photo courtesy of D&K Photography

Tracy Hood

Acoustic Guitar, Lead Vocals

Tracy was born in good ‘ol Houston, Texas on August 19…not too many years ago! Her first instrument was a flute that she inherited in the fifth grade from her older brother…. Yeah, that’s right…. He never knew she’d rat him out in public about playing a flute. She also played saxophone in a jazz band in high school and has recently started playing acoustic guitar...something she’s wanted to do all her life! Tracy has always loved singing, and held many sold-out concerts to crowds of thousands of screaming fans in her bedroom as a kid, with a hairbrush as a high-tech wireless microphone. She began her professional singing career with her cousin as a duo singing to pre-recorded tracks, but after having the opportunity to be backed by a band she has never looked back. The thrill of playing live music to a crowd of people is intoxicating to her, and she absolutely loves to perform. When she’s not singing she enjoys riding her horse, snorkeling, stealing a ride on the back of a Harley, and volunteering in her community. Her vacation spot of choice is anywhere with crystal clear water and white sandy beaches (although Vegas and New Orleans are pretty fun, too!). This band is a real passion for her, especially since she’s making music with great friends.

tracy@braidband.com

Mike McCoy

Lead Guitar, Vocals

About the time that dinosaurs ruled the earth, I was born in Memphis, Tennessee.  One of my first musical memories is an Elvis vs. The Beatles poll on a local radio station there.  (I was silently pulling for The Beatles…please don’t tell Mom!?!) 

Around the age of 8 or 9, I got a plastic bodied Sears guitar for Christmas.  I played it until the neck fell off, (interrupting my 5016^th rendition of “House of the Rising Sun”), then moved up to an electric Kent guitar…a day that will live in infamy.  Since then, I’ve only owned one acoustic instrument—we just don’t get along…personality conflict, I suppose.  I’ve been an electric guitarist almost exclusively.

Name a style of music, I’ve performed it professionally (uh, just don’t name classical or modern jazz).   My technique and playing style is a mixture of all influences, from Scotty Moore to Angus Young, punk to blues to metal to country.  I love it all.  The band Braid, though, is the best project ever, since we are all old friends (no, really!)…playing together at last.  (They have a nickname for me in the band…only I can’t get them to tell me what it is…).  I’m having more fun with Braid than I have in years; at our performances we aren’t working…we’re playing!!!  We’re enjoying it, and it shows.  Come out and see for yourself what I mean.

What else do I do, you ask?  I spend my spare time reading, avoiding stewed tomatoes, riding my Harley, and wondering what my nickname is.

mike@braidband.com

Mike Brooks

Bass Guitar

I was born in Oklahoma, my wife's name is Betty Lou Thelma Liz, no, not really. I was born May 18, 1962, in Wichita, Kansas, and I have been playing instruments since the fifth grade, but I didn't start the bass guitar until 1985. I love all forms of music with good taste and some without any taste at all. I have been very fortunate to have a very understanding wife (Liz) and have had the fortune to play with some really great people and bands over the years, such as The Backrhodes Boys, Deuces Wild, Kid Ray (Linus), Sedan Delivery, September Sky, Brian Boone, and currently, Braid. This band has really been a great surprise and I hope to make lots of music with them. LIVE MUSIC ROCKS!!!!

Larry Grzebielucha

Drummer, Vocals

My musical career started at home--my dad, who is an accomplished musician himself, (woodwinds, drums, and bass), has always had music in the house.  His main instruments, the saxophone and clarinet, were always heard.  I started out playing guitar…I took a few lessons and thought, “this is too much stuff to remember”.  Then I saw my destiny…I saw pictures of the band KISS with Peter Criss and his big drum riser, and then Alex Van Halen with his large drum kit, and later on Tommy Aldridge blew me away with his double bass technique.  I thought to myself, “That’s the instrument”…the instrument that I wanted to play.  When I got my first drum kit it was a Kent (I wish I still had it now), a four piece, 5"x14" snare, 20" kick, 12"x10" tom and a 16" floor tom.  It was black and white and pearl swirl--almost Beatle like.  I really started out playing along with records…KISS, Van Halen,  and really anything I could get my hands on.  Then the real lessons began when I joined a drum corp.  I was taught to read sheet music, at least for drums.  The corp that I was in was a very small one, so very often for parades or shows you might have to play another type of drum.  This did indeed happen—at one parade I had to progress to the snare drum.  My formal training ended when I left the corp. Then the practical training started.  Since then it’s been a long trip, a lot of bands, with a bunch of different musicians.  As far as equipment goes, I have three kits that I utilize...my big kit is a Yamaha kit with 12", 13", 16", 18" toms and two 22"x16" kick drums.  My small kit is a mid-1960’s Slingerland kit with a 22" kick, 8", 10", 14", and 16" toms.  Both kits are all mounted on Gibraltar racks.  My third kit is an electronic kit, an old Roland ddr30 head with 5 tom pads and a kick pad.  It also mounts on the Gibraltar rack.  I have three snare drums--my touring snare is an 8"X14" Ludwig Coloseum, my second is a mid-1960’s steel Slingerland 5"x14".  My baby is a mid-1960’s 8"x15" Slingerland mahogany snare drum.  This drum just sounds great.  As far as cymbals I use Zildjians and only Zildjians.