The Life and Times of Patrick Lew Hayashi (林正道)

Masamichi Hayashi/Patrick Lew Hayashi (born Patrick Allan Lew on November 15, 1985) is an Asian-American musician and YouTuber currently performing in the band PLB (Patrick Lew Band). He is also the band's only constant member, sole singer-songwriter and guitarist alongside his younger sister Madeline. He's also well known for his work playing in the band(s) TheVerse, Benigneglect and Crazy Loser in a Box!

LIFE & MUSIC CAREER Patrick Lew was born on November 15, 1985 in San Francisco, California to a Chinese father and Japanese mother of mixed descent. He grew up in the Bay Area. His early interests were wrestling, video games and cable television programming. He became interested in rock music at an early age. He began playing guitar when his cousin Andy was living with him briefly while studying at a community college as an International Student. He took a couple guitar lessons, but is mostly self-taught as a musician. He began his indie music career in 2001 on the Northern California independent circuit as Patrick Lew Band at the young age of 15. Mostly participating in home recording and occasional live performances. By 2004, the Patrick Lew Band landed a record deal with Statue Records through their MySpace page and has earned a number of accolades for his work with PATRICK LEW BAND. Patrick attended Wallenberg High School in San Francisco and graduated in 2003. He would later attend California State University, East Bay and studied Philosophy. He graduated from college in mid-2011 with a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy. After several line-up changes and personal setbacks, the Patrick Lew Band slowly but surely gradually gained belated success in the regional music scene and on the Internet by 2016. The band's 2009 release Let It Rise and Against brought him his initial fame and notoriety in music. The Patrick Lew Band would begin to make an impact during 2016 and 2017, being mentioned on-air on the San Francisco classic rock radio station 107.7 THE BONE and winning the July 2016 Akademia Music Award for Best Rock Song with PLB. Around that same period, Patrick created a cyber band member in PLB also marketed as his fictional younger sister Madeline Lew through digital face & gender swapping apps. Madeline would join the band PLB on October 31, 2015 and has became a mainstay in the Patrick Lew Band since. Following his induction into CSU East Bay's 2019 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame, Patrick Lew Band broke up for a second time. Using Patrick Lew Band as a platform to branch his talents and his passion for playing music with other local bands. Because of that, he has also played guitar in the Shoegaze band TheVerse. Alongside temporarily being a fill-in bass player for two bands: Pleasure Gallows and The Tortured. Between 2017 and 2020 during PLB's second hiatus, Patrick has played music in a variety of local Bay Area bands and branched outside of his own primary band PLB in the scene. After PLB initially disbanded for the second time in June 2019, he eventually formed a new heavy metal and hard rock inspired solo project under the name LEWNATIC. Going "back to basics" as a performer and semi- pro musician. He quickly began playing a few low-key open mic performances in Japan by the end of the Summer. He retired the PLB name temporarily, as he began performing locally under the name "LEWNATIC." LEWNATIC has self-released a live recording of their November 3, 2019 performance at San Francisco's DNA Lounge on music streaming services. The band LEWNATIC would become monthly residents at DNA Lounge as live performers. In March 2020, LEWNATIC went on a hiatus as Patrick returned to making music and digital content with Patrick Lew Band with his sister Madeline Lew. For the next year-and- a-quarter, Patrick Lew Band was rigorously active in the indie music scene by putting out a lot of new digital content, doing live stream concerts, and using their house in San Francisco as a musical stage. The band just reached potentially prolific status with their music and brand in the indies and on social- media with what they do. Recent years proved to be very prosperous and helped the Patrick Lew Band reach new heights. Since then, the band's music has reached thousands of listeners in 34 different countries worldwide on Apple Music/iTunes. And subsequent reviews and press regarding PLB (Patrick Lew Band) has been more positive. By mid-2021 however, the Patrick Lew Band began slowing down their activity because of Patrick's 9 to 5 job at SAFEWAY. Only sporadically making appearances in the studio and in public. There's been rumors circulating about Patrick rebranding the PLB under the name LEWNATIC or even permanently retiring the "Patrick Lew Band" name. So far, these sources have been rather unclear. The future remains uncertain, but Patrick Lew insists that he will continue making music and YouTube videos with Patrick Lew Band. So far, Patrick Lew Band has released and published at least 12 full-length albums worldwide on Spotify and Apple Music. On October 8, 2021, Patrick's former girlfriend and close friend Madoku officially joined the Patrick Lew Band as a lead vocalist and full-time band member. PERSONAL LIFE & OTHER PROJECTS Outside of music, he has acted in community theater and made a cameo appearance in an episode of Emmy Award winning TV series The Man in the High Castle. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from California State University, East Bay and currently works a full-time day job at SAFEWAY as a Deli Operator. He has also worked in tech for three years as a visual merchandiser and has an extensive work resume outside of the indie music industry. Patrick was previously engaged from a former toxic relationship. He is currently happily single and living with his family and dogs in the Excelsior District in San Francisco. He has also dated his PLB bandmate Madeline on-and-off. He also previously dated his bandmate Yandie/Madoku from their band Crazy Loser in a Box! briefly in 2018. Patrick identifies himself as Agnostic. He is also friends with Bay Area bands Hemorage, The Tortured, The Residuals, Akai Sky, The Porno Riots and SourFlower. And he is also close friends with fellow EDM DJ Robert Pan. In mid-2021, he achieved a lifelong dream by virtually interacting with Japanese porn star Yukari Orihara via Instagram. Patrick's hobbies outside of music also include sports (mostly professional wrestling), video games, cats, commercial driving, reading and watching television.

