Before Braille makes stop in El Paso Wednesday

Adrian Gomez - Las Cruces, NM Sun-News

El Paso- Doing it their way - that's the way Mesa, Ariz.-based Before Braille has been making their music for more than three years.

Before Braille began a four-month United States tour on Friday and will make a stop in El Paso on March 5 at the University of Texas-El Paso campus and The Wayside Cafe.

Vocalist David Jensen said the band has been around for more than three years, but the current lineup has been together for one year.

The lineup includes Hans Rigger, guitar; Reggie Patel; Kelly Reed, percussion; Brandon Smith, bass and Jensen.

"We're excited because we're making good music," he said.

Jensen said for a short time period, there was a revolving door that kept band members changing. He and Rigger are the founding members of Before Braille.

"Brandon and Kelly weren't interested in the band at first," he said. "As fate had it, they became interested and the band was filled."

Before Braille toured around the country previously and are embarking on another tour. Jensen said the band will be hitting the northwest, southwest and Midwest United States.

"We're going as far as Dallas," he said. "The tour will run for six weeks then we'll head out East."

Preparing for the show, Jensen said the band decreases their rehearsals and get into business mode.

"There are some practices, but usually we go through the songs that we want to do on the tour," he said.

Jensen said the band only performs songs that the band is comfortable with. He said the majority of the time there is no set list until an hour before the show.

While each band member gets assigned duties like who will talk with the merchandise distributor or the club promoter, Jensen said the band does well and handles all of its duties.

Jensen said the band writes their music. He said when the band first started Rigger wrote a lot of the music, but since has become a collaborative effort.

"Hans still comes to us with almost complete songs," he said. "We'll take it and then work on it. Everyone initiates their own part."

Jensen said that many of the songs have come up because up because of daily jam sessions with the group. He describes the sound of the band of the band as rock.

"It's hard to explain, but we try to improve ourselves with rock and roll," he said. "We don't try to get to crazy."

Before Braille has completed one full length album, one EP and was featured on three different compilations. Jensen said the band has nearly 30 songs that are near completion.

"With our record contract, we have to put out a record every one and a half years," he said. "We're very interested in putting out far more music than what we have in our contract."

Before Braille has opened for The Used and Jimmy Eat World, but continues to play smaller venues.

"We like to feed off of the crowd's energy," he said. "It's always great to see the turnout at our gigs." Jensen said the band is looking forward to the tour and making more good music.

"We haven't toured very much for during the time we've been around," he said. "We want to do at least eight months of touring."

Before Braille will take the stage at 9 p.m. on Wednesday at The Wayside Cafe, which is located at 10964 Montwood in El Paso.

For more Information call (915) 595-3663.

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