drummer Robbie Barnett.