THE PLB REBOOT

 PATRICK LEW BAND (PLB) is an Asian-American rock band formed in San Francisco, California by singer, guitarist, YouTuber and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Lew Hayashi (born Patrick Allan Lew; November 15, 1985). 

The band was previously known under various 'guises; and pseudonyms and was previously an online collaboration type of local band with friends before becoming the solo project of Patrick Lew. In addition to guitar and vocals, Lew plays all or most of the instruments on the records. 

The band also features a virtual band member and bassist named Madeline Lew, marketed as Patrick’s younger sister in storyline. The band’s bassist Madeline was created through modern smartphone apps such as FaceApp and Reface. Alongside, other digital special effects and editing. 

He is currently an unsigned independent musician but he is distributing his music through his own label  Lewnatic Records. 

THE HISTORY

The Patrick Lew Band was previously an sporadic online collaboration project between friends and former schoolmates. They performed under many "guises" such as Famiglia, Samurai Sorcerers, Patrick and Greg Blues Band and so forth. After a few home-recorded demo albums between 2006 to 2012, the former band talked about making their band to transition from being an online collaboration to becoming in between a live performing and home recording local rock band. However, tensions flared within the band over creative and religious differences. Lew wanted to take his band and put it out there to see where the band's music would go, whereas the other band members were uninterested in pursuing a secular area in the music business. 

The idea eventually was abandoned, and Lew was dealing with a loveless relationship with his former fiancee which affected and drained him mentally. Having played in the indie scene in many failed startup bands and false starts for over a decade, Patrick Lew seemed to have lost his passion for music. When his relationship with his then-fiancee ended, Lew decided to rekindle his passion for playing music and doing home recording. 

The Patrick Lew Band as we know it now started in 2015 as a home studio project where Lew would write songs or compose instrumental ideas and post them on social-media to see what comes out of it. 

Having learned the hardship and frustration of getting his music out there in various platforms in the "commercial" and traditional music industry. Lew created his own indie label and named his home recording studio LEWNATIC which foresees the releases of Patrick Lew Band related material through different platforms such as digital downloads, CDs and etc etc. 

Despite some of the hardships and negativity that Lew has encountered during 2015 and some of 2016, the Patrick Lew Band maintained consistency and was experiencing a very creative period in their indie music career. By July 2016, the Patrick Lew Band won an award for Best Experimental Rock Song with the Akademia Music Awards. Lew also pursued side-projects and worked with other local musicians. 

Lew also began uploading funny and provocative vlogs on his YouTube and self-released a few EPs with the Patrick Lew Band through Bandcamp and other sites. Having enough music to release a full-length album regardless of what people thought of him in the past or present day. The loss of his beloved mother and a scabies scare prevented Lew from touring and promoting his new album temporarily. 

But with the blessings of positive outlooks and putting himself out there. Lew began working with promoters Afton to handle the booking for live Patrick Lew Band shows locally. The Patrick Lew Band was booked to perform at the Brick & Mortar in San Francisco, California on August 6, 2017 originally. Even local hard rock radio station 107.7 THE BONE marketed the show. Low ticket sales however pushed the show to October 8th that year, which Lew performed a stunning and blistering five-song set at the venue. A recap video of the show can be found on Lew's YouTube channel. 

Also, the band introduced long lost sibling Madeline Lew as a full-time member on Halloween 2015. 

The band just returned to full-time status in 2020. And reached potentially prolific status with their music and brand in the indies and on social-media with what they do. Recent years proved to be very prosperous and helped the Patrick Lew Band reach new heights. Since then, the band's music has reached thousands of listeners in 34 different countries worldwide on Apple Music/iTunes. And subsequent reviews and press regarding PLB (Patrick Lew Band) has been more positive. 

