Facebook Behind the Music - Patrick Lew Band (PLB)

 

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). 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, "Nirvana" 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 - East Bay. 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, Yutaka Ozaki, 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, Prince, 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 (2020), No Sleep Till San Francisco! (2021), and XClamation (2021). The PLB 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. MEET THE PLB BAND! PATRICK LEW (林正道) - lead vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, synthesizers, piano, programming, virtual drummer  MADELINE LEW (林綾香) - keyboards, synthesizers, programming, bass, lead vocals  MADOKU RAYE (マドックー・アー・アー・ワイー・イー) - lead vocals

Patrick Lew: The Man Behind The Band Lewnatic/PLB

 

BEHIND THE MUSIC

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. 

LEWNATIC officially returned to live performances and as a touring solo act on February 20, 2022 at DNA Lounge in San Francisco. 

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 Grocery Team Member. 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. Currently, Patrick is dating Instagram influencer Shon Tullie.

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 Future?

Patrick Lew Band (PLB) will continue making music and putting out fresh new digital content in the foreseeable future. We ain't going anywhere or deactivating the project any time soon. 

However, our touring and live performances will have to officially go on an indefinite hiatus. 

I work at Safeway full-time, and is more willing or open to tour and perform shows in any band outside of PLB when necessary and sporadically. Whereas, Madeline Lew is more of a Meg White type in the band when it comes to touring and playing live shows. 

I've been performing and recording with the band PLB for 20 years already. As a matter of fact, 3/4 of my lifespan so far was dedicated to being PLB on social-media and doing PLB in the music scene! I was 15 years old when I created the band PLB back in high school. Now I'm 36 almost. So that's more than half my life in the world of indie music doing Patrick Lew Band on-and-off. 

This isn't me or her saying the band PLB is gonzo or done for good. Not at all! It's me saying, "we're still together and rocking but moving onto a completely all-new chapter creatively in the PLB band saga." Something that is unpredictable and also exciting at the same time where the pressure ain't on us to be like other local bands out there perhaps.

The plan for PLB in the future? 

It's up in the air really.

I think 2021 or 2022 could be it for the Patrick Lew Band. All me and my crossdressing alter-ego (little sister in fiction) Madeline promised was just one more album. That's all. 

Plus, I think I accomplished and did all that I could with PLB. I only brought back Patrick Lew Band in March 2020 after a three-year sabbatical to finish some unsettled business and goals I had in mind in the music industry. And COVID too. I wanted to prove to everyone I still got what it took to put my PLB out there as much as I could really! Because when my mom died in 2017, that was the end of my full-time run with PLB but not the way I originally wanted to end my career and tenure with Patrick Lew Band! 

Once PLB is done and calls it a day. And writes our final chapter in the saga. I plan on rebooting my music career under the "LEWNATIC" band name. And also, retire the Madeline Lew gimmick (breaking kayfabe) in my music, although Madeline helped me reach a new level of success in indie music. 

Now that I've possibly reached as far as I had with PLB, you see man, I always wanted to end Patrick Lew Band on my own terms and when I'm on top of my A-game! I didn't want PLB (me and Madeline) to become old and way past our prime still doing the Patrick Lew Band. There's bands in their 50s and 60s still singing the same hit songs from 40 years ago! And we didn't want to do that.

The first thing I said to myself was, "I always wanted PLB to end our career in music on top of our A-game and at our very highest!"

Some teasers for my post-PLB music. 

I was gonna revive the band and project Lewnatic and call our albums Rage in a Cage. But each album will be divided by Volume number. Lolz. 

And all our music and songs will sound like Hardcore Wrestling and video game music and shit. 

I don't have to prove anything to anyone musically and in the scene as a solo artist. Just have fun with it!

I'm thinking of doing more METAL type of music but not with PLB of course. 

PLB is all about rock and roll spectacle and showmanship. And taking over. This idea I conceived for a metal band happened on July 2, 2019. It was to keep it hella underground and low-key. 

Metal isn't supposed to be mainstream typically, that's why I conceived an extreme metal band. To showcase my least impressive song ideas, because when I do rock out and jam on most days, it sounds like bad Norwegian black metal. Nothing like how PLB does it in the recording studio. PLB is a very ambitious and meticulous studio band.

But it could either be a revival of my Lewnatic gimmick or even with another brand spanking new band in-the-future. Like if I write 30 songs a year again, and all of them ain't good...They're going to be put into another band or project of mines. I save all my best ideas for PLB for sure. Lol. 

Lewnatic (pre-Benigneglect) was intended to be a Death/Thrash Metal project of mines. And all the songs I wrote stored somewhere on my cloud storage and hard drive were a pile of crap compared to PLB's worst albums even. And 98% of those demos never got posted online. 

