The Riot Before

Two days after getting back from Fest 10 Jon texted me, “we need to talk.”  Like so many other aspects of existing in a band, the anticipated subject matter of one of these “talks” was the same as if it had been in its more common context of a romantic relationship.  You know before you know but you have to wait before you know.  Conveniently already at a bar, I ordered another drink and announced to my friends that my band had just broken up.

The following day I met Jon for coffee and he, never the most garrulous member of the band, skipped the small talk and regrettably announced that he was quitting the band.  There are myriad reasons to quit The Riot Before, and he listed a few good ones.  We chatted for a few minutes about our futures while finishing our coffees and then got up, shook hands, and went our separate ways.

Though The Riot Before has been made up of thirteen different musicians over the course of its eight year existence, Cory, Freddy, and Jon were by far the most important and influential members.  They performed on Rebellion and Fists Buried in Pockets, they were on stage during the vast majority of our five-hundred plus shows, and they sacrificed their time, their money, their personal lives to make this band work for as long as it did.  The band is permanently indented with their influence, so much so that, with all three of them now gone, it would be both insensitive and dishonest to stand alone on something built by a group and obstinately declare it The Riot Before.  So I won’t. 

Sitting alone in my dorm room playing guitar way back in 2003, I could never have imagined that those poorly strummed power chords were the beginnings of a sound that would resonate for the next eight years.  And I really mean that.   I grew up in a small farm town in a part of California that bands tend to avoid, and so for most of my life the act of simply attending a show was normally so far out of reach that I never thought it possible to get the chance to be the show.   That I would be a part of over five hundred shows in ten different countries, well, that was a reality that at one time really was even beyond the grasp of my imagination. 

I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who made this improbable band a reality for so long.  Thank you to those of you who put on our shows, put us up in your homes, put out our music, and just plain put up with us.  Thank you especially to everyone who came out to a show, from the shaky, stage-frightened start in Isla Vista, to the triumphant sea of fists and bodies at the Fest, to all those in between.  Thank you to everyone who sang along with us.  Thank you to those who will continue to do so in your cars and bedrooms.  Thank you for making us feel welcome in your town, whether there was a large crowd or three was.  Thank you to all the bands we were so very fortunate enough to share stages with.  We would never have made it this far if we had not been so surrounded by such inspiring, talented people. 

I am so very grateful for these years defined by this band called The Riot Before.  It’s the best thing I’ve ever had the chance to be a part of, and the bar is very high indeed for all future endeavors. 

Regarding the future, at this point I can’t image mine filled with anything but stages and songs.  I have to figure out the latter first, but once I do I have every intention of bringing them to a stage near you. 

Cheers,

Brett 

1. 247-akhbar reblogged this from theriotbefore
2. thisguyreadsfromacard reblogged this from theriotbefore
3. megganjoy reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

   NOOOOOOO. Not fair. NOT FAIR. :(

4. abookamind liked this
5. enthusiasticmaybe reblogged this from theriotbefore
6. socially-unconscious reblogged this from reinventingkatierose
7. yourlittleampersand liked this
8. parapluiesdoux liked this
9. goodgoodgorilla reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

   feelings. Please send pints...Amy McDowell c/o Nashville, TN.

10. jake1992 reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    same month? That’s...strange. They’re two...started...

11. etherealabsenceoffear liked this
12. planetdahmz reblogged this from theriotbefore
13. pattyj reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    This bummed me out. However,...still hate it when people end messages

14. paintbrushbangs liked this
15. ekimeoner reblogged this from theriotbefore
16. jake-ziggy reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    SHALL NOW FOLLOW THIS UP BY LISTENING TO THEM 24/7 FOR A MONTH AND CRYING!

17. bottleage reblogged this from brian-k
18. josephnewman reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    This is heartbreaking. Expected,...favorite punk albums

19. edwardlikestoskateboard liked this
20. brian-k reblogged this from theriotbefore
21. brian-k liked this
22. beinggigantic reblogged this from reinventingkatierose
23. corpseonpumpkin liked this
24. jonathonsalas liked this
25. herecomesthezombie reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    bandas escolheram 2011 pra acabar

26. strohmer reblogged this from theriotbefore
27. kuhnsthegoon reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    god damn bummer….

28. kylesuselesspostings reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    Oh come on, O Pioneers!!!...Before? Who’s next, Spraynard? This sucks :c Thanks

29. iamthenoise reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    dies. RIP THE RIOT BEFORE

30. behindpunkyo reblogged this from theriotbefore
31. pmfs reblogged this from theriotbefore
32. mondosmusicbox liked this
33. catyandtheradio reblogged this from heartsofstone
34. methodistcoloringbook reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    amazing. we’ll

35. jackieisgreen reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    fuck. fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

36. interrobangmusic reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    guys go. quite thankful

37. johnbuchta reblogged this from lifeishardenough5 and added:

    Why are so many good bands breaking up?

38. lifeishardenough5 reblogged this from theriotbefore
39. reinventingkatierose reblogged this from theriotbefore
40. heartsofstone reblogged this from theriotbefore
41. thisshitisgenius reblogged this from theriotbefore
42. brittblitz liked this
43. brittblitz reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    mouth shut about...anymore. I’m pretty bummed about

44. myheadsfullofvipers reblogged this from andron17
45. andron17 reblogged this from chrisict and added:

    2011 is being a really shit year in regards to bands splitting up. First Grown Ups and now the Riot Before. They...

46. penguinberlin liked this
47. gochuckyourself-182 reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    wanna cry right now.. :< how many (great)

48. wordswrittenovercoffee reblogged this from theriotbefore
49. letitallfadeaway reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    This makes me sad :/, Good luck...music regardless what

50. hearnebraska reblogged this from theriotbefore and added:

    guys. Great people. Great

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