Arts & Entertainment
 

Downfall 2012 rises with its loyal fans

North Houston band on verge of maturity

On the Scenes

Dusti Rhodes

Reinvention can be the key to an artist's longevity. In order to improve on their sound and grow as musicians, bands choose to explore new musical grounds instead of treading on old plains. However, this choice could send them on a lonely journey if their fans choose not to join them in their quest for new tune territory.

Local band Downfall 2012 is ready to take this risk in order to move its music out of the suburbs of north Houston and onto the national scene.

The band formed when singer/guitarist Dan Gil and bassist Adam Pazda met in high school and played cover songs. The two decided they wanted to start writing original songs. In 1997 Adam's brother, Josh, joined the band as the drummer. Guitarist Andrew Zapatka joined later after regular jam sessions with Gil and Josh Pazda.

In the beginning the band was geared more toward alternative rock influences, Josh Pazda said. The songs performed live and on their first album were written before he and Zapatka were part of the band.

The band drew regular crowds at venues in Kingwood and Humble and gained a comfortable fan base of high school and middle school students. Their supporters are as loyal as they can be, pending curfew, and show their support by sporting Downfall hoodies and by sticking the band's logo on their car windows, if they're old enough to drive.

But the fans aren't the only ones dedicated to the band. Josh Pazda is contemplating passing on a $32,000 art scholarship from the San Francisco Art Institute to stay with band.

Although the band wants to keep its fans around, Josh Pazda thinks its new sound might not be what fans expect. He thinks the band's new "unfamiliar sound" might be what these fans are looking for.

Downfall is a band of musicians who are starting to move beyond the days of mosh anthems and heavy sounds. The band concentrates more on music these days and not just pleasing the crowd with the same old tunes, Josh Pazda said.

The band begins every practice session with just a free-form jam and tries to create songs out of those sessions. When writing songs, Pazda said the band doesn't just go with its original instincts, and tries to build on its initial ideas instead of "just playing what sounds good."

Downfall is in the process of writing its new album now and hopes to release it in April or May. After that it will shop it around to independent labels and work on touring the country.

The band has taken a break from playing shows in order to concentrate on writing new material. UH students can decide if they are on the right path Feb. 3 when Downfall 2012 plays a free show on campus.

Rhodes writes a weekly column about local arts & entertainment. 

 Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu