Jesse Lacey, frontman of Brand New, opened up about the tragic loss of his stepson, Miles, for the first time during a heartfelt performance on March 2nd at Eastside Bowl in Nashville.
The intimate show blended Brand New songs with solo material, including a new track called “Death,” which he wrote to process his grief. Lacey shared with the audience:
“I won’t go into too much detail, but three years ago, my wife Andrea and I lost our son, Miles. It’s been as difficult as you can imagine, and there were times I didn’t even want to step on stage. But I mention his name because, in a way, he’s part of why I’m here tonight. He was an incredibly easy boy to love. Grief is a heavy burden, something you carry with you constantly. For me, music helps ease that pain, and being around people—sharing our story—feels like others help carry that weight, even if just for a little while. Tonight, I feel that from all of you, and I hope my being here helps you carry some of your own burdens too. Thank you for helping me with mine. I’ve written a lot about death over the years, and even though it’s a topic I never wanted to explore, I’m still trying to find new ways to express it. I may never get it right, but this song is as close as I’ve come.”
Lacey has been performing at smaller venues recently, including a private Brand New reunion in December to support the charity Make Life Skate Life.
More Brand New shows have also been announced. Following Miles’ passing in 2021, Jesse and Andrea founded Moms Skate Club, a charity honoring their son’s memory.
