The modern grunge/punk music box of Patrick Lew's Band! A rebellious and socially retarded Asian rocker from the Bay.
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Monday, December 7, 2009
Patrick Lew'
The modern grunge/punk music box of Patrick Lew's Band! A rebellious and socially retarded Asian rocker from the Bay.
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Patrick Lew'
The modern grunge/punk music box of Patrick Lew's Band! A rebellious and socially retarded Asian rocker from the Bay.
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Patrick Lew'
The modern grunge/punk music box of Patrick Lew's Band! A rebellious and socially retarded Asian rocker from the Bay.
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Patrick Lew's Band (sometimes known as The Lew Crue) is the solo project of Taiwanese American musician, songwriter, artist and writer Patrick Lew. He has also played guitar and pursued music in other projects with other musicians such as Band of Asians, Silent Minister and other lesser known local San Francisco rock/metal bands. His music is known production and recording wise, chaotic and unconventionally recorded and mixed like a jigsaw puzzle. But stylistically by sound and lyrically, is Alternative Rock and Pop Punk music with socially conscious and idiosyncratic themes. In addition to music, Lew is also an amateur Philosophy and creative writer and contributed small acting roles in plays locally for his schools.
(Bio)
Formed -- 2001 in San Francisco, California
Group Members -- Patrick Lew
Years Active -- 2000s, 2010s
Associated Bands -- Band of Asians, Silent Minister, Eddie Blackburn, Dexter Rotten
Styles -- Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Punk, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Having been playing and creating music and learning how to get better as a musician since he began playing in local garage bands in his hometown, along with constant promoting of his music online. Guitarist and teenage outsider Patrick Lew got hooked onto heavy metal and alternative rock in the late 1990s, and bought a guitar and took lessons at his middle school. Forming a garage band, which the teenage "garage band" phenomenon would explode onto the Bay Area underground music community in the early-to-mid 2000s, called Goldenweasel. Around the summer of 1999, Goldenweasel were joined by a schoolmate from Lew's Chinese school, drummer Tommy Loi. A bit later when they both began going to Raoul Wallenberg High School in their hometown of San Francisco, they were joined by a pre-teen lead guitarist Eddie Blackburn, a friend of Lew's. Nearly three years younger than future Internet rock music superstar Patrick Lew. Goldenweasel would change lineups constantly during 1999 and 2000, eventually reducing the core of their middle school schoolmates as musicians playing guitar or bass in the band. And began figuring out, who'd proven themselves to be the most serious dedicated musicians and most personally compatible playing music for fun and seriously in a garage band.
Goldenweasel changed their name to Silent Minister in early 2001, quickly becoming the second main project musically for Patrick Lew as he soon was able to create music alone as a one-man band. Aptly titled, Patrick Lew's Band. Mainly being a solo project for the Taiwanese/American local rock musician and artist, but with sometimes contributions from members of his other bands he played guitar in. Around this same time in 2001 when Lew and Loi were high school freshmen, they began promoting their demo MP3's of songs they wrote and recorded on the Internet through personal and indie music webpages. In the summer of 2001, Patrick Lew played his first concert as an Internet and Bay Area rock musician as a busker and attendee at Vans Warped Tour 2001, playing guitar with his schoolmates at a tent where musical equipment was free to test out for the punk music festival's attendees.
San Francisco and Daly City were Patrick Lew's Band's fame center stage early on in his music career. Playing high school talent shows and, because the musicians were at the time teenagers. Their parents carpooled the teenage musicians from Patrick Lew's Band or carried their entire musical equipment through BART trains or public buses. Usually, the musical performances of the Band were described as sloppy, chaotic and technical...Like not-so-experienced musicians playing music in a garage band. But Eddie's guitar leads often prevented the musicians and Band from sounding too amateur-ish. There was manic energy, devotion and hidden talent within their early musical performances however. When Lew became a 10th grader at Wallenberg High School, he and his Band returned to San Francisco to focus on band practices and writing and recording original music on a Portastudio. Eventually, Lew's schoolmate and Japanese female friend Mayumi eventually joined Patrick Lew's Band on bass guitar (the bass duties in his other band Silent Minister were by Eddie's friend Shawn Blacharski).
They returned to their priorties in San Francisco during 2002, although drummer Tommy Loi dropped out of the Band early in the year to focus on his pre-college studies and getting a great education. Mayumi took over bass, Blackburn settled on lead guitar, and Lew played rhythm guitar and sang most of the Band's music. There was a problem however, they didn't had a live drummer for recording and live performing. So to solve the problem for the time, they went to a store and bought a drum machine or used drum backing tracks off Lew's laptop onstage for live performing. In mid-2002, Patrick Lew's Band (minus Loi) made their and his first recordings for his solo band. The music of Patrick Lew had barely developed at this stage, and these recordings were sloppy originals and amateur-ish tape recorded Rock And Roll music at best. And Lew's songwriting at the time dealt with more fiction such as early songs such as "Drug Commercial" and "Cheerleaders of My Love." These recordings were done on a 4-track, and became Patrick Lew's first demo "Live! Like a Garage Band!" Only 25 to 50 copies of this demo tape were made reportedly, to hand to their schoolmates and family. This time period was almost significant not only promoting their music online to an extremely limited audience, but their trademark look was developed by bassist Mayumi. Japanese pop culture became an interest for Lew because of this, and Blackburn and Lew began to restyle their pop punk haircuts for fobby Asian pop star shags. Which gave their musicians their visual sound and personality on record.
