Following several early line-up changes, the band eventually settled on Bob Nanna on guitar and vocals, Todd Bell on bass, Chris Broach on guitar and vocals, and Roy Ewing on drums until he was replaced in 1997 by new drummer Damon Atkinson.
In 1998 the group released their third album, Frame & Canvas, to critical acclaim and is considered a staple of the late 1990s emo movement. Despite Frame & Canvas's success, Braid disbanded in 1999. Nanna, Bell, and Atkinson formed the more melodic Hey Mercedes, while Broach would dedicate more time to The Firebird Band which was previously a side project.
The band reunited shortly from June to August 2004, before disbanding again. In 2011, Braid reunited permanently, playing their 600th show and releasing a new album, No Coast.[4][5][6]
History
Formation: 1993
In fall 1993, Bob Nanna was playing drums in a Chicago band called Friction who toured locally and opened for prominent bands like Jawbreaker. As Friction prepared to record their first album, Nanna left for college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was soon looking for another band as a side project. Nanna met drummer Roy Ewing when he placed an ad in Maximumrocknroll, looking for someone to trade live concert tapes with.[7] Ewing played with Nanna's high school friend, guitarist Pete Havranek, and Nanna became their singer and guitarist, with Jay Ryan joining them on bass and Kate Reuss on lead vocals. Nanna suggested the name Braid.
Shortly after forming, Ryan left the band for various reasons and was replaced by Todd Bell, who had played with Ewing in a band called Lowercase N. Braid played their first show December 10, 1993, in Danville, Illinois. Two months later, Reuss left the band after they played their second show. Braid decided not to replace her, leaving Nanna as the lead singer. Nanna's main band, Friction, broke up in July 1994 after a short tour, turning Braid from a side project into his main focus.
With Nanna wary about his singing, Braid started looking for a new singer. They met Chris Broach when he attended one of their shows and invited him to sing with the band.[7] Around this time the rest of the band decided to fire Havranek, citing creative differences, so Broach was moved guitar and second vocals.
First recordings and national tour: 1994–1997
In September, Braid recorded three songs for their first release. The "Rainsnowmatch" 7-inch came out in December on Enclave Records. While Rainsnowmatch was being released, the band began recording their debut album. Frankie Welfare Boy Age 5 was released in June 1995 on Divot Records. With a huge backlog of written material, Braid continued to write and record songs for various compilation appearances and 7-inch releases.
Starting in July 1995, Braid began their first national tour. They played traditional venues, such as bars and clubs, but also booked shows in the homes of fans and VFW halls. Whenever there was a break in touring, Braid booked recording sessions and began work on their second album. In July 1996, "The Age of Octeen' was released on Mud Records. Also in 1996, the "I'm Afraid of Everything" 7-inch was released on the band's own label, Grand Theft Autumn.
By 1997, touring schedules had begun to take their toll on Ewing, who in March decided to leave the band. With Ewing's blessing, Damon Atkinson became the band's drummer and joined them on their spring tour. That spring also saw Nanna graduate from college, allowing them to become a full-time band. Braid celebrated their new freedom by going on a headlining tour of Europe, with their friends The Get Up Kids opening. However, after the first night, the two bands decided to switch the playing order because of the popularity of The Get Up Kids in Europe. After the European tour, Braid returned to the North America for another tour of the U.S. and Canada.
Frame and Canvas: 1998
In late 1997, Braid recorded their third LP Frame & Canvas at Inner Ear Studios with producer J. Robbins. The album was released by Polyvinyl Records in April 1998, receiving critical acclaim and brought Braid greater exposure, eventually being regarded as one of the most influential bands of the 1990s emo movement. With the release of Frame & Canvas, they embarked on a tour of the East Coast with Compound Red, followed by a run along the West Coast with the Get Up Kids, a jaunt to Canada with Discount, and an European tour with Burning Airlines.[8]
The band also played a number of dates with All and Less Than Jake.[9] Jawbox bassist Kim Coletta became the band's manager.[10]
Final recordings and disbandment: 1998–1999
Braid set off on an ill-fated tour of Japan and Hawaii in April 1999. Due to lower-than-expected turnout, the band failed to recoup their losses and had to spend the rest of their revenue from previous tours,[10] causing rifts to form within the band.[8] After returning to the United States, Atkinson, Bell, and Nanna set off to play Krazy Fest in Louisville, Kentucky, while Broach chose to make the drive separately.[8] Broach was late for their set, and though Braid were allowed to play the following day, this caused more conflict amongst the band members.[8]
Soon after, Braid began work on a demo for a potential new record, but tensions surfaced by the time they finished mixing the last song of the session.[10] After a band meeting, Nanna, Broach, Bell, and Atkinson decided to call it quits.[10]
Braid decided to hold four final concerts in August to say goodbye to their fans. They scheduled one show in Milwaukee, two in Chicago at The Metro, and the final concert was held in their home town of Champaign where Roy Ewing played a few songs with the band.
