Last month, the band wrapped up a Texas tour with a couple shows at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas. It was our first time playing at SXSW and we had a blast!

If you aren’t familiar with the festival, here’s how it works. Try to imagine some 2,000 musical acts playing on 80 stages in downtown Austin, TX for four straight days. Crazy, right? Now imagine the 175,000 fans traveling from around the world to support their favorite bands and hear some new ones. Seriously… out of control. Practically every club, bar, and restaurant welcomes bands to play, and when we were simply walking down the streets of Austin, it wasn’t unusual to hear up to ten bands playing at any given moment. The organized mayhem takes everyone involved to the edge of sensory overload, and we learned very quickly not to be separated from our earplugs!

As official performers for the festival, we found ourselves in an enviable position- we were able to walk in and out of almost any show we wanted. With so many bands there, it was a really difficult to decide who to see. Some of the bands we heard were: Karnivool, Stone Temple Pilots, Tally Hall (who joined us on Fearless Music TV) and Dillinger Escape Plan. We also heard our cellist friend Zoe Keating, then the next day played a jam session together!

Break of Reality performed two shows during the weekend. The first was part of a “classical crossover” themed showcase, and we were pleasantly surprised that the place was packed! The next evening, we gave a solo show at a great club called The Lucky Lounge. We had a lot of friends come visit us for that show and it was the perfect way to end a great tour. Having never played at SXSW or even in Austin, we didn’t know exactly what to expect. However, having experienced it (and survived it!), we recommend everyone to check it out and hope to see some of you there next year.

-Break

Hey Break fans,

Over the years, many of you have requested that the band record and
release cover songs, the same ones that we play live. We heard your
voices and decided to do something about it. Our cover of Metallica’s
“The Day That Never Comes” was released a couple of months ago on
iTunes, and now on Christmas Eve, you can purchase our cover of System
of a Down’s “B.Y.O.B.” on iTunes as well!

Search for Break of Reality on iTunes for more information.

Thank you for your continued support everyone. Happy Holidays!

Break

Last weekend, we played on national TV. Shortly after, there was a poll to decide which of the six bands would go on to play again this weekend. Soon after the polls went live, we found ourselves in a struggle to keep up with the other bands. Despite heavy rallying from the fans of competing major label artists, the BoR army (you, our fans) persevered. When all was said and done, we came in with over 180 votes past the competition. In the end, we ended up with over 50% of the total votes.

So, thanks to all of you for being awesome. As always, we are floored by the amount of support you show us, and we are truly grateful. Now that we’ve come in first place, we’ll be playing again this weekend on Fearless Music TV. To find out what channel we’ll be on in your area, visit www.fearlessmusic.com. If you don’t get the show in your area, we’ll be sure to post a link to stream it online next week.

View last weeks episode here:

The day has finally arrived! We’ll be playing for the first time on national TV this weekend. The show is called Fearless Music TV and it showcases six bands every episode. The bands compete for a chance to return on the show the next week. We’ll be in good company too, playing alongside Yellowcard, Reel Big Fish, and The Fratellis to name a few. We’re playing our new single, “Spectrum of the Sky”, so tune in (or TIVO it)!

For most people, the show will air on Saturday night, July 4th at 12:30 AM (aka Sunday morning). Many of you will be able to see it on FOX 5 if you live anywhere near NYC. For some, you can get it on DIRECTV on Fox 5 WNYW. Also, the show is syndicated in over 200 networks across the states and in 30 countries, so be sure to check the channel listing here: www.fearlessmusic.com/?page_id=204

Here’s a preview of the show:

It takes just 10 seconds to go to the Fearless Music website and vote for BoR. In doing so, you’ll help us gain more exposure. The link is www.FearlessMusic.com. Just scroll down and the poll is to your right. Thanks for all your support! It’s our fans that have gotten us to this point, and we’re so grateful to you.

-Break

We had a week off this week, so we put together a video of “The Accidental Death of Effie” from our CD release show at Baruch Performing Arts Center this past May. Here’s the video:

The summer has started, and BoR is up and running once again.  We had a great CD release show in NYC, almost got blown off the stage by 30mph winds at the Lilac Festival in Rochester, NY, and met lots of cool kids at workshops we did at Smithtown High School.  We also played Central Park this week, and started what could be the first headbanging / moshpit circle in Central Park history.  (A big thank you to you crazy Canadian kids we met in Central Park

We’re taking this week off.  Patrick is celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday in Boston, Phil is heading home to Virginia to hang out with fam, and Torch is going to Michigan to teach some of his private students.  Ivan is heading home to Texas for a random visit to surprise his dad and mom, (if you read this, don’t tell them he’s coming!)

We’ll be posting some new performance and interview videos this week.  And, don’t forget, our new album is out   Catch up soon.