Near the end of 2002, Patrick Lew's Band played and was booked to perform at a local "Battle of the Bands" event in their hometown of San Francisco to compete with other teenage bands for a grand prize opportunity to get free recording studio time and their resume sent to record labels. They performed at the event for 15 minutes roughly, although they did not win or sound proper musically at the "Battle of the Bands." However, parts of this event was taped when one of the band's friend's snuck in a tape recorder. Although no photos exist from this performance historically, but there is a short recording as evidence. By promoting themselves constantly locally and on the Internet, Patrick Lew's Band and his other band Silent Minister received an opportunity off an email through their Soundclick.com music page by Statue Records. Signing a record deal (though it was later to be revealed as a SCAM by Statue). In 2003, Patrick Lew and the Band followed the same avenues as they did the year before. Alternating between playing music and high school. During band practices, they began recording Patrick Lew's first album "Psychotic Love" as a musician, albeit with poor mixing, producing and engineering on a 4-track. It was released via Internet on their website, in April 2003. Which topped reportedly, the popularity of Lew on pre-MySpace networking website Findapix.com for about 24 weeks.
What Patrick Lew's Band done musically was take the elements of hard rock, pop and metal they loved and make them their own. Since the Goldenweasel days, they had steeped deeply into 80's hair metal, Bay Area thrash and the Seattle grunge scenes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Motley Crue, Metallica, Guns N' Roses and others. They'd also kept an ear open to the early 2000s alternative metal and pop punk of Incubus, Korn and Blink 182. And also paid close attention to Bay Area independent music and J-Pop. Though the musicianship and skill-levels vary between every musician making the music, there was a sense of uniqueness and strange deviant vibe to Patrick Lew's Band. With made them stood out from their contemporaries from their Bay Area underground music community. Though not always popular or appreciated, they developed a cult fan base which still exists today for Lew's music outside of the norm. Patrick Lew was also credited to these things, refining the ideas despite limitations without formulating to tinker with the conventional mass media. And during the later and current studio band years of Patrick Lew's music career, his knowledge and information from what he learned and experienced was effective in his ability to promote him on every relevant website for unsigned bands. Mastering his promoting skills online by making everything accessible, and translate concepts and ambitious ideas into what seems possible, through recording technology, and widening sounds and instruments through newly available digital technology for musicians.
Just as crucially, as limited and primitive as they can be, Patrick Lew's Band was never the ones to give up during hard times or oppression, and is strong-willed to determine their success and future the way they want it or whatever pleases. In 2004, Patrick Lew graduated high school and went to cram school first at City College of San Francisco before transferring to a CSU school. After watching a free concert at a record store by J-Pop singer Nami Tamaki, Lew wrote the song "Tokyo Pop Princess" which became Lew's first hit single via Internet and was a notable song locally in his hometown before he left high school. Just like he did with high school, Lew alternated between music and education when going to a 2-year college. He played a few shows sporadically, and his other band Silent Minister jammed on some music too.
However by late 2004, some problems were experienced by Lew and his Band. Because of personal struggles, the Taiwanese rock musician and superstar Patrick Lew began his first time in personal rehab. A sporadic practice to learn life the way he wants it, that continued for the next few years. Although Lew did not like his first time in college due to personal problems, his band Silent Minister (not Patrick Lew's Band) began splintering when lead guitarist Blackburn begun various roles in other projects. Lew and Blackburn briefly regrouped in May 2005 for band practices with Silent Minister before mutually parting company to pursue their own life and artistic avenues. Patrick's bassist for his solo project Mayumi, left the band after she graduated high school in June 2005 to attend UC Davis. Patrick Lew would make music solo, but focused his energies with his college friend Zack Huang to form the Band of Asians with schoolmates at City College. On February 13, 2005, Patrick Lew played his only concert during 2005 at Balboa High School. Unfortunately, by this time...Patrick was able to access a digital camera to take pictures during band practices. Which explains why NO photos exist of Lew's time with Silent Minister, except writings and records.
By this time, Patrick Lew's Band and Silent Minister withdrew from Statue Records after it was learned they were scamming musicians and unsigned bands on various indie music websites for "fake" record deals. An unauthorized recording was published and sold to retailers from Patrick Lew, called "Tokyo Pop Princess." But Lew claims he hates the recording for butchered sound quality from demo tapes and live recordings taken from that time. Patrick and Eddie would not play music together again, until May 2007, where Patrick joined Eddie's new band Logic's Enemy onstage for a gig at Civic Center.
Most of 2005 was a reconstruction time historically in Patrick Lew's Band. He took a year-long break from community college to focus on his music career and personal life to evolve. Patrick Lew and his friend from City College, Zack, formed a new band called Band of Asians and Patrick took music in his new band seriously. Looking for a lead guitarist, Lew tried social-networking website MySpace.com by placing an ad. But the guitar player they jammed with twice whom was met online, never went long-term as a musical project. Instead, Lew began to be determined to get better and improve as a guitar player to play guitar leads in Band of Asians. He even took a three-week guitar lesson at a school near his house called Vibo Music. Lew began going to Skyline College in early 2006, which he protested against attending for cram school. Feeling he wasn't ready to go back to community college yet to focus on his new music. He did however meet his closest friend and Band of Asians drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez, finally creating the Band of Asians as a Rock Band. They began upgrading their musical equipment, buying a lot of digital technology such as synthesizers and computer programs to record on. On February 10, 2006, Patrick Lew's Band began a short leg of gigs in Skyline College and some house party in Daly City.
On May 8, 2006, the Band of Asians played a live electronic recital at Vibo Music. Which Augusto and Patrick could be heard arranging their instruments and parts when playing their music live. This recital, featuring tape loops, samples, electronic elements along with amateur-ish rock band performances. Became a Band of Asians live EP, and Patrick Lew's only live album to date. Much of 2006 was a turbulent time for Lew and Arceo, who became very close friends but dealt with personal problems separately in their personal lives.
