More Than Music

For many musicians, putting together a band can be nearly impossible. Finding talented players, having the same tastes in music, keeping a close bond with your bandmates and holding regular rehearsals are all necessities that could potentially send everyone back to square one.

But for some of the members of Vegas-based rockers As He Defeats -- bassist RJ Reynolds and guitarist Brett Bilquist -- their struggles extend much farther than conflicting musical tastes.

In August of 2005, Reynolds and Bilquist were two of the million New Orleans natives who evacuated the city before Hurricane Katrina hit. Upon returning home, they discovered that their houses and their personal belongings had been destroyed in the disaster.

"I found out that where we lived was basically uninhabitable," says Reynolds, referring to the violent storm, which put nearly 80 percent of New Orleans under water. "It doesn't really hit you until you see your house covered in mud and your TV on the floor. You just think, 'Wow, all that stuff is done.' "

Shortly after Katrina hit, Bilquist moved to Las Vegas with his parents and began attending Las Vegas Academy. Once a part of the school's guitar program, he mentioned the school to his friend Reynolds, who quickly followed him to Las Vegas and continued pursuing a musical career.

Together, the two formed As He Defeats, which has been making the rounds for more than a year and is putting out its first extended play recording and scheduling tours along the West Coast.

Along with Reynolds and Bilquist, the band also consists of vocalist Zach Adams, drummer Mike Villones and guitarist Brandon Jones, all in their late teens excluding Villones, who is 15.

Through a MySpace bulletin, the guys became acquainted and formed the group.

"I was in a bunch of local bands before Defeats," says Adams, a tall and well-spoken guy. "But I didn't really find the band I was looking for until I found these guys."

More than just playing music, the band feels that it has something to prove.

"We are definitely about defeating the stereotypes that Vegas brings," says Adams, referring to the challenges of making it in show business for anyone under 21 here. "It's our name. We defeat the stereotypes of Vegas musicians and not being able to make it big under 21. Those guys defeated the hurricane. It's who we are."

The band's first EP, "On This Momentous Day," will be released Friday, in conjunction with a release show at Jillian's that night. Their music is primarily influenced by bands such as hard-edged rockers Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Coheed and Cambria and Saosin, but also by poppier sounds such as Panic at the Disco, The Rocket Summer and Destiny's Child.

"It's all about being melodic," Bilquist says. "We're trying to catch people's attention."

Adams agrees: "Sometimes you can catch people's attention with lyrics, but you want to catch them with guitar melodies as well. I write from my life experiences. So if you're listening, you'll know what I'm talking about."

The band's debut displays a wide variety of musical tastes and styles that range from acoustic ballads to quicker paced guitar solos.

They began playing music at the Epic Church of Las Vegas, which holds an event called "Fade" on the second Friday of each month. "Fade" gives starting bands an opportunity to play shows and get their music out in the community.

Soon, Defeats began playing at Jillian's and landed a gig with Scary Kids Scaring Kids at the Electric Theatre in St. George, Utah.

The band hopes to be touring around California throughout the summer.

"In a year we'd like to have a full-length CD out," Bilquist says. "Maybe a couple of tours going."

Defeats rehearses two to three times a week, and also is taking part in an online shop program with Rhapsody and iTunes that will eventually help local bands sell music and merchandise over the Internet.

"We're trying to change the music scene because it's gotten really polluted," Bilquist says. "It isn't influential anymore. A lot of it is the same stuff and everyone is just trying to be better than the next guy."

"Kids that are supposed to be in the music scene are all jaded," Reynolds agrees. "We want to fix that."