The Compound, Albuquerque, NM by Jaden - Disordered E-Zine
The show at The Compound last night was sparsley populated by concert goers however that did not detract from the quality given by the bands performing. The bands on the bill were (in order): Before The Fall, Eat A Helicopter, Anonymous Victims, We Are Action, and End Of A Revelation.
The first band of the night was Before The Fall. Before The Fall hails from Texas. They give an ace performance and have a sound likened to the metal and hardcore genre. They had some good vocal layers in their performance with the two guiarists and the bassist switching with vocals constantly on some songs. The next time Before The Fall comes through town I would recommend you see them if you're into the kind of music.
Ridglea Theater Benefit by Linda Hollar - Harder Beat mag
This punk band was one of the best playing this benefit. Though upstairs, they drew a good crowd of enthusiastic fans. Members are Gino Baldi(vocals/guitar), Mick Durham (vocals, guitar), Brian Norr (vocals, bass), and Quatro (drums). Note: they have three singers... well, OK... two singers and one "screamer". (That's Mick). But how'd they find three good vocalists when too many bands can't even find one! It's not fair. Standout songs were "Make Believe", "I Feel Dead", "Forever Fall", and my personal favorite, Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer". Yep-- a punk version that the band totally made their own. Go see Before the Fall... you'll be impressed.
Platinum Plus/Universal Records Showcase by Robert Metzgar - Platinum Plus
If you want the absolute hottest rock band in texas, this is "THE" band. If you want to pack your venue with screaming loyal fans, then hire "Before the Fall." These guys will bring rock fans to their feet screaming for more. They're hot, they're the total bomb. Watch out for this band - they are going all the way to the top!
Interview with Before The Fall by By: Caz* Bevan
Where are you from?
Brian (bass): A barren valley in the Rocky Mountains known as Cache County.
Quatro (drums): Arlington, Texas.
How do you like the Dallas/Fort Worth music scene?
Brian: I think it's a shadow of its former self. Kids don't go out anymore and there is an over saturation of bands in our market, most of which don't do a lot to encourage people to be a part of their local scene. A lot of the better local bands don't have a lot of loyal fans but we got lucky and have quite a few that try to get out to see us as often as possible.
Quatro: The DFW scene is on its deathbed. Something is around the corner, but we don't know what it is. There has to be someone around with those defibrillators.
What's the main genre of music you find in DFW?
Brian: "Dallas metal"; it really brings out the southern rock and Pantera influence in all the bands here. Unfortunately, most of them sound the same, look the same, act the same and suck the same.
Quatro: Crappy metal bands. We call them Dallas metal because they all kinda sound the same and a lot of this post-hardcore stuff.
What motivates Before The Fall?
Brian: Me personally, I get motivated at a live show if the crowd is into it. If we are onstage playing, and everyone just sits there, it doesn't exactly make me want to play my heart out, but if a few people, even just a handful, are up by the stage clapping or even just singin' along, a whole different side of me comes out and I play harder and am more likely to put on a much better performance. What motivates me in other musical aspects is any song that makes me feel something. It makes me want to give that to other people.
Quatro: Definitely writing new songs. Gino is the most amazing writer. Every song is better than the next and more catchy.
What are your goals/dreams as a band?
Brian: I just want to play music all day and not work.
Quatro: To not kill Mick. No, I'm kidding. To tour non-stop and have people following our bus and having people recognize me on the street wouldn't be so bad either! [Laughs]
What is your history? How long have you been together and how did you get together?
Brian: Me and Gino were in No Talent and we sucked. But it was fun. I think a little bit of those days are still in me, but then I went into the Marine Corps and when I came back, here was this kickass band that I was all the sudden a part of.
Quatro: The old singer of the band came into the place where I worked, lied to me about a record deal and management and stuff, and I tried out. I liked the music and shortly after we kicked out the douche bag singer and started really rockin.
What do you consider your greatest successes as a band?