But 2006 was also a controversial year for Patrick Lew's Band and music. One of the first was Patrick Lew's estrangement from three former female friends: Laila, Jillian and his high school girlfriend Amy. Those three divorces, had a major impact on Lew and sent him to a major depression and worried about his role in society. Whether it was Lew's fault or not, it was one of the other few bad experiences the Taiwanese rock musician went through in 2006. Another was a violent argument that occured in Lew's home, with Arceo scuffling two musicians supposedly brought for a jam session named Anthony and Manchi. By this time, things later would be more frightening and more difficult to experience. Arceo and Lew tried lost their music club at Skyline College because of a bully on campus named Aaron Cheng. Which also resulted in a scuffle which made Patrick decide to go back to City College. It got more complicated when Lew began binge dating with women he met online, with a Eurasian woman named Hachiko being blatantly disrespectful towards him throughout the time. Lew also began experimenting with drugs and alcoholism with schoolmates at SF State University's dorm rooms reportedly.
But however, the music of Patrick Lew was in fact...Very important in his life and hobby. Even for a serious long-term ambition and goal. The Band of Asians began recording their "Revenge" CD in a friend's personal recording studio with the latest and expensive recording and musical equipment. Lew and Band of Asians' intentions for this album were to let their RAGE out at the society and enemies that the Internet rock musicians experienced with musically, and proved to be a fundamental departure from the fictional and J-Pop tribute songwritings of the high school days. Using digital technology, electronics and what they read to make better music. They released their Instrumental Rock album "Revenge" through CDBaby.com on Lew's 21st birthday on November 15, 2006. This was a step forward when writings, photos and audio recordings were important to Patrick Lew's musical franchise, and home video and Patrick Lew's Band shirts were still ages away.
But if anyone could do it, Patrick Lew and his schoolmate musician friends could. This was a radical step indeed, and although this was Patrick Lew's second major album (he later shared joint credits to the record with Band of Asians as both their project's recorded work). It was a stylistic departure from the early days of Lew's music as digital music technology and the tools and experience learned in later years, gave Patrick Lew's Band and the music a sound that remained unto themselves. The appearance of singles "Revenge," "War!" and "Night Vision" shown hints of artistic progression in the Band. Lew was voted by Dmusic.com as one of 2006's "Artist Picks."
When "Revenge" was released by the end of 2006, the Band of Asians and Lew especially were asked by a local concert promoter KLC to play some gig dates opening up for their peers and Lew's high school friends Screamo band Scarlett Bombs. The big concern was, that the music from "Revenge" was very difficult to present live without backing tapes or without a whole ensemble of live musicians playing certain parts, 60% of the record was done on a computer. So instead, Lew and the Band of Asians chose to write new songs to perform on tour, during band rehearsals. The Band of Asians however, lost their original bassist Augusto Hernandez, who'd left to join another local Bay Area band and focus on his college studies. Arceo and Lew were however, attending City College again, and met their schoolmate and close friend Cory Gaitan. Whom replaced Hernandez on bass and also, became the group's 2nd singer. Patrick Lew as a solo artist, also jammed with his some of his bandmates and other musicians he met through networking. The Band of Asians toured San Francisco with Scarlett Bombs through recreation centers and their school, City College from early 2007 until October of that year. It seemed as if, life was ambitious and experienced with less conflict at the time. And that the Band could do no wrong.
However, musically the progression and creativity would continue. Personally and socially, not so much. The Band of Asians began to unravel at a very quick pace just as they began getting active. Lew and Gaitan sent their demos and resume to A&R people in the music industry, but came up short on receiving an answer. Band of Asians co-founder, Zack Huang, was absent on occasion during 2007 to avoid foreclosure with his family's house and other daytime jobs. Gaitan, who joined the Band of Asians several months earlier, left the band for overseas briefly due for personal rediscovery. Leaving Lew and Arceo to perform and make music under the "Band of Asians" name. Lew began improving as a songwriter, and the years he played in garage bands, he began developing as a solo artist musically and creatively. But was not always met with a positive reception from music critics and sometimes, the underground music community. Arceo, suffering from a personal setback, would have a more limited role in Band of Asians by late 2007. Although the group recorded two songs which made the 2nd round of two Soundclick.com contests, "No Music, No Life" and an amateur-ish cover of "Jingle Bell Rock." When the Band of Asians finished their tour on October 10, 2007 at City College, Lew and Arceo were debating the future of the group in the press and on their blogs. On January 9, 2008, Lew's closest family member. His pet Dog passed away untimely, sending him to an aftershock.
By this time, the Band of Asians were originally supposed to play club gigs in early 2008. But with the dwindling lineup and personal problems the musicians were experiencing separately, forced a cancellation of those prospects. Overtime, Patrick Lew was experiencing discrimination from various music critics and third-party music industry people and its audiences, as a solo artist. Lacking focus, and more focused on their own long-term goals alone, on March 29, 2008. Arceo announced his departure from Band of Asians due to personal and professional differences with Lew. Although the two best friends remain close and respect each other on many occasions, Lew knew it was time to do music on his own and look into other opportunities which came along the way.
In the middle of 2008, former bandmates Gaitan and Lew began a reconnected relationship when he returned from overseas. Lew's family however, purchased a new house in Antioch, a small town in East Bay, CA. Lew decided, after the years with the BAND ON THE RUN and ups and downs with his personal life and music. He would take an extended hiatus from playing live, and focus on finishing college with a Bachelors Degree. Lew left City College in the summer of that year, but did not receive his Associates Degree mainly for not finishing college-level math and algebra, a subject Lew disliked since grade school. However, he transferred to a CSU school at CSU East Bay. And resumed his studies more seriously. The latter part of the year, Lew was in a short-term relationship with former girlfriend Jenny Mintz, met on a free dating website.
