By Anna Skinner
Pictus was supposed to just be an opening act for its sister band, Mother Grove.
But when the primal Irish band – equipped with drums, bagpipes and dancing – began growing in popularity, way beyond what founders Brad Sprauer, Lauren Berry and John Holland expected, it became their main focus.
“It’s been a cool ride, we meet the coolest people,” Sprauer said. “With no lyrics and just two instruments, the fact it moves people to the point it does is the coolest thing. It’s emotion made tangible.”
Sprauer is on drums, his wife, Berry, is the Irish dancer, and Holland is on bagpipes. Sprauer describes the music as primal. Yet despite the pounding music and the appearance, it’s a family friendly band.
Sprauer and Holland’s original band, Mother Grove, is a bit calmer and plays at local bars such as Brockway Pub, Danny Boy Beer Works, Nine Irish Brothers in Indianapolis and others.
“I never had any intention for Mother Grove ever being a backseat, but it was just serendipitous,” Sprauer said. “Pictus’ music is so primal. It’s pounding rhythms and amazing bagpipes and it just moves people whether they’re Scottish or Irish or not. It’s just primal music punching you in your ancestry.”
With its pounding music, Pictus is typically found at Renaissance festivals. However, with Sprauer and Berry both residents of Carmel, their plans are to play local. In addition to the primal music, Sprauer tells historical stories that he writes and says are a great addition. With the historical aspect, Pictus is sometimes found in schools.
“We would love to play local,” Sprauer said. “Everywhere we play, people love it and we just need the opportunity to play. We travel so much … I’d love to do local stuff like (schools).”
For more, visit the Pictus or Mother Grove Facebook pages.
