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Breaux
Sam Simspon – Vocals
Greg Wilson – Guitar
Nick Parker – Bass
Alex Caldwell – Drums

Anyone who has ever heard of southern-style hardcore rockers Breaux has undoubtedly experienced the shit-talking that immediately follows. “Breaux” seems like it couldn’t possibly be the name of any sort of band that takes itself even half seriously—it’s just way too goofy. Even with a rich history of awful band names (members of Breaux have been in emo bands called The Sadness and Sons of Mourning) it seems like a little much, but to guitarist Greg Wilson there was never any other choice, “Dude, we have to be Breaux because we are bros, and we like to be bros,” he says. This touching brand of bro love carries over into the dynamics of the band in a very real way. The four members are like family—the kind of family that has the level of closeness and functionality that come from quality, wholesome bro activities such as getting drunk and watching the Super Bowl together. “What it really comes down to is that we are all absolute best friends. We are brothers,” says Wilson.

Breaux wants the community and music scene to feel the same kind of heartwarming bro affection and love that they feel for each other. They work hard to push the scene towards progression and to make sure that everyone is having a good time. Although it’s no easy task to keep the ball rolling in these parts, they do their damnedest. Nick Parker, Breaux’s bassist, computer lab guy at a local middle school and copy editor at the Deseret News, expresses his dismay and frustration with the constant struggle. He points out, “Little venues spring up every once in a while, but Utah, with its conservative background, wants to squash them down because they see all these kids with mohawks and black shirts and they’re like ‘we gotta get rid of this venue.’” Singer Sam Simpson (possibly named after Sampson, the world’s first ever bro?) is simple in his proposed solution to the problem. “I think what we really need to save the scene is love,” he says. “Love your music, love your scene, love your venue and don’t be a fucking dickhead.”

Due to the incredible numbers of broken noses and holes stomped through stages, Breaux shows carry a reputation of being energetic and violent. Despite this, the band insists that it’s all in fun, and to them that’s what it’s all about. “Kids feel it. They feel like they can have fun and don’t have to act tough or be angry,” says Simpson, who used to be afraid to go to shows when he was younger. “A band I liked would come and I’d be like, ‘Aw fuck.’ Some straight edge hatecore band was playing, and I didn’t want to get a baseball bat to the head so I’d just stay home,” he says. Parker is quick to clarify, “Straight edge has gotten such a bad name, but there are a lot of good straight edge kids. Straight edge didn’t do this. Dumb kids did this.”

Despite their “everybody love everybody” attitude, Breaux is certainly not a band made up of hippies, and even though their name has a little bit of a French flavor to it, they are anything but classy. They’re rednecks, pure and simple—the kind of whiskey guzzling, dirty metal kids who stumble intoxicated through Wal-Mart parking lots pissing in their drawers. They’re the guys who pass out while playing house parties, so covered in sweat and booze, minds so clouded with alarming levels of THC, that they collapse, grinning, to their knees, incapable of even the most primitive thought or reason. It’s simply who they are, and it shows in their music, which echoes the strong influences of bands like Down, He is Legend and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, as well as southern rock champions Lynyrd Skynyrd and CCR.

Don’t be fooled by their Andy-of-Mayberry-meets-MTV’s-Jackass demeanor, though. With their Brownbag EP, which has been out since August of 2009, and another yet untitled full-length due for release by the end of this year, the band’s constant touring, self-promotion and opportunity gobbling has propelled them to share stages with bands like Gaza, Dropdead Gorgeous and Parkway Drive. As of now, the band is shopping for labels, and is willing to go as far as the music will take them. “I’d love to be on Roadrunner just so I could tour with Nickleback,” Simpson says. Relax. He’s being sarcastic, bro.

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