From 2008 onwards, marked the second era of Patrick Lew's Band. A reconstruction of bidding farewell to his past musically and personally, and starting the studio band years of Patrick Lew's music as a solo artist. Earlier in the summer, Lew began his often tinkerings in the studio. He first began doing music solo by remixing well-known Video Game Soundtracks. Lew, based on sympathy from his former music critic and later sometimes Soundclick.com supporter Steve Gilmore, decided to put his old demo tapes and anything related to his past work and experiences in a box and locked it in a closet. Lew later admitted recently, to disregarding his earlier music before 2008 for many reasons. But he decamped himself in his home studio, strong-willed and confident to improve as a musician and songwriter regardless. Composing a lot of songs and recording a slightly big amount of musical ideas. Regardless, of what criticisms might bring or how he might be perceived musically and personally.
That being said, by the end of 2008 saw significant changes and personal maturity and growth in Lew. He released his third major album, "Curb Your Wild Life" independently. While, described as a very "indulgent" and "messy" record. It featured the artistic progression in Lew's music, and shown Lew as all grown up through this sprawling disc. Maintaing the eclectism of "Revenge," ranging from styles such as Neo-Grunge to IDM. Lew, now with longer hair and wearing glasses, despite mixed reviews had maintained his audience and music through status updates on networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. In 2009, IStardom.com reported Lew to be the #10,144 most famous musician online. He was also #432 in a statistic of most famous bands from his hometown of San Francisco. Whatever the future may bring for Patrick Lew's Band, has yet to be seen. But, Lew is ambitious and has long-term goals set for personal growth and attempting success by his own standards and expectations.
Whatever the new decade may bring for Patrick Lew’s music anthology and creative projects, we have to stay tuned and find out. Lew stated since as early as mid-2008, once he receives his Bacehlors Degree at a CSU college. He will figure out what’s next option for either his life or music. The story has no ending for Patrick Lew’s music. And the future might be unwritten but, fate and the metaphysics of the future depending on what’s happening will determine the degree of success and opportunity for his music and the future of Patrick Lew’s Band. So what’s next? A sequel? Wait until the next decade is up, peeps. The journey is still ongoing!
Categories: 2000s musical groups, 2010s musical groups, American rock music groups, Patrick Lew’s Band, Hard rock musical groups, Musical quartets, Rock trios, Rock duos, Music from the San Francisco Bay Area, People from San Francisco Bay Area, Postmodern Art, Outsider music, Bands with one constant member, Musical groups established in 2001, Taper-friendly musicians
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Patrick Lew Experience
Hey music industry and Patrick Lew fans! This one of two OFFICIAL Patrick Lew's Band profiles on the website you're visiting on. 
Patrick Lew started making music in 2001 when he finished a few weeks of guitar lessons. And other music courses at a music school in San Francisco. He began writing original rock music and recording home-made demos of his music with his former bands and solo. Interestingly enough, Lew recorded most of his earlier musical work on old analog recording equipment. Though not always the best guitarist, songwriter or musicians...He consider himself to be a very primitive musician. He has idiosyncratic and unique talent and creativity when recording music. Though his early songs and recordings were very lo-fi and primitive, from playing three chords and singing tributes to Japanese pop culture. He expanded his musical creativity as he was able to afford computers and digital recording equipment. Along with self-taught mastery of writing slightly decent songs and recording demos on his OLD computer laptop...Through music magazines and reading Guitar World.
Lew's first musical productions as an independent Hard Rock musician was playing Nu Metal. Though not the best musician alive, he tries his best to educate himself how to make music better and expand his musical interests. Because of this, he can play other instruments such as Keyboards and Bass. Not to mention, making exotic Electronica on FL Studio. He usually doesn't get discouraged what former music critics on Soundclick or anywhere else said about his music and him. Some great achievements Lew has done as a musician include:
1) He's been in 5 local bands, and recorded and toured with two of them in his musical adventure for FAME.
2) He earned a few spotlight awards and recognition on a few different websites for his music.
3) Patrick Lew was featured in the March 2008 issue of Recording Magazine advertising Patrick Lew's Band.
4) His music was played on Pirate Cat Radio once supposedly, and thanks for his speech instructor Sam Kudsi. His music landed airplay on City College's FM college radio for local bands.
At the moment, Lew is attending University and finishing up his college education at Cal State East Bay for a BA in Philosophy and Music. He's currently doing music in Patrick Lew's Band, a solo project which makes primitive Basement Rock and also compiles some musical work he done in his former bands. And also, Your Audio 2 Riot. An alter ego and rock band version of his music which is rearranged musically into a Glam Metal, Grunge and Punk fusion sound. He's been promoting music online since 2001, making music since 2001. And continues a long odyssey as an Internet and local musician, enjoying new experiences and staying true to his ART. Though he is at times controversial and edgy, he is an Underrated Sound Machine who is 100% legit as this local San Francisco rock star and misunderstood musical talent! Pure artist, primitive Hard Rock musician.
What is Patrick Lew's Band? 1) The music of Internet and local rock musician Patrick Lew. Who's been promoting his music online on a variety of websites since age 15.
2) Anti-Establishment and Pro-Musician.
3) The STORY of a young Asian rocker who stands out from the crowd as this Underrated Sound Machine musician, living the soap operas and big life. From alienation from school, romance and the music industry. To making 100% original Hard Rock music in his computer-based music studio of gear from the pawnshop. PRIMITIVE ROCK N' ROLL MUSIC FROM YOUR AUDIO 2 RIOT.
4) Fobby Asian Girls and Social Justice.
5) Anger, angst and in your face.
6) The history and musical franchise that is, Patrick Lew.
7) His University = CSUEB.
8) An angry young man fighting for justice and appreciation in MUSIC and ART locally and on the Internet as an independent music artist in Hard Rock.
9) He's rocking for Chinatown and everywhere you go, the Freak Show.
10) A Renegade music factory fusion of Glam Metal, Grunge, Thrash Metal and Pop. Straight outta' Patrick Lew's music box and anthology on the Internet and his laboratory.
