Here For The Party: Meet Braid (The Band, Not
The Hairstyle)
By Howie Doyle
With an esoteric name like Braid, a music group
is probably not going to play chamber music or a
symphonic march, but it could be pretty much
anything else. The name Braid also hints that the
group might be a “hair band,” and lead vocalist
Tracy Hood’s locks would certainly fit the part, but
they’re not. The group of musicians known as Braid
plays country, classic rock, and oldies, and they
are known for their live show, which is all about
one thing: good times.
Describing a band with the name Braid begs an
analogy based on the concept of threes, so... let’s
say you were going to construct ‘good times.’ What
would they be made of?
It would have a (1) solid foundation, (2) a
lively spirit, and (3) beauty.
Solid foundation (drums and bass). Larry
Grzebielucha (just call him Larry G.) may look as if
he is in a Zen-like trance, but his rhythm is solid
– his snare has snap and his floor-barrel has boom –
and he adds a lot of muscle-twitch to the band’s
sound. Bassist James Daniel alternately lays down
chugging energy and fat, dynamic lines to fill the
lower register. Together, the two lock in for a
tight rhythm section.
Lively spirit (guitars). Rhythm six-stringer
Glenn Briggs, who also plays keyboards and is a
songwriter, pushes each performance skyward with
musical wangs, chungs, and arpeggios that always fit
perfectly, leaving room for lead guitarist Mike
McCoy to glide on the currents, zig-zag through
clouds and do string-bending barrel rolls that are
at once carefree, yet soulful.
Beauty (lead vocals). Angel-voiced Tracy Hood is
a native of Houston, but she must have traveled a
lot to go to school on Aretha Franklin, Grace Slick,
and Melissa Ethridge. Being on-pitch is the least of
her substantial vocal attributes. She has attitude,
spice, energy, and a voice that can do
powerful-brassy and sultry-coquettish equally well.
Three parts, one sound that is uniquely theirs.
The Houston area has hundreds of top-forty and
classic rock cover bands, so with more bands than
nightclubs, festivals, bars and other venues, there
is a lot of competition out there. The most popular
of these bands have solid music and a well-crafted
show, but the best of these bands are true to the
original versions of the songs they play, but mark
it indelibly with their unique ‘sound.’
Braid is a band with a ‘sound.’
The band’s fortunes can only be helped by the
fact that Braid’s members are all well-rounded
people who have seen success in areas other than
music. Tracy Hood is a well-known figure around
Tomball and Magnolia. By day she works full time in
the printing industry, helps with the Tomball
Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s
Association, attends many networking events, and
seemingly volunteers to work in every community
service project in the area. She lives just outside
of Tomball, the area where she grew up, which may
explain her love of horses (she owns three), big
pickup trucks and country music!
Music is a lifelong passion. As a child, as Tracy
says, she held, “many sold-out concerts to crowds of
thousands of screaming fans” ...in her bedroom! (Her
hairbrush doubled as a high-tech wireless
microphone.) Later she and her cousin began
performing as a duo, singing in public to
pre-recorded tracks.
“As soon as I had an opportunity to be in a real
band, I never looked back,” she said. She finds
magic in live performance, and feeds off of
interaction with the crowd. This generates a loop of
energy that lifts the whole band to another level,
which is the reason pre-recorded music can never
match a live concert for entertainment value.
Recently, Tracy decided it was time to fulfill
her dream of playing acoustic guitar. In less than a
year, and with assistance from bandmate Mike, she
has learned to play well enough to contribute
musically, picking up the guitar for several numbers
in the band’s playlist. Her beautiful voice benefits
from her natural talent, but what makes it unique is
the heart and soul she puts into every live
performance. Someone with a heart as big as Tracy’s
couldn’t do it any other way.
Glenn Briggs, guitarist and keyboard player, is a
native Texan. At only 15 years of age Glenn began
playing in clubs in Bandera, Texas, and quickly
became a ‘jack of all trades,’ filling in as needed
on vocals, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, or piano. His
musical abilities led him to tour the country,
performing at the tiniest honky tonks to large
arenas, and everything in-between. Along the way he
formed an impressive name-dropping list, having
performed onstage or in the studio with Peter
Frampton, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Jerry Jeff
Walker, Clint Black, and the 13th Floor Elevators.
After landing in Houston, Glenn played in several
bands, helping to found The Little Brother Band,
Tommy Gunn, and Bad Apple. Braid is the newest
chapter in his notable musical pedigree.
Mike McCoy’s parents must have known he was
heading for a life of music when he was only nine
years old. That year he got his first instrument, a
plastic-body Sears guitar, and he played it until
the neck fell off! He quickly upgraded, and hasn’t
stopped playing since. His preference is electric
guitar (versus acoustic), and he has played with
blues, country, rock, and, “all variations
in-between and around the edges.”
Mike is such a nice guy it’s hard to imagine
where his musical fire comes from, but when the time
comes for the guitar solo, he is right there with
the riffs, sometimes stretching out and improvising,
but always enhancing the music by moving on to the
next verse or bridge when the time is right. He is
more concerned with flavoring and stirring the music
than he is with being a showman. “I most definitely
have my own unique style, but I can’t stand
egotistical musicians,” he said, adding, “or stewed
tomatoes.”
When James Daniel is not plunking down bass lines
with Braid, he likes to fish offshore and go
four-wheeling. He is also a 21-year employee of UPS!
His musical background is varied, having started off
on guitar at the age of 12, and playing with a band
in public at the age of 16. James has recently
joined the band, after beloved bassist Larry
Patterson got a job transfer that took him away from
Houston. “He was a very dedicated player with us and
is still a great friend,” commented Tracy, who
enjoys having James as part of the band, but will
miss Larry, the ‘teddy bear’ of the group.
Larry G. holds down the other half of the rhythm
section, and it is completely consistent with his
nature to be banging away behind a drum set. When
the music stops, Larry G. drifts inconspicuously
backstage, or into the crowd, patiently waiting
through the break so he can assume his place, sticks
in hand.
The members of Braid have been friends for years,
but this particular musical entity has been together
less than two years. In that time, they have played
social and business functions, parties, and
nightclubs. They have recorded some demo tracks,
developed some original music, and are looking
forward to recording their first CD.
On the weekends they aren’t playing, you are
likely to see them cutting a line down one of the
many scenic Texas highways on their Harleys. It is a
shared passion, although Tracy Hood generally
assumes a passenger spot.
One suspects that Harley ownership is as much a
part of her future as Braid’s debut CD, which the
band intends to record when the time is right. “One
step at a time,” commented Tracy. “We are becoming a
more polished performing band, and we’re growing as
a team.” She said they would all like to see
big-time success greet them, but Tracy’s attitude is
one of gratitude. “I get to perform for, and
interact with, people who love live music. I would
probably pay them for that privilege!”
A great attitude, but hardly necessary, as by now
thousands of fans know that Tracy’s distinctive way
of singing, like Braid’s unique sound, is worth
seeking out.
For info and booking:
www.braidband.com.
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