Of course, nothing will ever top PLB. That's the band that put me on the map to the moon and back on everyone's smartphones or computers online. This idea I had for a metal band wasn't intended to have bangers and hits like PLB had. 

Almost every song I wrote in pre-Benigneglect then known as Lewnatic were very crappy death metal songs. 

Spoiler for this idea...There won't be a Sister Madeline in this project. She's cool with it though. 

We'll see how this plans out. When I cross that line, I will let you know how that goes. 

I think there's a lot of grind mentally to do PLB always, because everything has to try and be THE BEST IN THE WORLD when it comes to my first major band. Doing Lewnatic again would be great, because I get to showcase my crappiest songs I wrote and it would still get the mosh pit going!

Again, we'll have to wait and see.

The main plan for Patrick Lew Band (PLB) is to keep it exclusively a studio recording type of multimedia project. 

Patrick and his Sister Madeline decided against touring behind PLB, but will remain active in the studio like our childhood idols The Beatles did later on in their careers! We will use the studio not only as a musical arsenal, but to broaden what PLB could possibly be as a platform! The possibilities are endless, especially with live streaming and advancements in digital technology!

We've been thinking of other digital platforms for PLB. Like music videos, we are currently working with local photographer James Conrad for those projects. Releasing some mini-documentaries about what we do. And Madeline will entertain you all with her sleek, sexy and bubbly persona online. 

The music was just too sophisticated to bring as a live act. We don't want to invest in an ensemble or orchestra to go out and tour as PLB after the pandemic almost fully winds down. It's not a feasible option for us. We also didn't appreciate being in the limelight at times, because some people took us for granted on social-media, especially during 2019 and 2020. 

Because of that. We're retreating from potentially commercial fame, we're pulling back from being swallowed by the mainstream. Instead, we are putting all our energies to making PLB more than just about the music...But as a global entity that transcends all platforms and mediums. 

For touring purposes, Patrick (yours truly) will go on tour and play live shows under the nickname "LEWNATIC415" and maybe even with other bands, if available or open to the idea, depending on the circumstances. 

LEWNATIC415 is intended strictly as a one-man rock showm, some side-men involved too maybe. With the advancements of today's musical and digital technology, and Patrick's guitar playing skills. This would be the touring format for Patrick as a live performer and entertainer. There will be synths, guitars, drum machines, vocals and other gadgets all being manipulated by one man onstage...Patrick Lew. Lol. 

Madeline does not (kayfabe) want to tour. Shifting her main focus on plus-sized modeling, photography and other ventures. But will remain a key member in PLB in the studio. In short, she hasn't quit the Patrick Lew Band or was fired from it. She has different preferences when it comes to being a musician. 

Despite musical and creative differences, there's no beef between me and the sista Maddie. Our relationship and morale is stronger (kayfabe) now than it was just a few years back!

Currently, there are no plans to tour and play shows with Patrick and Madeline's other band Crazy Loser in a Box! But the two will continue making some unique music with the band and putting it out there, despite their grueling scheduled appearances and occasional rigorous activity in PLB.

Sincerely, 
Patrick Lew, Madeline Lew and Co. (on behalf of PLB)

Patrick Lew Band (PLB): YEAR-BY-YEAR SUMMARY OF MAJOR EVENTS

 

2001-05:

PLB joined forces in San Francisco, California, back in early 2001, with Patrick on guitar and vocals, Eddie on lead guitar and Tommy on drums. They would often sporadically practice on the weekends at home, and record demos and drop mixtapes locally. Around this period, the band would post their music online. 

At the time, the band were still underage and attending high school in San Francisco. 

During this period, PLB was training at the School of Rock. By 2005, the band was already declared "ready" by the Rock & Roll Dojo to pursue their music. 

2006: 

Between January 2006 to September 2006, David (drums) joined the band while attending a community college with Patrick. The band went into a local recording studio to cut an album with PLB. On November 15, 2006 (Patrick Lew's 21st birthday), the band would release their debut album JUMP! RATTLE! AND ROLL! worldwide via CDBaby. A band practice session  held on May 8, 2006, would later be released as the EP Up The Wazoo! 

2007:

The band PLB begins their first local tour performing at their alma mater City College of San Francisco and a few parks & recreational centers. Eddie (lead guitarist) departed the band PLB in June 2007, to focus more on his other bands  and side-projects. Around this period, PLB had a revolving lineup of different members (temporary). Patrick Lew from the band also starts acting in community theater. On February 2, 2007, Patrick creates the Official PLB channel on YouTube and begins uploading rudimentary videos shortly on his YouTube. 