11) F*** the music critics! F*** the haters! Screw you guys, Patrick Lew is doing music his way and what's best for him.
12) Patrick Lew's Band. Plain and simple. Google "Patrick Lew's Band" on your computer at home, library, retailer or where ever you're at. You'll find the needed websites of the music related to the Anti-Establishment Outlaw himself. The Underrated Sound Machine, Patrick Lew.
Why? My real name. BAND refers to the musicians and artists who had associations in making the music, or performing the primitive Rock And Roll and Electronica music onstage for gigs with me as Patrick Lew's Band. This project also is a portfolio and resume for all the music I've done in my life and part-time occupation as a local musician since 2001. Don't get offended or baffled if there's about close to 300 recordings of my music, unfinished or not, on Patrick Lew's Band's music page.
Yes as a matter of a fact, I did. Duh! I mainly toured locally with my two former bands, Band of Asians and Silent Minister in my music career as an independent musician and sound artist. We played shows in recreational centers, bars, small nightclubs, Chinatown and EVEN. School. We did play a few gigs as talented yet starving Internet musicians in the Powell and Civic Center BART subway station in San Francisco and the streets of Downtown SF and Oakland at times. But we mainly promote our music via Internet and did focus on investing money into musical gear from the Guitar Center to make some rockin' music. Patrick Lew's Band along with OTHER former projects associated with my music career has been promoting our music and franchise via Internet since 2001. And we're passionate about music regardless what stupid music critics and corrupt music industry companies like major or indie record labels think about us. Fuck them! We are all about the music, NOT DRAMA!
My DREAM however after college, is to get a career and full-time occupation related to music. It could be working retail at a music store that sells musical instruments to children who want to learn music or working in an independent record store that sells a shitload of used CDs and Vinyl of all styles and sounds of music. I dunno. I can't imagine myself doing anything for a career other than MUSIC.
On the issue of mp3 and the music industry...Well think of it this way. 10 to 20 years ago, no band or music artist could get heard or famous that easily without the Internet and mp3 files. If they had to win a spot and get famous, they would have to play shows at clubs and hand out flyers and tapes to random people and places in their hometown. Even record deals were I noticed, a thing of luck to get your music famous. Basically if anyone has a computer at home, the Internet makes it easier for bands and musicians to get their work simply out there. So in many ways, it's a good way for them to get their music some exposure and to find a way to start their careers. I mean, I started promoting my work back in 2001 on my computer and 56K modem online. I started playing music around the time Napster hit.
There's also so much garbage to digest in the music industry as today there's so many good and bad things about the industry and Internet.
As far as record companies goes, it can be a big problem losing millions of dollars over people downloading mp3's online without buying the CD at a record store. It does affect me and doesn't at the same time. I don't do music for money, but I can understand when musicians and bands aren't making enough royalties through record sales. But then again, they are making their money off of other merchandise and concerts right? When I was in Taiwan and Hong Kong, it seems like flea markets are selling more pirated goods than the real thing...
But it can be a good thing too, money isn't what music is all about I think. If someone downloads a whole album off the Internet, think about it. At least musicians and bands and those music artists are getting heard. It's good resource and it helps people find out if the music is interesting or not. I do however, still buy CDs at second-hand record shops such as Amoeba and Rasputin. I don't think it's right for record companies to start suing teenagers for finding cool music on the Internet.
So I guess I am against the music industry sort of. I hate it absolutely! But I do love being independent and all. But it's a damn shame, the record companies and the music industry is ONE of the most corrupt people in this world. There's countless number of musicians and unsigned bands that's our friends on Soundclick that deserve to be signed to lucrative record deals by now, with indie or major record labels.
Will I sign with a major record company? Yes, I would. But maybe not. I've been promoting my musical work on the Internet on independent websites like SoundClick and PureVolume.com for many years already. I have the freedom of creating music at home and using my computer to make it or promote it via Internet. I do however, want FAME with my music. Not MONEY. I never thought of doing music for profit. I am against corrupt companies like Viacom in media.
I also, hated the fact if I get signed to a major record label and have myself earning FAME and EXPOSURE through my music. I would feel miserable and pigeonholed, because I never had much appreciation or felt special when I was younger as the independent music artist. It's because if the whole f***ing world now appreciated an Underrated Sound Machine, and you didn't had much of that in the PAST, you'll feel worse in your personal life and that's NOT always good. But yeah, I always wanted FAME and ATTENTION with my music and art. So it's yes and no.
Biography:
Born in San Francisco, California in 1985, Patrick Lew began his musical quest as this Internet musician at the age of 13. Though he previously played piano and violin from Chinese music school, he developed his interest in music at the age of 6 thanks to paying close attention to radio, music TV and etc. He went out and purchased his first guitar at a music store on his 13th birthday, and took 3 weeks worth of basic guitar lessons through a private instructor at his school.
Patrick's mother and father were big fans of The Beatles, and also! Lew was into hard rock, metal and grunge since getting into music. Dressing in band shirts from Hot Topic and growing his hair into a Beatles moptop.
He learned how to write music himself on his electric guitar by writing lyrics on a Word Processor on his computer and playing power chords. As well as listening to many bands and favorite rock music to get a sense of what he wants to create in his music. He learned how to record music on his computer through reading EQ and Mix magazines.Lew's biggest guitar influences were Steve Vai, Slash, Vito Bratta, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Perry, Mike McCready, Richie Kotzen, Tom DeLonge and Joe Satriani.Songwriting wise, Lew was influenced by John Lennon, Jani Lane, Mike Tramp, Wong Ka Kui (of the Hong Kong band Beyond), Kurt Cobain, Billy Corgan and Daniel Johns.