Brian: That we haven't killed each other, that our music doesn't suck and that we are all happy with the music.
Quatro: Yea that...and we're still making progress.
When do you plan on touring?
Brian: Soon.
Quatro: We're going to start short tours in February.
Who are your favorite local bands from your area?
Brian: I like a lot of bands that I'm friends with - Utica, The Charismatics and a Ska band called Pure Genius, but my favorite ones that are/were somewhat successful have been The Toadies and Pantera. A lot of the bands we play with aren't real talented and it seems the bigger the name, the worse the band. I don't like a lot of the local music because it all sounds the same. But some great bands are out there and not getting recognition.
Quatro: Skylines End, Bless the Broken, Red Letter Union. Neverset wasn't too bad. I can't think of too many that I actually like.
Who are your favorite signed bands?
Brian: A lot of bands that we don't sound like. A lot of punk bands like Strung Out and Lagwagon. I also like bands like Motley Crue, Metallica, Slayer, Black Sabbath and a bunch of shit people don't listen to anymore. Even a few bands that are popular like Atreyu, Thrice, A7X, but I hate bands that people want to associate the whole 'screamo' thing with. I can't stand Hawthorne Heights and bands like that, but I listen to them a lot because everywhere I go people think that's what I wanna hear. Fuck that. Play some fuckin' Maiden.
Quatro: Too many to list, but I love Reel Big Fish...and...and...and...God I hate these questions.
What is your dream record label?
Brian: One that will leave me alone, put me on stage and give me money.
Quatro: Someone Major like Universal or Warner Brothers.
What is the best aspect of your band?
Brian: I don't even know if I can answer that. One of the most convenient for us is that no matter what kind of crowd we play to, people like us. We've played a few metal shows and thought we were gonna have to fight our way out of the place, but people went nuts for it.
Quatro: Our music is awesome and we're all so different.
What, about being a band, frustrates you?
Brian: Everything; bad shows, bad turnouts at shows, bickering with each other, having to work to support the band, not playing every night. It's tough. You gotta be patient.
Quatro: Being in a band.
What are your songs about?
Brian: I don't know. Ask Gino. I only know that one about Tommy and Gina - something about working on a dock.
< Quatro: I wonder about the same thing sometimes. I think one is about Mick. All I know is boom-boom-gak, boom-boom-gak, boom-boom-gak, crash-crash-crash.
How do you describe your music to people?
Brian: I just call it alternative punk because I like punk rock and I don't want to be lumped in with all the bands that I can't even remember their names because they are all bleed this, fall that, die this and a bunch of names that don't make sense.
Quatro: Like all the bands you like rolled into one.
How do your parents feel about you being "rockstars"?
Brian: When I started my first band, I think they just patiently waited for the phase to pass, but now they know that I am really passionate about this and we are going to make this happen. My Mom just doesn't like the partying and groupies.
Quatro: My Mom is just waiting on the check to pay her back for all the stuff she's helped me with, but she's definitely supportive. My family comes to shows when they can.
What does music mean to you?
Brian: It's all a bunch of math but it's all I know and all I like, so there ya go.
Quatro: Music is happiness. Music is not caring about anything in the moment. Music is friends. Music is drinking. Music is a release. Music is not eating or sleeping. Music is life.
How hard is it to break through in your local scene?
Brian: What local scene?
Quatro: Extremely. How many bands have made it from the DFW area? The Toadies/Burden Brothers, Pantera, Eisley, Bowling For Soup, Kelly Clarkson, Cowboy Troy [Laughs]. Is...Ryan Cabrera from here? That's pretty much it.
Darkside lounge by Sean Galloway - Harderbeat Mag
On a cold weekend, this show was a great place to kick it on a Saturday. It was Before the Fall’s last local show before heading on a winter tour. This great performance (with triple vocalists) gave the evening a nice touch, combining rock with hardcore chants. Songs like “Peace of Mind” and “The Promise” kept the crowd going throughout the set.