2008:

The band PLB mostly begins a rebuilding process. Their first hit single ASIAN GIRLS goes viral online, leading to very mixed reactions on social-media. Their Chiptune arranged cover of the Nirvana song Drain You gets published and mentioned on the website NirvanaClub.com. Patrick Lew begins building a basic home recording studio setup through his college money, and moves to Antioch, California in November 2008 to live with his mother. He also begins attending CSU East Bay, majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Music Composition. PLB is rigorously active during this time.

2009:

PLB recruits three members (now currently blacklisted): Jeremy (lead guitar), Greg (guitar/vocals) and David Hunter (bass) to join alongside Patrick and David from the band. 

The band PLB begins rehearsing in their home in Antioch, California. And begins long-term plans and goals for the project. 

There were creative and professional differences with what the band wanted to do long-term. Patrick wanted the band to go further and expand. Whereas, the rest of the band was doubtful about pursuing a professional music career, preferring to keep PLB "underground" and as a hobby.

Nonetheless, 2009 was the first year the band PLB began achieving fame and notoriety. They were often recording ideas on their laptop and sharing their music online. The PLB song Everyone Loves Ashley (written about former Disney Channel star Ashley Tisdale) becomes the band's major breakthrough in the regional music scene. 

Patrick begins taking his craft more seriously by taking music courses for his minor in college, and took most of Eddie's lead guitar role in the studio on the records. On October 30, 2009, Patrick began a common-law marriage (first serious relationship) with his former girlfriend. 

On September 1, 2009, PLB performed an impromptu set on-campus at their alma mater CSU East Bay. Later that year on December 11, the band PLB would release their second album Let It Rise and Against worldwide via CDBaby and through iTunes. The album would later be hailed as Patrick Lew Band's best album by the music community and on social-media.

2010:

PLB is offered to do a benefit concert in September 2010 at UC Berkeley hosted by the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity on-campus. However, band conflicts and stress forced PLB to cancel their live appearance onstage. 

Patrick briefly leaves Northern California to live in Lubbock, Texas for a few months with his girlfriend at the time. 

He returned to the Bay Area in July 2010, and resumed his music career and studies at CSU East Bay. The band also performed a livestream concert in their rehearsal space in Antioch, California on May 9, 2010. Most of the band was absent, except for Patrick and Greg. PLB became an early adopter to live-streaming, a practice that would become the standard a decade later for bands to host concerts along with advancements in technology during COVID-19. The band (mostly Patrick and Greg) would tape live-stream appearances that year in their home in Antioch, later uploading some of their final results on PLB's YouTube channel. 

Some time in late 2010, this version of PLB (Patrick and Greg mostly) recorded an EP of 6 or 7 cover songs (80's and 90's American Top 40 songs) in their home recording studio in Antioch, California. It was briefly uploaded online, until Greg wanted the recordings pulled off the Internet. Today unfortunately, the master tapes to this session no longer exist or in possession. 

2011:

Patrick graduated from CSU East Bay on June 11, 2011 with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Music Composition. Earlier that year on February 9, PLB would perform their song Matchmaker on-campus. A video of his live performance has since been digitally edited and uploaded on his YouTube channel. 

The band PLB becomes indecisive about where to go as a band. Eventually, settling on the idea of remaining an Internet-based local band. They would decide later if they want to perform live onstage in front of audiences in Northern California. A lot of activity followed during the previous 18 months leading up to the June 2, 2011 release of their third album Murder Bay. The band (mostly just Patrick) was busy practicing, writing and recording many songs at home at the time. PLB would release their 3rd album worldwide for free initially on file-sharing websites. The album Murder Bay would later be re-released worldwide on Spotify, Apple Music and everywhere else around 2018. 

PLB (mostly Patrick and Greg) would periodically perform in public in the Summer of 2011 in Antioch, California. And began live-streaming their performances directly on their YouTube and Facebook page. 

Patrick eventually moved back to his hometown San Francisco by the end of August that year. Taking all his musical gear and the band PLB with him. Blacklisted former member Jeremy would quit PLB in July for personal differences within the group. 

On September 24, 2011, PLB was ranked No. 2 most popular local rock band in Contra Costa County, California for a day or two on ReverbNation. 

Earlier in the year, Patrick would do interviews for Absolute Punk and Leicester Bangs online. 

2012:

PLB would begin work on a new album. Taking inspiration from X Japan's 1993 mini-album Art of Life, The Beatles song Revolution No. 9 and horror films. When presenting the idea to the rest of the remaining members involved in PLB, they were rejected. Undeterred, Patrick and his drummer David would lock themselves in Patrick's bedroom making music during mid-2012. This would become the EP Angry Yellow. The EP also marked a significant change in PLB's sound, borrowing elements from Dubstep, Prog-Rock and Electronic Music. 