During his high school years, he joined and played rock music in a band called "Silent Minister" and promoted their music on various unsigned band websites on the Internet. And played weekend gigs at local bars and small nightclubs in San Francisco and Daly City. The music Silent Minister played was J-Rock, Nu Metal and Mall Punk. They played at "Battle of the Bands" once as teenagers for a music tournament at Great American Music Hall. Some clips of Patrick's years with Silent Minister can be found on Patrick Lew's Band's music website on the Internet.
By the time, Lew was in community college. He went into a band with schoolmates called "Band of Asians." Mainly an ambitious Alternative Metal band making music in the studio and sending their resume in a portfolio to A&R companies like TAXI to little success as local musicians. They did promote a load of their music and extensive biography and history to their music websites online. They went on a successful local concert tour for San Francisco recreational centers, theaters and playgrounds in 2007 with their musical peers from SF, Scarlett Bombs and Tinkture once.
He studied music for both colleges he attended, and earned a few accolades for his music on various resources on the Internet. After Band of Asians and City College, Lew got serious with college by transferring to CSUEB for University under the CSU school system. Studying Sociology and Music. He continues making music in the studio and promoting his work via Internet on various websites and sources. Despite not touring or playing gigs and little support from the music industry outlets.
All we can say is, Patrick Lew has lived a great odyssey and quest to become what he is today!
Google in "Patrick Lew's Band" on your computer to find other dosage of resources pertaining to Patrick Lew's music box. His Rock 4 Chinatown! He is currently recording music in the studio, going to college at CSUEB and making art. Enjoying life. He is planning to publish his first solo album as an Internet and local musician, "Curb Your Wild Life" on iTunes after paying for Digital Distribution of his music on ReverbNation.com!
Lew's hobbies are music, reading, writing, video games, sports, electronics, computers and art. He constantly reads music magazines and books. And continues writing stories and blogs about the franchise that is Patrick Lew's Band.
He is currently trying to make music to earn mainstream appreciation and doing what he loves best for himself and his audience.
Find out more at www.soundclick.com/patricklewsband for all the stories and treasured history of this Renegade Sound Machine.
What inspired my music? Mostly The Beatles, they are the first band I got into and their music really inspired me to do music and make music. I collected everything from Beatles magazines, books, videos and CDs from the retailer store. I got into Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and other types of music at age 6, thanks to paying close attention to the music magazines, books, radio and MTV. This was before computers and Internet in this technology. Bands I liked were Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam and OTHERS. Then, I went out to Guitar Center to buy a Fender guitar at age 13. And the rest is history!
And the equipment I use? I have $8,500 worth of musical instruments, amps, guitar stompboxes and home studio recording gear from the Guitar Hut. But here's a rundown!When I got my paycheck from FAFSA for my higher-level college education at CSUEB for University, I went to Target to either buy video game accessories Xbox 360, since I lack the 60GB hard drive because I went to GameStop or Fry's Electronics to get the Xbox 360 Arcade Kit. Instead, I got a few new guitar gear and accessories. Though I really hated the quality of the equipment I bought. I got a guitar USB cable to record with, but it sucks. And worse, I bought a $40 guitar distortion pedal by some weird company called First Class 222, and the tone and sound on my guitar through that is absolute shit.
I've been using also, a Digitech RP50 to get "chorus" or "flanger" tones on my guitar playing in some of the softer music I create with Patrick Lew's Band. I traded in my DOD Grunge FX pedal for $20 at Guitar Center and got me a BOSS DS-2 Turbo FX pedal which is good for the music I am creating in the studio. Making ART. I also use Guitar Rig 3 and Amplitube Metal software guitar amps when recording, though I don't have a recording interface for my computer to get a GOOD sound.
From my beginnings as an Internet and local musician, I recorded my music using an Analog 4-track Portastudio. Since 2007, after a crazy credit card debt with my former band in the recording studio to record the "Revenge" album, me and my schoolmate Zack built a primitive home recording studio in my bedroom at my old house in San Francisco. I bought several at Guitar Center or Best Buy and downloaded some recording software from the Internet on ProAudioTorrents.org to make music with digitally on my computer.
I also use FL Studio for making Game Soundtrack music and Electronica. Through MIDI files or on my shitty Casio MIDI Synthesizer.
Patrick Lew started making music in 2001 when he finished a few weeks of guitar lessons. And other music courses at a music school in San Francisco. He began writing original rock music and recording home-made demos of his music with his former bands and solo. Interestingly enough, Lew recorded most of his earlier musical work on old analog recording equipment. Though not always the best guitarist, songwriter or musicians...He consider himself to be a very primitive musician. He has idiosyncratic and unique talent and creativity when recording music. Though his early songs and recordings were very lo-fi and primitive, from playing three chords and singing tributes to Japanese pop culture. He expanded his musical creativity as he was able to afford computers and digital recording equipment. Along with self-taught mastery of writing slightly decent songs and recording demos on his OLD computer laptop...Through music magazines and reading Guitar World.
Lew's first musical productions as an independent Hard Rock musician was playing Nu Metal. Though not the best musician alive, he tries his best to educate himself how to make music better and expand his musical interests. Because of this, he can play other instruments such as Keyboards and Bass. Not to mention, making exotic Electronica on FL Studio. He usually doesn't get discouraged what former music critics on Soundclick or anywhere else said about his music and him. Some great achievements Lew has done as a musician include:
1) He's been in 5 local bands, and recorded and toured with two of them in his musical adventure for FAME.
2) He earned a few spotlight awards and recognition on a few different websites for his music.
3) Patrick Lew was featured in the March 2008 issue of Recording Magazine advertising Patrick Lew's Band.
4) His music was played on Pirate Cat Radio once supposedly, and thanks for his speech instructor Sam Kudsi. His music landed airplay on City College's FM college radio for local bands.