-Break

Break of Reality is happy to announce its return to New York City this Saturday, May 16th! This will be our official CD release show, so BE THERE! Here are the details:

Date: Saturday, May 16th
Time: 8:00pm
Tickets: $20.00 General Admission – (DISCOUNT: Order your tickets online now using the promo code “pre” and receive a $6.00 discount!) The link to order tickets is:

Get your BoR tickets HERE

Address: 17 Lexington Avenue
Entrance on E. 23rd Street between Lexington and 3rd Ave.
New York, New York 10010

Directions: Take the R or 6 Train to 23rd Street, walk east toward Lexington Avenue.

We’re really excited to finally return to NYC with a new album – Looking forward to seeing you there!

Cheers,
BoR

Hey Break listeners,

Patrick here.

After you’ve had a chance to stream the new album this past weekend, I wanted to post a review of the album, as recounted by a very close friend of mine.

Justin and I grew up in a little town in New Jersey called Midland Park. We met in elementary school there, and have since been best friends. In High School, Justin was responsible for corrupting my mind with terribly loud bands: Bands like Metallica, Slayer, Unearth, and many more. And he also took me to my first rock shows. He polluted my perception of music, and thus, Break of Reality was born.

As you can imagine, Justin’s opinion is quite important to me, and being how big of a musical influence he had on me, I wanted to share his thoughts of the new album with you:

“Spectrum of the Sky” review and a heartfelt account of the road traveled (Nicknames anyone?)

I’ll cut right to the chase: I love track five. I can’t remember the name of it, but it moves me. I’m a sucker for those major keys. I guess you’ll just have to hear it for yourself to know why I have my copy on repeat.

I had the pleasure of sitting through some of the most grueling months of my life with the man behind the cello, Patrick Laird, referred to in this review in his various nicknames. Watching my best friend kill himself over something he has become so passionate about is pure consumption in the most draining of contexts. When he tells me he can’t play Guitar Hero, I know he’s gone postal…

A few spins later…

For starters, the new album, entitled “Spectrum of the Sky”, is filled with tons of complex arrangements and compositions, but never loses its accessibility. P-Liddy has been running himself ragged over the past nine months constructing what I truly feel like, from a brutally honest friend and fan, to be his best work EVER. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to his music as well as my own, and I have never been so amped to listen to something he’s shown me before. I am the cynic that likes to test his creativity. I love to infuriate him with my critiques because I know what he is capable of achieving. I never saw Patty Cakes work as hard before and this album is a true testament to his work ethic and passion for creating amazing instrumental music.

P-funk never ceases to amaze me when it comes to his song writing ability. And let me give it up to Ivan Trevino, “the Mexican flash.” This little Texan lady-killer rips it up on the drums in this album. The dynamics behind the percussion on “Spectrum” are fresh and innovative, incorporating styles and instruments that have not been used on any previous works. Anyone with a rhythmic bone in their body will be able to groove and rock along to Flash’s witty and complex drum riffs and expansive new percussion. There is some serious growth here in all the right aspects of BoR’s music, and Ive is the spine and ambience behind this body of songs.

“So, who is this bozo?!”

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Justin, and I have been friends with Patrick since we were 8-years-old. Being in our ripe 20’s, we have gone through a tremendous amount of life experiences together, musical being the least, to come out on top as the best of friends, which I’m very proud of. Life was all rainbows and cheesecakes growing up in the Suburbs of northeastern New Jersey. We were just two mischievous, impulsive children fueled by loud music and rebellion. Thankfully, we never got into any serious trouble (eh) and had a blast in the process, skateboarding and terrorizing the neighborhoods.

Who knew what would be lurking around the corner…

I remember when Big-P came to me in his freshman year of college in 2003 with his musical concept of a cello and drum fusion rock band. I thought it was a great plan and we instantly collaborated on ideas for every part of the band. After establishing themselves in Rochester, NY, Pat wanted to record the band’s first album, “Voiceless”, and asked me if I would lend my drumming services to the first installment of Break of Reality. Pat and I spent two solid months recording the album and bringing the sound alive for listeners to embrace, and that is exactly what happened from there. Watching the band grow through Rochester and make the daring move to the Big Apple to pursue a career among thousands of musicians and surviving has been the ultimate reward for me as a friend and fan to witness. I was even lucky enough to play a song with the band at the Knitting Factory in NYC (Thanks again Ivan).

Although “Voiceless” has been out of print since their previous album was released in 2006 (The Sound Between), it has opened the door to the future of this band, which has never been brighter than now.

The bottom line is this: “Spectrum of the Sky” is Break of Reality’s most mature sounding album to date. Spectrum has the best production, songwriting, creative-flow, drumming, percussion, cello-work, solos, performance and diversity among any of Break of Reality’s previous works. The title speaks for itself. When I hear the album, all the little shades and emotions pour through the speakers in Break of Reality fashion, and it CRANKS. This album has songs for everyone: classical movements, hard rockers, psychedelic ambience, and of course my favorite, track five (It’s “pretty” but I love it).

Famous last words…

What LMNO-P and Co. have done here is merely tap into the spectrum that awaits them, which I feel will be a long, rewarding future in the music industry. I hope everyone uses my nicknames and enjoys my take on this soon-to-be milestone for the group.

-J