HUMBLE SUCCESS

Interview With No Bragging Rights

Riverside

From Issue 1.5, May/June 2005

Yes, metal music with a poppy tinge, is oxymoronic.

Get over it.

There is no other way to describe the music of Riverside band No Bragging Rights except to say that despite not having seen them play live, their energy manages to blare out from the speakers with their recorded songs played on the stereo.

And that is the one thing this band would hope new listeners or their fans would come away with believing about their music.

Rather than construct ambitious plans to get signed or tour around the world, the one thing the three out of the five No Bragging Rights members that were interviewed agreed upon, was that they hope fans hear their music as being loaded with energy and played with a lot of heart.

Started in 1998, No Bragging Rights has been around now for some time and speaks truth in the adage that only time can tell how good something really is.  What’s more, is that the members of this band come across as nothing more than regular guys who just happen to play good music.  One gets the feeling from their responses and their band name alone, that talking about themselves does not come second nature to them.

They label themselves a “post hardcore/punk” band on their website and the somewhat nondescript label hardly does justice to the edgy yet infectious vibe one gets off a hit of their music.

However, don’t put too much thought into the post hardcore label in making a final decision on this band. 

The three certainly do not put a lot of emphasis on labels and offered several roundabout reasons why they cannot be classified as only emo or screamo or hardcore or punk-whatever any of those genres really mean anyway.  They would much rather claim they try to create a little something for everyone.

“Our music is open for interpretation,” said guitarist Chris Williams, 21.  “We sound like whatever the listener wants us to sound like.”

“I love music, and I loved the energy punk rock had,” said singer Mike Perez, 21, of why he started No Bragging Rights in 1998.

Perez, along with 21-year-old bassist Ryan Sievers, is the only original band member.

No Bragging Rights also includes guitarist Jamieson Stuart, 18 and drummer Cody Henderson.

Perez was the one who came up with the name No Bragging Rights.

“It mainly means being humble.  We didn’t do what we’ve done by ourselves,” said Perez.

Added Williams, “There’s always something bigger and better out there, so there’s no reason to brag about the success you haven’t reached.”

Aside from the band name, Perez also writes the band’s lyrics.  Writing is something he has been doing since the seventh grade.  After the lyrics are done, Perez, Stuart and Williams will then go back and put music to the words.

Their humble approach to being a band is as magnetic as their music. 

Most of their responses to the interview questions were not contrived or overly thought out. 

“We’re not the kind of band that writes music or practices to get signed,” said Perez.  “We practice hard to put out the best music we can.  If we get signed, great, but we’re not holding our breath for it.  We’re going to keep doing our thing and if someone notices and likes it, awesome.”

Success is all relative though.

The band has managed to put out a self-titled CD, which is available at Riverside store Sounds Like.  In addition, they are in the midst of writing new material and hope to have another recording out by June.

They have fans that, according to Williams, are “insane” at No Bragging Rights shows.  In the past, they have played with bands such as Sugarcult in Hemet and Underminded at the Showcase.

The band attempts to practice once a week.  However, finding time amidst their busy schedules is difficult.

When they are not busy writing new music or practicing their list of interests include everything from baseball to karaoke bars.

Williams and Perez are the two who enjoy doing karaoke in their spare time.

“Karaoke bars are great,” said Perez.  “I like them because I go with friends and we just sing for fun.  It’s kind of scary for me because its just me up there usually singing an oldie, country song or something I used to listen to in high school.”

Any band whose members won’t even brag about being good at karaoke, is definitely a band worth checking out.