At the moment, Lew is attending University and finishing up his college education at Cal State East Bay for a BA in Philosophy and Music. He's currently doing music in Patrick Lew's Band, a solo project which makes primitive Basement Rock and also compiles some musical work he done in his former bands. And also, Your Audio 2 Riot. An alter ego and rock band version of his music which is rearranged musically into a Glam Metal, Grunge and Punk fusion sound. He's been promoting music online since 2001, making music since 2001. And continues a long odyssey as an Internet and local musician, enjoying new experiences and staying true to his ART. Though he is at times controversial and edgy, he is an Underrated Sound Machine who is 100% legit as this local San Francisco rock star and misunderstood musical talent! Pure artist, primitive Hard Rock musician.
What is Patrick Lew's Band? 1) The music of Internet and local rock musician Patrick Lew. Who's been promoting his music online on a variety of websites since age 15.
2) Anti-Establishment and Pro-Musician.
3) The STORY of a young Asian rocker who stands out from the crowd as this Underrated Sound Machine musician, living the soap operas and big life. From alienation from school, romance and the music industry. To making 100% original Hard Rock music in his computer-based music studio of gear from the pawnshop. PRIMITIVE ROCK N' ROLL MUSIC FROM YOUR AUDIO 2 RIOT.
4) Fobby Asian Girls and Social Justice.
5) Anger, angst and in your face.
6) The history and musical franchise that is, Patrick Lew.
7) His University = CSUEB.
8) An angry young man fighting for justice and appreciation in MUSIC and ART locally and on the Internet as an independent music artist in Hard Rock.
9) He's rocking for Chinatown and everywhere you go, the Freak Show.
10) A Renegade music factory fusion of Glam Metal, Grunge, Thrash Metal and Pop. Straight outta' Patrick Lew's music box and anthology on the Internet and his laboratory.
11) F*** the music critics! F*** the haters! Screw you guys, Patrick Lew is doing music his way and what's best for him.
12) Patrick Lew's Band. Plain and simple. Google "Patrick Lew's Band" on your computer at home, library, retailer or where ever you're at. You'll find the needed websites of the music related to the Anti-Establishment Outlaw himself. The Underrated Sound Machine, Patrick Lew.
Why? My real name. BAND refers to the musicians and artists who had associations in making the music, or performing the primitive Rock And Roll and Electronica music onstage for gigs with me as Patrick Lew's Band. This project also is a portfolio and resume for all the music I've done in my life and part-time occupation as a local musician since 2001. Don't get offended or baffled if there's about close to 300 recordings of my music, unfinished or not, on Patrick Lew's Band's music page.
Yes as a matter of a fact, I did. Duh! I mainly toured locally with my two former bands, Band of Asians and Silent Minister in my music career as an independent musician and sound artist. We played shows in recreational centers, bars, small nightclubs, Chinatown and EVEN. School. We did play a few gigs as talented yet starving Internet musicians in the Powell and Civic Center BART subway station in San Francisco and the streets of Downtown SF and Oakland at times. But we mainly promote our music via Internet and did focus on investing money into musical gear from the Guitar Center to make some rockin' music. Patrick Lew's Band along with OTHER former projects associated with my music career has been promoting our music and franchise via Internet since 2001. And we're passionate about music regardless what stupid music critics and corrupt music industry companies like major or indie record labels think about us. Fuck them! We are all about the music, NOT DRAMA!
My DREAM however after college, is to get a career and full-time occupation related to music. It could be working retail at a music store that sells musical instruments to children who want to learn music or working in an independent record store that sells a shitload of used CDs and Vinyl of all styles and sounds of music. I dunno. I can't imagine myself doing anything for a career other than MUSIC.
On the issue of mp3 and the music industry...Well think of it this way. 10 to 20 years ago, no band or music artist could get heard or famous that easily without the Internet and mp3 files. If they had to win a spot and get famous, they would have to play shows at clubs and hand out flyers and tapes to random people and places in their hometown. Even record deals were I noticed, a thing of luck to get your music famous. Basically if anyone has a computer at home, the Internet makes it easier for bands and musicians to get their work simply out there. So in many ways, it's a good way for them to get their music some exposure and to find a way to start their careers. I mean, I started promoting my work back in 2001 on my computer and 56K modem online. I started playing music around the time Napster hit.
There's also so much garbage to digest in the music industry as today there's so many good and bad things about the industry and Internet.
As far as record companies goes, it can be a big problem losing millions of dollars over people downloading mp3's online without buying the CD at a record store. It does affect me and doesn't at the same time. I don't do music for money, but I can understand when musicians and bands aren't making enough royalties through record sales. But then again, they are making their money off of other merchandise and concerts right? When I was in Taiwan and Hong Kong, it seems like flea markets are selling more pirated goods than the real thing...
But it can be a good thing too, money isn't what music is all about I think. If someone downloads a whole album off the Internet, think about it. At least musicians and bands and those music artists are getting heard. It's good resource and it helps people find out if the music is interesting or not. I do however, still buy CDs at second-hand record shops such as Amoeba and Rasputin. I don't think it's right for record companies to start suing teenagers for finding cool music on the Internet.
So I guess I am against the music industry sort of. I hate it absolutely! But I do love being independent and all. But it's a damn shame, the record companies and the music industry is ONE of the most corrupt people in this world. There's countless number of musicians and unsigned bands that's our friends on Soundclick that deserve to be signed to lucrative record deals by now, with indie or major record labels.
Will I sign with a major record company? Yes, I would. But maybe not. I've been promoting my musical work on the Internet on independent websites like SoundClick and PureVolume.com for many years already. I have the freedom of creating music at home and using my computer to make it or promote it via Internet. I do however, want FAME with my music. Not MONEY. I never thought of doing music for profit. I am against corrupt companies like Viacom in media.
