Brazil is an Indiana rock band. Although the band eschews labels and are often categorized with the punk and post-hardcore music scenes, that is mostly due to association. The music itself is more akin to progressive rock
... Brazil is an Indiana rock band. Although the band eschews labels and are often categorized with the punk and post-hardcore music scenes, that is mostly due to association. The music itself is more akin to progressive rock with indie rock roots. The line-up as of 2006 release is Jonathon Newby, Nicholas Newby, Aaron Smith, Eric Johnson, James Sefchek, and Philip Williams. They are known for complex song arrangements and intellectual subject matter, and cite influences as diverse as Pink Floyd, Queen, and The Cure. Brazil have released two full length albums and two EPs.
Band history:
The band London formed in the summer of 2000 with brothers Jonathon and Nicholas Newby. After assembling the initial lineup, they recorded the first of a series of homemade demos and played three Muncie, Indiana shows in late 2000. In early 2001, London renamed themselves Brazil and began small bouts of weekend touring. Self-releasing their debut eponymous EP early summer 2001, Brazil embarked on a defining 3-week tour that took them to the East Coast and the South and tested the band's physical and mental limits with a self-imposed itinerary that had them traveling for days at a time in a run down minivan. More frequent small tours followed as the members finished their schooling. During this time, the band wrote and performed CONQUER, a three part collaboration with members of the Ball State University Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, Brazil signed a small contract with California label Fearless Records, who released the band’s second EP, Dasein. The band toured on the EP for approximately five months before returning home to write A Hostage and the Meaning of Life, their debut full length album of 2004, also released by Fearless Records. Hostage was released in September of that year and the band embarked on a tour lasting nearly fourteen months, completing approximately 4 circuits of the United States and four entries into Canada. Upon returning home, the band found themselves without funding for their next record but were able to quickly secure a deal with California label Immortal Records, who released the band’s second album The Philosophy of Velocity. The band began touring promotion in August 2006. In August 2007, lead singer and songwriter Jonathon Newby decided to quit the band, which resulted in the decision of the entire band to end. Their final show was performed on August 18, 2007. However, they've recently gotten back together and recorded an Ep entitled "ere I am J.H.".
The Name:
The name Brazil was chosen randomly from a map in January 2000. The band watched Brazil, the 1985 science fiction film by Terry Gilliam, a few months later, and became further enamoured of the name. Prior to being called Brazil, they were called London, however once they realized that there had been many London before them, they felt the need to change their name.