After their final show, Braid had several post-breakup releases in 2000. A recording of their final four shows called "Killing a Camera" was released on VHS. A live album, from the final sold-out show at The Metro called "Lucky to Be Alive" was also released. Polyvinyl released a double-disc collection of non-album tracks called Movie Music, Vol. 1 and 2.
Following the disbandment, the members played in new musical projects. Shortly after Braid's break up, Nanna, Bell, and Atkinson reunited to form the pop rock band Hey Mercedes with Mark Dawursk on guitar. In addition to this, Nanna started a solo project under the name The City on Film. Chris Broach worked with his brother Riley in The Firebird Band, previously a side-project, and in 2001 he would also play with L'Spaerow and start Lucid Records.
First reunion: 2004
In 2004, Hey Mercedes suffered problems with tour cancellations and Chris Broach was in between projects. In February 2004, Braid decided to reunite[11] to coincide with the DVD release of Killing a Camera was reissued on DVD in May 2004.[12] They went on a tour of the US in June and July, with Minus the Bear, Murder by Death, Recover, and Mock Orange.[13] Following, they went by a short tour of Japan for the rest of August. After these tours were completed, Braid amicably disbanded again.
Second reunion and No Coast: 2011–present
On January 25, 2011 it was announced on Punknews.org that Braid were reuniting permanently to record a new 12-inch for Polyvinyl Records.[14] On May 4, 2011, the band announced their first comeback show since 2004 at the Metro on August 27, 2011[15] and would also play at Pygmalion Music Festival on September 24, 2011, part of the Polyvinyl Records fifteenth anniversary celebration.[16]
On June 10, 2011, the band released a song titled "The Right Time", the first from their forthcoming EP, and gave the entire EP to people who pre-ordered on the Polyvinyl web store. The new EP titled Closer to Closed, their first release in 11 years, was released on August 16, 2011, to mixed reviews.
December 22, 2011 was Braid's 600th show. The event, held at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, was a Toys for Tots benefit show. Event-goers who brought a new, unwrapped toy would receive a commemorative poster.[17] Braid shared the night with Smoking Popes and in addition to announcing further touring, a new release was announced.[18]
On April 6, 2012, the band announced that they were going to play at the acclaimed Gainesville, Florida festival, The Fest. On August 10, 2012, Braid played at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA with polyvinyl label mate Owen. On November 3, 2012, Braid played two shows as a part of the 2012 Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas.
On September 18, 2013, Braid announced that they had signed with Topshelf Records as well as the release of a new studio album in 2014. It was revealed on March 24, 2014 that the album was mastered and completed. The album, No Coast, was released on July 8, 2014 (their first LP in 16 years) to positive reviews.
Though they did not formally disband again, the band went inactive until February 2023 when they announced a 25th-anniversary remaster of Frame & Canvas and an accompanying U.S. tour with the album being played in full, mostly taking place in September.[19]
Braid are known for putting on a high-energy live show. Get Up Kids frontman Matt Pryor has described their performance style as "[e]nergetic, but that’s underselling it. They come from a Fugazi school of punk performance. A lot of jumping, landing in weird places. A lot of disregard for the safety of your body."[8]
The Get Up Kids are an American rock band from Kansas City. Formed in 1995, the band was a major act in the mid-1990s Midwest emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music. Their second album Something to Write Home About remains their most widely acclaimed album, and is considered to be one of the quintessential albums of the second-wave emo movement. They are considered forefathers of the emo genre, and have been widely credited as being an influence, both by contemporaries Saves the Day and later bands such as Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday and the Wonder Years.
Four Minute Mile is the debut studio album by American rock band the Get Up Kids.
Armor for Sleep is an American rock band from Teaneck, New Jersey. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Ben Jorgensen, lead guitarist PJ DeCicco, bassist Anthony DiIonno and drummer Nash Breen. Currently the band consists of Jorgensen and Breen alongside guitarist Erik Rudic and bassist Chad Sabo, both members of the Cold Seas, in which Breen is also a member.
The Promise Ring was an American rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that is recognized as part of the second wave of emo. Among various other EPs and singles, the band released four studio albums during their initial run: 30° Everywhere (1996), Nothing Feels Good (1997), Very Emergency (1999), and Wood/Water (2002). Their first two albums solidified their place among the emo scene; their third effort shifted toward pop music, while their final record was much more experimental in nature. The band initially broke up in 2002 and has reunited sporadically since then to perform live, but no new material from the band has since been released. They were last active for a live performance in 2016.