I also, hated the fact if I get signed to a major record label and have myself earning FAME and EXPOSURE through my music. I would feel miserable and pigeonholed, because I never had much appreciation or felt special when I was younger as the independent music artist. It's because if the whole f***ing world now appreciated an Underrated Sound Machine, and you didn't had much of that in the PAST, you'll feel worse in your personal life and that's NOT always good. But yeah, I always wanted FAME and ATTENTION with my music and art. So it's yes and no.
Biography:
Born in San Francisco, California in 1985, Patrick Lew began his musical quest as this Internet musician at the age of 13. Though he previously played piano and violin from Chinese music school, he developed his interest in music at the age of 6 thanks to paying close attention to radio, music TV and etc. He went out and purchased his first guitar at a music store on his 13th birthday, and took 3 weeks worth of basic guitar lessons through a private instructor at his school.
Patrick's mother and father were big fans of The Beatles, and also! Lew was into hard rock, metal and grunge since getting into music. Dressing in band shirts from Hot Topic and growing his hair into a Beatles moptop.
He learned how to write music himself on his electric guitar by writing lyrics on a Word Processor on his computer and playing power chords. As well as listening to many bands and favorite rock music to get a sense of what he wants to create in his music. He learned how to record music on his computer through reading EQ and Mix magazines.Lew's biggest guitar influences were Steve Vai, Slash, Vito Bratta, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, Nuno Bettencourt, Joe Perry, Mike McCready, Richie Kotzen, Tom DeLonge and Joe Satriani.Songwriting wise, Lew was influenced by John Lennon, Jani Lane, Mike Tramp, Wong Ka Kui (of the Hong Kong band Beyond), Kurt Cobain, Billy Corgan and Daniel Johns.
During his high school years, he joined and played rock music in a band called "Silent Minister" and promoted their music on various unsigned band websites on the Internet. And played weekend gigs at local bars and small nightclubs in San Francisco and Daly City. The music Silent Minister played was J-Rock, Nu Metal and Mall Punk. They played at "Battle of the Bands" once as teenagers for a music tournament at Great American Music Hall. Some clips of Patrick's years with Silent Minister can be found on Patrick Lew's Band's music website on the Internet.
By the time, Lew was in community college. He went into a band with schoolmates called "Band of Asians." Mainly an ambitious Alternative Metal band making music in the studio and sending their resume in a portfolio to A&R companies like TAXI to little success as local musicians. They did promote a load of their music and extensive biography and history to their music websites online. They went on a successful local concert tour for San Francisco recreational centers, theaters and playgrounds in 2007 with their musical peers from SF, Scarlett Bombs and Tinkture once.
He studied music for both colleges he attended, and earned a few accolades for his music on various resources on the Internet. After Band of Asians and City College, Lew got serious with college by transferring to CSUEB for University under the CSU school system. Studying Sociology and Music. He continues making music in the studio and promoting his work via Internet on various websites and sources. Despite not touring or playing gigs and little support from the music industry outlets.
All we can say is, Patrick Lew has lived a great odyssey and quest to become what he is today!
Google in "Patrick Lew's Band" on your computer to find other dosage of resources pertaining to Patrick Lew's music box. His Rock 4 Chinatown! He is currently recording music in the studio, going to college at CSUEB and making art. Enjoying life. He is planning to publish his first solo album as an Internet and local musician, "Curb Your Wild Life" on iTunes after paying for Digital Distribution of his music on ReverbNation.com!
Lew's hobbies are music, reading, writing, video games, sports, electronics, computers and art. He constantly reads music magazines and books. And continues writing stories and blogs about the franchise that is Patrick Lew's Band.
He is currently trying to make music to earn mainstream appreciation and doing what he loves best for himself and his audience.
Find out more at www.soundclick.com/patricklewsband for all the stories and treasured history of this Renegade Sound Machine.
What inspired my music? Mostly The Beatles, they are the first band I got into and their music really inspired me to do music and make music. I collected everything from Beatles magazines, books, videos and CDs from the retailer store. I got into Heavy Metal, Hard Rock and other types of music at age 6, thanks to paying close attention to the music magazines, books, radio and MTV. This was before computers and Internet in this technology. Bands I liked were Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Pearl Jam and OTHERS. Then, I went out to Guitar Center to buy a Fender guitar at age 13. And the rest is history!
And the equipment I use? I have $8,500 worth of musical instruments, amps, guitar stompboxes and home studio recording gear from the Guitar Hut. But here's a rundown!When I got my paycheck from FAFSA for my higher-level college education at CSUEB for University, I went to Target to either buy video game accessories Xbox 360, since I lack the 60GB hard drive because I went to GameStop or Fry's Electronics to get the Xbox 360 Arcade Kit. Instead, I got a few new guitar gear and accessories. Though I really hated the quality of the equipment I bought. I got a guitar USB cable to record with, but it sucks. And worse, I bought a $40 guitar distortion pedal by some weird company called First Class 222, and the tone and sound on my guitar through that is absolute shit.
I've been using also, a Digitech RP50 to get "chorus" or "flanger" tones on my guitar playing in some of the softer music I create with Patrick Lew's Band. I traded in my DOD Grunge FX pedal for $20 at Guitar Center and got me a BOSS DS-2 Turbo FX pedal which is good for the music I am creating in the studio. Making ART. I also use Guitar Rig 3 and Amplitube Metal software guitar amps when recording, though I don't have a recording interface for my computer to get a GOOD sound.
From my beginnings as an Internet and local musician, I recorded my music using an Analog 4-track Portastudio. Since 2007, after a crazy credit card debt with my former band in the recording studio to record the "Revenge" album, me and my schoolmate Zack built a primitive home recording studio in my bedroom at my old house in San Francisco. I bought several at Guitar Center or Best Buy and downloaded some recording software from the Internet on ProAudioTorrents.org to make music with digitally on my computer.
I also use FL Studio for making Game Soundtrack music and Electronica. Through MIDI files or on my shitty Casio MIDI Synthesizer.
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