by: Julie Randolph
It takes time, grace, patience and presence to walk the fine line between nothing and
something. It takes a power of will that cannot be broken and above all it takes the
courage to lay everything on the line if you have to.
South Texas is home to many talented bands. Each one creating the menagerie
of sound we listen to each day. Some seem to stand out more than others do.
Psycho Plague is perhaps the fastest growing, most popular band in the area
and if you have seen them, you know why.
of drumbeats and music all sampled into his keyboard. Nothing like it had ever
been heard before or since. They were literally the newest, hottest thing people
had heard in a long time. Joined by the screaming lead guitar of Lup Duque and
the dark, mesmerizing bass of J.R. Montero, Psycho Plague began to amass a
fan base that would stay with them during each step of the maturing process. It
didn't take long before they were one of the most requested bands in the Valley.
Some bands become happy with a wide fan bass in an area where they feel
comfortable and never move out to reach for the stars. Psycho Plague decided
differently. If they were going, they might as well grab hold of whatever came and
hang on for the ride.
Several months ago, Bones knew that something was missing; a sound that could
not really be replicated. Although the sampler supplied him with all the drum
patterns he needed, there was no way to replace the sound of acoustic drums.
Cesar Elias was the last member to join the band, and as his sound began to fill the
gap in the music, his personality and excitement made him a member of the
Psycho Plague family. He was the missing link, and the music they now created had
added electricity that was to shoot them from popular club band, to potential stars.
Never having been afraid to write and sing what they felt, it was exactly this naked
emotion that gave them a unique Industrial sound that did not get lost in the
ska, slacker movement that was churning around them. They pressed on, commanding
the attention of record stores, labels and fans alike. When "Psychotic Era", their first CD,
came out, it was the beginning of what is referred to as the road to stardom. As it
continued to sell consistently, Psycho Plague increased their output, performing
more and including a mini-tour with NaCl and Tragic Komic. They were an
undeniable hit in the Valley, but they didn't want to stop there. They didn't.
Having never been out of the Valley, they were stepping into a new situation with
new people that might or might not like them. If the show didn't make it, they
would begin to lose momentum, but if it did, a whole new fan bass would open up
to them.
secondary stage for new acts that no one has heard of. Psycho Plague was slated to
play in the Jam Room. It was a test of their music, their ability and themselves.
No one had ever seen anything like it. It took only seconds for Psycho Plague to
pack the Jam Room from wall to wall, leaving the main stage area almost
empty. The music plugged in a charge of energy as a mosh pit opened up in front of
the stage. When it was over, they sold CD's, signed autographs and rode on a
wave of adrenaline they had never experienced before.
return and play on the main stage. They took a chance, ran with it and found
a light at the end of the tunnel. As they move out of the Valley into other areas,
they still don't forget the people who gave them the strength to go on. They have
recently signed with James Jeda Management at Triton Records out of California.
They will soon begin work on a new CD; they have singles being passed
around the country to radio stations everywhere and that is only the beginning.
Perhaps J.R. summed up everything that Psycho Plague is about the next morning
when everyone arrived back at home. He put in a CD, looked around and smiled.
"Y'all should really do a story on Severance. Man, those guys work so hard.
They are awesome."
is definitely on the road to stardom. {STEM Magazine; Oct. 15, 1998}
