Despite setback, blessthefall doesn’t veer from tour

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By Natasha Shepherd (contact)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 | 2 a.m.

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Blessthefall drummer Matt Traynor talks about trying to find a singer on MySpace.
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Traynor talks about the influences of the band's sound.
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Traynor on blessthefall's first Las Vegas show.
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Traynor discusses how the band adapted after the singer left the band while touring in Europe.
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Event Calendar: Taste of Chaos (4-8-2008)

While most bands might take a hiatus after their singer decides to quit while on tour, blessthefall persevered and finished out its scheduled performances. Now the screamo band is on the road again, performing as part of the "Taste of Chaos" tour which will take the stage tonight at the Pearl at the Palms.

Singer Craig Mabbit (who is currently singing in Las Vegas-based band Escape the Fate) left the band in December 2007 for personal reasons while blessthefall was touring Europe promoting their debut album "His Last Walk" with Silverstein, leaving guitarist Mike Frisby, drummer Matt Traynor, bassist Jared Warth and guitarist Eric Lambert in a bit of a bind. But the resilient musicians forged ahead, making the lineup work by having Lambert and Warth sing, and scream.

"We love our music and we love going out and touring and hanging out with everyone," Traynor said in a phone interview. "So that's why we're still here and that's why we're still doing it. And that's why we finished the European tour without him. Nothing is going to get in our way, whether it be singer situations or any of that."

Rather than finding a quick fix, the band is looking for a vocalist who compliments the ensemble's high-energy harmonized guitars, rhythmic bass, and driving drum beats. Traynor said the band credits MySpace for expanding their fanbase and even used the social network to try to find a singer by posting a blog on their page asking for demo submissions.

Their ability to adapt isn't the only thing that sets them apart. Blessthefall, which started as a punk band in Phoenix in 2004, is a Christian-oriented band that is open about their beliefs without preaching it to their audience.

While playing show after show has improved their stage presence and stamina, the band still maintains the drive they started with.

"It doesn't matter if we are playing in front of five people or 5,000 people, we put the same passion and heart into every show," Traynor said.

When the current tour wraps up, the band plans on finally finding the right singer, writing more songs and hitting the recording studio to lay down tracks for their new album which, depending on if all goes smoothly, should be released in September or October.

Blessthefall has been performing with big names in the music industry but that hasn't changed the way they view things or the direction they want to go. "We're just our own band and we want to achieve whatever we can," Traynor said.

"Taste of Chaos" will start tonight at 7 p.m. Atreyu, Bullet for My Valentine, Idiot Pilot and Japanese bands Mucc, the Underneath and D'Espairsray will also perform.