Braid

In the 1990's musical landscape, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois' Braid carved a place for themselves that continues to resonate. Armed with a much-deserved reputation as a touring band, their dual guitar and vocal assault coupled with a math-rockesque rhythm section earned them a legion of fans and a popularity that continues to grow.

1998 was the defining Braid year. The band played almost 200 shows that year, toured Europe twice (first with The Get Up Kids, then with Burning Airlines), and Polyvinyl released Frame and Canvas, the quintessential Braid album, recorded and produced at DC’s Inner Ear studios with J Robbins. The record was released in April 1998 and met with more success than Braid, or Polyvinyl had ever imagined. By early 1999, Braid was ready for a break and, ultimately, ended up deciding to call it quits. Nearly a year later, Damon, Todd, and Bob emerged with friend Mark Dawursk as a new band--Hey Mercedes.