With the recent release of Patrick Lew Band's latest music Rolling Thunder through CDBaby, Spotify, Apple Music and other platforms. And Patrick Lew is currently working full-time at Safeway outside of the music and entertainment industry. But Patrick Lew Hayashi plans to accomplish more with what he is set out to do with his music! 

MUSICAL INFLUENCES

The Patrick Lew Band is largely influenced by the iconic Seattle grunge band Nirvana. Other key influences in the band and their music ranges from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Oasis, Miyavi, Guns N Roses, X Japan, Beyond (HK Band), Hatsune Miku, BTS, Jim Johnston, Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine, Nine Inch Nails, The White Stripes, Green Day, Blink 182, The Fall, The Sex Pistols and many more. 

The Band:

Patrick Lew - lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, synthesizers, slide guitar, piano, programming, drums, percussion. 

Madeline Lew - keyboards, synthesizers, bass, lead vocals, programming, turntables. 

Hear More: https://open.spotify.com/artist/76q8r......

Patrick Lew Band Biography

 Some artists, more than others, remind you of how much there is to discover when it comes to music and art. And you know it now, our redaction's mission is to discover unique creations made by the artists of tomorrow. The Patrick Lew Band, which we have just discovered, belongs to this category.

The band PLB (Patrick Lew Band) is a Sino-Japanese punk rock band from San Francisco, California. They have been active on-and-off from 2001 to the present day. They play and compose a bunch of different styles of music: Rock, Electronic, and Metal mostly!


This is an established group that has been around for over a decade, yet still maintains a fresh sound and youthful enthusiasm. The song combines elements of metal, punk, and good old rock and roll. A good way to describe it would be if you combined heavy metal guitars with old school punk. 


There's some really excellent guitar and bass playing on this track, much more technical and polished than what one normally expects from this genre. This demonstrates the band's experience and professionalism, with the slick solos and razor-sharp timing.

Listening to PLB is the guarantee to be captivated into sensations and to finally plunge into something new. 


Don't waste a second and live the experience right now!


More information about Patrick Lew Band (PLB).

PATRICK LEW BAND BIO 

Music is to the soul what words are to the mind. And "Patrick Lew Band" or also known as PLB is one such amazing music group. Based out of San Francisco, they have roots all across the globe which includes places like Japan and Taiwan. With their mesmerizing music and creative talents, Patrick Lew Band has achieved widespread fame and the love of millions of fans. Dominating the Electronic, rock, and garage punk scene, their music makes you feel alive and overall radiates positivity. The founder of the Patrick Lew Band is a phenomenally talented artist called Patrick Allan Lew who is an Asian American. Passionate and dedicated, Patrick has been evolving and honing his skills, delivering stunning results.

Taking inspiration from legendary music artists like the "The Beatles", "The Rolling Stones" and "The Kinks", Patrick combined his musical talents and created a fresh and unique music style of his own. His creations have a fusion of fire and ice, combining the best of all the musical elements. Music is the shorthand of emotion, and the way Patrick pours out his emotions into melody is remarkable. With peppy and energetic music, Patrick Lew Band is one of the rising talents of the music industry. Creating dynamic and sensational music, Patrick Lew Band has earned a name for themselves, and the love of thousands of fans.



This sensational music band is comprised of some talented and passionate individuals which include Patrick Lew, Madeline Lew, David Arceo, Eddie Blackburn, and Tommy Loi. Together, these musicians combine their talents and create awe-inspiring music. The Patrick Lew Band has a unique style of creating music, and their creations take its audience into a whole new dimension, making them experience pure bliss and nirvana through melody.

Patrick Lew himself is a passionate and talented individual, with a drive inside him that pushed him ahead in life, evolving and growing his skills. Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Patrick had incorporated music into his life since a very young age. The American singer, songwriter, and Kamikaze guitarist is always on the grind, honing and improving his craft. Along with his musical adventures, Patrick is also well known on the internet as an inspiring and talented influencer, with an ever-growing Instagram and YouTube Handel. Patrick is also the first Japanese-American male who is a 40 under 40 Hall of Fame Class of 2019 inductee, at the California State University.



Over time, Patrick has grown and evolved the Patrick Lew Band and their punk rock music has inspired and touched millions of lives. Patrick himself has had a remarkable journey and career being an independent music artist. The music industry is a dynamic and challenging universe, with place only for the best and most talented individuals, and Patrick and his music band have earned a place for themselves with their sensational and addictive music. And as you might have heard, "Music once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies".

