Time for some essential Bravycore.

Born on January 25, 1978, Jason was a musician, and played in bands like On The Might of Princes, The Brass, and for a stint in The Saddest Landscape. The history of the bands he was part of are mostly personal stories recalled over 20 years later.

In the mid nineties, a flyer at a Long Island record shop advertising a singer/guitar player looking for a band a was answered by future bassist Tommy Orza. Influnces were Sunny Day Real Estate, Sonic Youth, etc. They would jam for some time, but would exchange demo tapes, lose contact, and reconnect over the course a few years. Eventually Jason would return to Long Island and get in touch Tommy to jam, which would eventually lead to On The Might of Princes forming in 1998. In the early days they would practice often, improving their sound and solidifying a direction. They added Lou Fontana at guitar and would add Nicole Keiper on drums. They would record the album The Making of A Conversation which released in 1999.

Their sound would evolve, and due to creative differences Nicole would leave the band. Not long after they would come in contact with Chris Enriquez. The new songs were beginning to get heavier, and in 2001 Where You Are And Where You Want To Be would be released.

In the early 00's the profiles of many bands were rising as the post-hardcore/emo sound became popular and marketable. The story goes they were courted by a more established record label (Drive Thru Records), who were ready to rerelease Where You Are... with some changes, rerecord some parts, make it more poppy. So they went with someone else.

Eventually they would settle on a label and release Sirens in 2004. Their sound was once again different, but while the presskits would say things like "having more creative input from the rest of the band" and such, it was in truth a difficult record to make. Tensions in the band had grown, and during their first European tour, the summer the album was released, On The Might of Princes would break up.

Frankly I was devastated.

In the years that followed, Jason would play in numerous bands in Brooklyn, as most of the incredibly potent Long Island scene moved there. There he started The Brass, and would play in The Saddest Landscape, having befriended Andy Maddox many years ago.

In '07 he would return to play with On The Might of Princes for a series of local shows in Long Island, Conneticut, and Brooklyn as a sort of sendoff for the band. They were genuinely the most impressive shows I've ever seen, not just for their performances, but for the cadre of punks who ran the shows and made them some of the most welcoming experiences I would have for many years. In '08 they would play for a single night as a part of their friends record label's 10 year anniversary, who put out The Making of....

They would play again in '12, as a 25 year anniversary for Revelation Records. Following the reception the band was in talks of returning, with more shows having been booked.

Unfortunately, the band would implode once again, the tensions that did them in only 8 years ago returning. Jason would leave NY to and relocate with his girlfriend in Austin, TX.

In August 12, 2013, Jason would pass away of a heart attack in Austin. Circumstances aren't entirely clear, but likely causes would be failing health and a heat wave that had struck the area.

This would be the part where I can describe seeing him play live. He was a small, thin man, no more than possibly 5'6, couldn't have been more than 100lbs wet. Someone who appeared very boyish, even with the full beard he had for the later shows I would see. But something in him shook like thunder. His voice would be meek, before erupting into something no man his size should possess. But most importantly, he did it all with a sincerity I feel I wont ever see again.

I can understand and appreciate not everyone would be into the music he released. But I had to share