Brian Sachs, the drummer, lyricist and co-founder of rising rock group Mynd Reader, has endured many highs and lows to get to this point. Like rock and roll’s version of Forrest Gump, his story is intertwined with some of the biggest names in music history.
Speaking with SNSMix from his Colorado home, Sachs’ journey started thousands of miles away. In the ‘90s, he was the drummer for rising jam band act The Authority, which was part of a vibrant New York music scene at the time.
“There was a real rock and roll energy there. And it was kind of hippie. It was kind of jammy,” Sachs recalls. “It was such a beautiful time in life. Such a beautiful time to be in Manhattan, such a beautiful time to be in a creative musical force.”
Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler and Joan Osborne were among the artists who made the leap from this scene to mainstream success. When legendary concert promoter Bill Graham agreed to manage the band, The Authority seemed poised to be the next breakout star. However on October 25, 1991, one of the most infamous tragedies in rock history dramatically changed the group’s trajectory. Graham died in a helicopter crash outside of San Francisco, leaving The Authority mourning and without their strongest supporter.
Watch Mynd Reader’s Music Video for ‘Radio Warning’
“We were the next big thing,” Sachs remarks. “And then we were actually at a gig in Washington and I saw Bonnie Raitt announce on Saturday Night Live that Bill Graham had died in a helicopter crash. And it was like, ‘What?’”
The Authority tried to continue. At one point, iconic rapper Ice Cube flew the band to LA with plans to sign them to his label. However, that too fell through. Despite such promise, The Authority was never able to take that next step. The band broke up, Sachs left music behind, and for years it seemed like this chapter of his life was closed.
Bitterness Turns to Self-Discovery
There’s a sense that, had things played out just a tiny bit differently, Brian Sachs would be standing in front of amphitheaters packed with fans. Still he’s not bitter about The Authority’s demise – at least, not anymore.
“When I was in The Authority, I was so young,” he explains. “And I look back with wisdom now. I had so much jealousy for everybody’s success. Like Dave Matthews opened for us. And now, I was bitter… Why not us? We worked our asses off. We felt like we deserved it. Do you know what I mean? We were next in line. That’s what it felt like.”
Watch Mynd Reader’s Music Video for ‘Home’
As he notes several times during our conversation, everything that has brought Sachs to this point has had its purpose. There’s a reason we are where we are. And Mynd Reader represents the fulfillment of a rock journey that started decades ago.
“I did some psychedelics and a lot of praying,” the drummer admits. “And a lot of reevaluation and a lot of self-discovery. And all these songs started coming through me.”
Mynd Reader: The ‘Unicorn Project’
There’s a unique energy that emanates from Sachs as he talks about his band. The rocker exudes the knowledge of a veteran, but the enthusiasm of a brand new artist. His eyes shine as he explains the chemistry he shares with his Mynd Reader bandmates, multi-instrumentalist Tonin and singer Shelby Kemp.
“All of a sudden this like energetic force of this musical project started to come together and songs started flowing,” he explains. “And we didn’t even think about it. None of us expected any of this. And we call it just kind of a unicorn project because none of this was expected. This is completely like a force of something that we’re just a part of. And I feel like the songs are using us or choosing us to come through. That’s really what it feels like.”
Mynd Reader have been slowly releasing songs throughout 2025, steadily building fan excitement along the way. Emphatic debut single “Radio Warning” reached No. 24 on Billboard’s Rock Chart, while the soaring “Simply Avanti” charted at AAA. “Home,” a vibrant blend of southern and psychedelic rock, reached No. 2 on the SMR Rock Chart, further building the band’s momentum. Meanwhile, Mynd Reader’s most recent track, “Birdsong,” is a lush, slow burning odyssey that builds to a climactic rock eruption.
Watch Mynd Reader’s Music Video for ‘Birdsong’
All of the songs mix power and soul, boasting rock swagger alongside moments of honest vulnerability. The debut full length album, due out January 30, features an impressive collection of material – and it’s only the beginning.
“It’s been flowing,” Sachs reveals, noting Mynd Reader is already working on more new material. “We’re in this for the long haul, man. We got songs and we got songs and we got songs.”
Decades after his rock ‘n’ roll journey began, Mynd Reader is bringing Sachs into the spotlight once more. This time, he plans on staying there.