The modern era of music has given way to enigmas and artists of all shapes and forms who break the norm of what we have come to expect as far as what an artist truly is. The Patrick Lew Band is one such entity that epitomises the essence of the modern era. A multi-talented Sino-Japanese rock band lead by Patrick Lew, and his alter ego sister Madeline Lew. Patrick was born in San Francisco, CA. The Band is making music that is thoughtful, conscious and driven by a desire to motivate, inspire, comfort and spread love and joy to all those that hear it.

Born to a Chinese father and a Japanese mother of mixed descent, his journey in music really began in 2001 while he was still in high school and eventually playing in various bands. He later attended California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA, and graduated with a B.A in Philosophy and minored in Music Composition. After the creation of his fictional twin sister Madeline Lew through special effects and Photoshop Patrick then transitioned into making his own music with the Patrick Lew Band. It was during this period of evolution that the Band's creativity and undeniable talent began to shine through. They ultimately developed a style of making music that is transparent, daring, full of hope and reflective of their experiences. The band's goal is to become a voice of the Asian-American community and shed light to an underrepresented minority in the American music industry. The band is focused on becoming a worldwide phenomenon and touching as many lives as possible regardless of race, age, religion and sexual orientation. The Band's music is an encapsulation of their thoughts and ambitions, turning pain into purpose and lessons into studio sessions.

Patrick Lew Band has had a vast array of musical influences, however they accredit the pivotal influences in the music to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Miyavi, X Japan, BTS, The Sex Pistols, Oasis, Green Day, Guns N Roses, The Fall, Beyond (Hong Kong Band), Jim Johnston, Jimi Hendrix, Metallica, 2Pac, The White Stripes, The Kinks, Hatsune Miku, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue, Silverchair, Michael Jackson, Danny Chan, The Velvet Underground, The Clash, B'z, Guitar Wolf, CFO$, Public Enemy, White Lion, and The Faces.. This all culminates in the Patrick Lew Band producing a musical experience that is enjoyable, easy going and fun but still seeks to provoke thought. The Band uses music as a vehicle to express perspectives and tell stories.

Patrick Lew Band currently has 12 official projects in their repertoire namely, Jump! Rattle! And Roll!!! (2006), Let It Rise and Against (2009), Murder Bay (2011), Angry Yellow - EP (2012), Bubblegum Babylon (2015), Oakland (2017), Cold Sirens (2017), History Pt. 1: 2001-2016 Boxed Set (2018), Immortality (2020), Codebreaker (2020), Rolling Thunder (2021) and No Sleep Till San Francisco! (2021). The Band will be releasing more music that will serve as motivation to face the new challenges that every day brings. The ambition is for the music to fully empower the people worldwide and make them have positive vibes all around them. To turn every negative situation into a positive one, and have a good time. Their music will showcase their lyricism in a uniquely constructed piece of musical artistry with a sound exhibits not only versatility and prowess but will surely cement their style and pave the way for the varied expressions of their musical ideas and artistic craft. This is the music that will push the boundaries of our perception as well as inspire and drive us to introspective conversations. It's the music that may not change the world, but can change the people in the world.

Patrick Lew Band (PLB) is taking over!

 Listeners from six continents worldwide have heard my music in PLB (Patrick Lew Band) on both Spotify and Apple Music.

Countries who've heard my band PLB range from the United States, Japan, England, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Mexico and many more.

The only continent that's missing is Antarctica. Lol.

It's rather strange, overwhelming and yet brilliantly fascinating too. I'm just an average working-class Joe of Asian descent who happens to make music in my own bedroom in this 2-Story family house in San Francisco. And put it out there on social-media.

I live a double life. During the day, I slice meat and make sandwiches for Karen's and the cool people at the grocery store Safeway. By night, I'm pulling a Beatles from circa 1967-70 by locking myself at home. Constantly trying to make new tracks and digital content.

I'm not on MTV. I'm not on the covers of Rolling Stone magazine. And I never really perform live shows outside California typically, aside from a few dates in Japan and Hong Kong from 2 years ago!

A lot of those 30-Something countries from those six continents I've never traveled to or even stepped foot in.

Yet, it amazes me that I kind of now have a global presence with the band PLB. All because of me putting myself out there, and word of mouth online. At the same time, it overwhelms me because I never expected myself to reach this point in my music really. Because not too long ago some time back in the 2000s and early 2010s, I wasn't "ready" yet. It was still a local attraction and hobby for the most part.

Now I'm earning passive income sporadically. Because of PLB royalties. People reach out to me for interviews occasionally on YouTube. The music bloggers online even said better things about Patrick Lew Band that wouldn't have ever happened back in the year 2008 really.

But at the same time, I'm very grateful it happened and I earned it. Even at this stage of my music right now! I mean, I'm pushing 40.