The mid-2000s were a weird, neon-soaked fever dream for indie rock. You had the skinny jeans, the asymmetrical haircuts, and that sudden, massive explosion of "The" bands—The Strokes, The Killers, The Bravery. Honestly, if you walked into a club in 2005, you were almost guaranteed to hear Sam Endicott’s voice echoing over a driving synth line. People loved to pit them against Brandon Flowers and company, but The Bravery had a specific, gritty edge that felt a bit more like New York City pavement than Las Vegas glitz.
They blew up fast. Maybe too fast. When "An Honest Mistake" dropped, it felt like they were everywhere overnight. But bands aren't just logos on a festival poster; they're groups of people trying to navigate sudden fame, shifting industry trends, and the inevitable creative friction that comes with living on a tour bus for years. People still argue about whether they were "authentic" or just a clever repackaging of 80s New Wave, but looking back, the chemistry between the actual Bravery band members was undeniable.
The Core Lineup: More Than Just a Frontman
Sam Endicott was the face, sure. He had that classic rock star magnetism and a background in the DC hardcore scene that gave the band’s pop sensibilities a bit of a backbone. But the engine room was where things got interesting. You had John Conway on keyboards, providing those atmospheric textures that defined their debut. Anthony Burulcich was behind the drum kit, hitting with a precision that made their live shows surprisingly heavy. Then there was Michael Zakarin on guitar and Mike Hindert on bass.
It wasn't a group of session musicians. They were a unit.
They formed in 2003. By 2005, they were playing Glastonbury. Think about that trajectory for a second. Most bands spend five years playing to three people and a bartender in a dive bar before they get a sniff of a major label. The Bravery skipped the line. This instant success created a bizarre vacuum. Critics were skeptical because they seemed "too polished," but if you listen to the stems of those early recordings, the interplay between Hindert’s bass and Burulcich’s percussion is tight. Really tight.
Sam Endicott: The Songwriter’s Pivot
After the band went on hiatus around 2011, everyone kind of wondered if Sam would just disappear into the ether. He didn't. He actually took a path that a lot of frontmen from that era should have considered: he went behind the scenes.
Endicott started co-writing for massive pop acts. Most notably, he has credits on Shakira’s "She Wolf." It makes sense if you think about it. The Bravery was always about hooks. Big, soaring, slightly dark hooks. Transitioning into professional songwriting for top-tier pop stars isn't a "sell-out" move; it's a survival tactic in an industry that eats indie bands for breakfast. He also stayed active with his other project, The Blueberries, though it never quite captured the cultural zeitgeist the way the main band did.
Anthony Burulcich and the Session Life
If you want to know how respected the Bravery band members were as musicians, look at Anthony Burulcich. After things cooled down with the band, he didn't just hang up the sticks. He became a go-to drummer for some pretty heavy hitters.
He toured extensively with Morrissey. That’s not a gig you get by being a mediocre drummer. Morrissey is notoriously particular about his sound and his stage presence, and Burulcich fit that mold perfectly. He’s also played with The 1975 and Regina Spektor. When you see him play live, you realize why the band sounded so much "bigger" than their synth-pop contemporaries. He’s a powerhouse.
The Mike Hindert Factor
Mike Hindert, the bassist, took a different route. He’s always been a bit of a polymath. While the band was active, he was known for his high-energy stage presence, often looking like he was having more fun than anyone else in the room. Post-Bravery, he’s delved into various creative ventures, including his own record label, Merrifield Records, and even some acting and directing.
He’s the kind of guy who seems to thrive on the DIY ethic. It’s a sharp contrast to the high-gloss production of The Sun and the Moon or Stir the Blood.
The 2021 Reunion: Was it Just Nostalgia?
In 2021, after a decade of radio silence, the band suddenly popped back up. They announced a few shows, including a high-profile slot at the "Just Like Heaven" festival.
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
The fans who were 19 in 2005 are now in their late 30s with mortgages and kids, and hearing "Unconditional" live again was like a shot of pure adrenaline. But what was interesting about the reunion was the vibe between the members. Usually, when bands get back together after ten years, it feels forced. It feels like a paycheck. This felt... different. They looked like they actually liked each other again.
They released a live album from those 2021 sessions, and honestly, they sounded better than they did in 2009. There was a maturity in the arrangements. Zakarin’s guitar work felt more intentional, less buried under the synths. Conway’s keys provided a more nuanced backdrop. It wasn't just a trip down memory lane; it was a reminder that these five guys had a specific musical language that only they could speak.
Why We Still Care About These Guys
Most bands from the "Post-Punk Revival" are footnotes now. You remember their one hit, and that's it. The Bravery stuck around in the collective consciousness for a few reasons:
- The New York Factor: They were part of that last great gasp of NYC rock culture before the city became too expensive for artists to live in.
- The Visuals: They understood branding before every artist had a social media manager. The suits, the hair, the lighting—it was a package.
- Songcraft: Beneath the 80s influence, the songs were structurally sound. You can play "Believe" on an acoustic guitar and it’s still a great song.
There’s a common misconception that they were a "manufactured" band. Honestly, that’s just lazy criticism. They were friends who played in various bands around the city for years. Sam and John went to college together. They did the work. The fact that they got famous quickly shouldn't invalidate the music they made.
What’s Next for the Members?
Right now, the band is in a sort of "active but quiet" phase. They aren't grinding out 200 dates a year on a tour bus anymore. They don't have to. Each member has their own life and career.
- John Conway has leaned into wine production, which is a very "retired rock star" move that I actually respect. He’s one of the founders of a successful winery.
- Michael Zakarin keeps a relatively low profile but is still involved in the creative arts in New York.
- The Collective Legacy: They seem content with their place in music history. They aren't trying to chase the latest TikTok trend.
If you’re looking to get back into their discography, don’t just stick to the debut. Stir the Blood is a much darker, weirder record that deserves more credit than it got at the time. It shows a band trying to evolve past the "indie-disco" label that the press forced on them.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of The Bravery, here is how to do it right:
- Track down the "Slow" Remixes: Many of their singles had slowed-down, atmospheric remixes that highlight the songwriting over the production.
- Watch the "Live at the Wiltern" footage: It’s probably the best representation of their peak energy. You can see the individual styles of all the band members clashing and blending in real-time.
- Follow the individual credits: Look up Anthony Burulcich’s work with Morrissey or Sam Endicott’s writing credits. It’s a masterclass in how to have a "long tail" career in the music industry.
- Check the 2021 Live Recordings: They’re available on most streaming platforms. It’s a great way to hear how the songs have aged—or haven't.
The Bravery wasn't just a flash in the pan. They were a group of five distinct personalities who happened to capture a very specific moment in time. Whether they ever release a fourth studio album or not, the work they put in during that frantic five-year run holds up surprisingly well against the test of time.