Hey Mercedes was an alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois, United States, formed after the dissolution of Braid by its former members Bob Nanna, Todd Bell, and Damon Atkinson.
Frame & Canvas is the third studio album by American rock band Braid. It was released on April 7, 1998, through Polyvinyl Record Co. After the release of the band's second studio album, The Age of Octeen (1996), drummer Damon Atkinson replaced Roy Ewing due to him being unable to commit to touring. Recording sessions took place at Inner Ear Studios in December 1997, with J. Robbins helping with production during the sessions. The album is an emo and post-hardcore release, for which the lyrics were co-written by vocalist/guitarists Chris Broach and Bob Nanna, or solely wrote by Nanna.
Bob Nanna is an American musician best known as the singer and guitarist for the bands Braid and Hey Mercedes. Nanna also currently performs as part of the band Lifted Bells, as well as solo releases under the handle The City on Film as well as his own name.
Christopher Robert Broach is one of the guitarists/vocalists in the 1990s emo band Braid. Broach joined Braid in 1994, recording guitar for the band's first 7-inch release a week later.
Damon Atkinson is an American drummer. He replaced Roy Ewing as the drummer of Braid in 1997 and stayed in the band until it disbanded in 1999. His playing style is often noted for being heavy on complex time signatures, sometimes going into polyrhythmic territory.
American Football is an American indie rock band from Urbana, Illinois, originally active from 1997 to 2000. They reformed in 2014.
Decibully was an indie rock band based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that formed in 2001 and played their final show early in 2011.
Polyvinyl Record Co. is an American independent record label headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. The label also has satellite offices in New York, Austin, and the Bay Area. Polyvinyl has put out over 400 releases to date.
The City on Film is the official name of Bob Nanna's solo act.
Name Taken was an American rock band from Orange, California. They were originally known as All That's Left in October 1999 until they discovered that the name was already taken; thus the name "Name Taken". The band started in the ninth grade where they would play shows in their amphitheatre at lunch. They later succeeded to record for such compilations as Atticus I and Warped Tour 2002.
Everynight Fire Works is the debut studio album by American rock band Hey Mercedes. Following the demise of Braid, most of the members formed Hey Mercedes, with guitarist Mark Dawursk joining in early 2000. The band released a self-titled EP through Polyvinyl Record Co., before signing to Vagrant Records at the end of the year. They recorded their debut with Burning Airlines member J. Robbins at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota in April 2001. Everynight Fire Works is an alternative rock, emo, indie rock and pop punk record that drew comparisons to Burning Airlines, Jets to Brazil, and Shudder to Think.
Loses Control is the second and final studio album by American rock band Hey Mercedes. Following the release of Everynight Fire Works (2001), guitarist Mark Dawursk left the band was replaced by Michael Shumaker in May 2002. Between then and the end of the year, the band spent time writing new material. They recorded Loses Control in April and May at Camp Street Studios in Cambridge, Massachusetts with producers Sean Slade and Paul Q. Kolderie. Loses Control is an indie rock, pop-punk and power pop record that used bigger and thicker guitar sounds, and Nanna double-tracking his voice.
Look Now Look Again is the second studio album by American indie rock band Rainer Maria. It is now regarded as an influential classic of second-wave emo.
"Post Marked Stamps No. 4" is a split EP between Kansas City, Missouri band The Get Up Kids and Chicago, Illinois group Braid. The album is the fourth in the "Post Marked Stamps" series, a set of nine split EPs between various bands put out by Tree Records in 1997. There were 2 different pressings of the album; One distributed in the United States, and another sold in Europe during the band's joint European tour. Each song was recorded separately, with "I'm a Loner Dottie, a Rebel" recorded at Red House Studios in Eudora, Kansas, and "Forever Got Shorter" recorded at Private Studios in Urbana, Illinois. The set included a sealed envelope that contained three postcards; One postcard for each song, including recording information and lyrics, and a third featuring poetry by Vigue Martin.
American Football, also known retrospectively as LP1, is the debut studio album by the American emo band of the same name, released on September 14, 1999 on the record label Polyvinyl. It was recorded shortly after the band released their debut self-titled EP through Polyvinyl in October 1998. The group, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Mike Kinsella, guitarist Steve Holmes, and drummer Steve Lamos, recorded their debut album at Private Studios in Urbana, Illinois, with production from Brendan Gamble.
Into It. Over It. is an indie rock band founded in 2007 as the solo project of Chicago, Illinois-based musician Evan Thomas Weiss. It is considered a leading act of the early-2010s emo revival scene.
↑ Hanlon, Evan L (December 8, 2005). "Dinosaur Jr. Roam Once More". The Harvard Crimson. Archived from the original on January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2025. Post-hardcore acts from Slint to Braid have reappeared for tours, only to fade back into legend.
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