Band of Asians was an American heavy metal band that formed in San Francisco, California in 2006. This band of schoolmates and musicians from City College of San Francisco was active from 2006 to 2008. Each former band member's different cultural, personal and musical background contributed to the unique and ambitiously abstract and experimental compositions and helped catapult the group to the recreational center and bar circuit in the mid-to-late 2000s burgeoning San Francisco music scene. Despite high regards and buzz from peers and the online press, the band's activity was cut short sadly due to different pursuits professionally, personally and musically before the band truly blossom. Having only released a live EP and the album "Revenge" (which is now Patrick Lew's Band exclusive), ending the group's chances of success and desire to play shows and make more music. Although Band of Asians was remembered by many a very idiosyncratic but semi-talented band in their own right, its legacy for some, is overshadowed by the recent and later solo success of Band of Asians' guitarist and songwriter Patrick Lew's music career.

Band of Asians Statistics

Origin -- San Francisco, California, USA

Genres -- Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Nu Metal, Thrash

Years Active -- 2006-2008

Labels -- CDBaby, Unsigned

Associated Acts -- Silent Minister, Patrick Lew's Band, Dexter Rotten, The Road Kill, DJ Axe Murder

History
Band of Asians was established in 2006 as a full band of metal musicians by former Silent Minister members Patrick Lew (guitar) and Zack Huang (keyboards). Along with Lew's schoolmates from Skyline College during the one semester he attended at that community college, drummer Dave Arceo and bassist Augusto Hernandez. Initially, the group was formed in the summer of 2005 after Lew and Huang parted company with their high school band, the guitar-based garage metal outfit Silent Minister. Which resulted in a reconstruction musically for Lew and Huang as musicians and close schoolmates. By the time, Lew attended Skyline College for one semester. He met drummer Dave Arceo in two college-level music and reading courses. Eventually founding a DJ and Electronic Arts club on campus, where Lew and Arceo met bassist Augusto Hernandez. Resulting in the official formation of Band of Asians.

This new lineup quickly set about recording and playing regional shows and by late 2006, after months in the studio making music professionally and artistically for the first time. Released their singular album and recording "Revenge" on CDBaby's retail for independent musicians. And began earning a slight buzz from peers in the music scene and online press. And became one of the promising yet overlooked bands in San Francisco, which the Band of Asians sent their resume and portfolio to record labels and A&R people only to be hurtfully rejected. While most of Band of Asians music were Instrumental Metal pieces or experimental Indie Rock collages. There were some cases, Lew would take his own solo compositions and songwriting ideas he originally planned for a solo project to Band of Asians to perform live. By this time after the end of 2006, bassist Augusto Hernandez left the Band of Asians for various reasons unbeknownst to fans today. Sources said and claim, Hernandez left to join another band or focus more college. However, Lew and Huang's schoolmate from City College, bassist and backyard wrestler Cory Gaitan, joined the band as a touring bass player and was eventually made an official band member to the lineup. The group began touring recreational centers and bars with their peers Tinkture and Scarlett Bombs during the first half of 2007, even playing shows at their community college. In mid-2007, the band headed into the recording studio to record a few jam improvisations and sketches of musical ideas.

After the tour ended however, despite Gaitan convincing his social-networking to allow the Band of Asians performance slots at nightclubs and "Battle of the Bands." Every member in the band began experiencing huge personal crisis individually. The first to leave the project was founding member Zack Huang, whom was absent from recording sessions and live shows for most of 2007 due to working two full-time jobs to support his family and education along with avoiding foreclosure in his San Francisco apartment. Gaitan, their newly-added bass player, quietly parted company with the project for a family emergency overseas. Leaving Arceo and Lew to make music under the "Band of Asians" name. While they were recording in the home studio sporadically at this point, Arceo and Lew had experienced separate forms of isolation with their personal lives. While they had recorded a few sketches and demo tapes of song ideas, Lew was interested in pursuing music as a solo musician while Arceo wanted to focus more his priorities and do music solo himself. Having cobbled up 5 or 6 songs for a possible follow-up album to "Revenge," they never finished the music for a second proper album and canceled prospects for touring nightclubs locally, as originally initiated in early 2008. Overtime, tensions grew within the duo. Leading to Band of Asians splitting up on March 29, 2008, with a few weeks of a prior hiatus to work on solo projects. Effectively bringing the group to an end.

Post-Band of Asians
In the months following Band of Asians demise, Lew began pondering his musical future as a musician by taking college seriously for the first time in his life. Eventually getting his college application accepted to CSU East Bay to study a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and Music. During this time, Lew would remix soundtracks from various video games on his computer. Shortly before Band of Asians disbanding, Lew and former Scarlett Bombs drummer Kelsey Mitchell recorded a few tracks in the studio for a prospective rock band to play and pursue music in, which was unsuccessful. After his short-term expertise and experience by remixing soundtracks from various video games, Lew officially began pursuing his music solo and formed two projects or bands. His solo project The Lew Crue and the Hard Rock duo Dexter Rotten with CSU East Bay schoolmate Jeremy Alfonso. And began consistently promoting his music via Internet and locally in the Bay Area. Leading to 2009, being the year when Lew's music finally took some notice with the public despite Lew decided not to play shows due to various reasons, such as education and family. Patrick Lew's current two bands The Lew Crue and Dexter Rotten rocketed to some slightly moderate fame with their music and consistent DIY promotion online. With both projects being still active today.

Band of Asians' only full-length album "Revenge" has also been credited in recent time to being a Patrick Lew solo record as joint credits were somehow shared between both projects based upon an agreement made between Arceo and Lew shortly before Band of Asians parted company.

Huang initially remained inactive, but later resurfaced whilst attending UC Santa Barbara when he reportedly told Lew he invested money on a new guitar and musical equipment individually through a telegram on social-networking website Facebook. Whether or not, Huang intends to make music as a solo musician remains to be seen. Arceo, began attending City College while working out issues with his personal life, taking college more seriously and working a few day jobs. But his musical activity slightly became less common after dissolving Band of Asians. Gaitan's musical profile went below radar, although he did manage to return to the Bay Area in his hometown of San Francisco. Rekindling his friendship with Lew prior to Lew moving to Antioch, but mainly works as two full-time jobs to support his family as a stock's person at a Winery Facility and supermarket.

Original Band of Asians bass player Augusto Hernandez's profile and musical activity also dropped very significantly since his departure from Band of Asians. Between 2007 and 2008, while news has popped up from Arceo having contact with Hernandez. His relationship with his former members remain very questionable, as not much was acknowledged about his whereabouts since his departure from the group in early 2007. Apparently, the assumption given is Hernandez is out of the musical spotlight and scene.

Band Members
Cory Gaitan - Bass (2007)
Dave Arceo - Drums (2006-2008)
Augusto Hernandez - Bass (2006)
Patrick Lew - Guitar, Vocals (2005-2008)
Zack Huang - Keyboards (2005-2007)

Discography
Band of Asians, Live! (2006)
Revenge (2007)

Categories: 2000s music groups, American heavy metal groups, American hard rock groups, Patrick Lew, Nu metal musical groups, Multiracial bands, Musical quartets, Musical groups from San Francisco, California, Musical groups established in 2006, Musical groups disestablished in 2008, Culture from the San Francisco Bay Area