Angry Yellow would be released on Bandcamp and other places online for free in August 2012.

PLB (Patrick mostly) would perform at San Francisco's Dolores Park on February 4, 2012 in the early evening hours for the inaugural Mobzilla event. 

In mid-2012, Patrick reconnected with Greg from the band to work on new music. And discuss long-term goals for PLB for another rebranding. Tensions grew increasingly cold and terse during these sessions. Greg wanted PLB to be a family-friendly Top 40 cover band that only performed in church, whereas Patrick wanted something different and opposite with PLB. Due to the increasing strain of the events, Patrick was unable to perform and operate under the PLB name for a few years. On September 5, 2012 on a Facebook post, Patrick announced the first breakup of the Patrick Lew Band. 

Patrick decided to build a new band around him without using the name PLB, going under temporary band names such as Heavy Sigma and The Steel Lions. The original plan for this project was to busk all across San Francisco with Patrick playing guitar and singing in street corners and open mics spontaneously. 

Some music made during this period, was initially going to be released on Bandcamp some time in 2013 with PLB. But due to strained relations with Greg and David Hunter and pending issues, this album would be delayed until January 1, 2021 and would later be released worldwide as the album No Sleep Till San Francisco! on all streaming platforms via CDBaby.

2013 & 2014:

PLB was inactive during this period. Patrick would periodically make music during these two years under the pseudonym The Steel Lions. This band idea would include Patrick and his drummer David from PLB as the tentative lineup. They performed two songs together at the Mama Art Cafe in San Francisco on September 13, 2013.

Much of his period is rather very dark and personal, as Patrick Lew was in the process of ending his six-year relationship with his then-girlfriend as things grew extremely complicated. 

Patrick also begins working a traditional day job outside the music scene for the first time during this period. 

Two months after his divorce from his then-girlfriend, Patrick did a personal televised interview on his YouTube channel to explain the matter and his intentions to return to music full-time on September 11, 2014. 

During late 2014, Patrick was announced as a celebrity endorsement for the brand Antennas Direct. By this point, all personal matters were cleared with PLB and Patrick finally ended his personal and business relationship with both Greg and David Hunter from the Patrick Lew Band. 

Which leads to...

2015 & 2016: 

PLB returned full-time to music on January 2, 2015. Uploading several new demos online on their website. They begin building hype surrounding their return to music on social-media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

This time around, The Steel Lions band idea was merged with the newly rebranded and rebooted PLB with Patrick and his then-drummer David. This version of Patrick Lew Band that returned to music after a 2-year hiatus was a rebranding and complete overhaul. Patrick also booked studio time with his friend Erick Salazar (ex-Distorted Harmony drummer) at his San Francisco recording studio during 2015 to work on new music for the group. 

PLB begins a very productive period during their 2nd run in the music scene. Making music, becoming online content creators and making public appearances. On July 3, 2015 during his Ambassador role with Antennas Direct, Patrick Lew was interviewed by a local K-Pop music television station. This would be his only televised appearance related to music on traditional media. 

Patrick's long-lost relative Madeline Lew (created from cross-dressing and digital special effects) officially joined the Patrick Lew Band on October 31, 2015 as a bassist and full-time virtual band member. PLB drummer David's role in the band diminishes due to interests in other pursuits. Patrick originally intended to bring a female cosplaying alter-ego into the band as early as 2009. 

By the end of 2015, Patrick began branching out of the Patrick Lew Band by playing guitar and bass for other local bands.

During 2016, PLB began selling their CDs (in limited quantity) at Amoeba in San Francisco and Berkeley. They would later be interviewed and guest featured by punk rock Internet radio station The Splat Radio by the end of the year. David Arceo would mutually part ways with the Patrick Lew Band in mid-2016 to pursue other endeavors. 

After the sessions at Erick's recording studio, PLB began taking their work-in-progress via Dropbox in their own home studio to finish making their new album. 

The band PLB also launched their own label Lewnatic Records (formerly known as The Promised Land) in their own house in San Francisco. 

Once often derided by the press and audiences, the public began to take PLB more seriously by 2016 upon Madeline joining the group. Subsequent reception regarding Patrick Lew Band became more positive onward.

2017: 

PLB's long-awaited album OAKLAND was released worldwide on all streaming platforms and on CD on Valentines Day. It was their first album to feature contributions from Madeline from PLB, and the final album to feature input from their drummer David. 

Patrick and Madeline planned to promote the album publicly shortly after its release. Tragically, their mother Winnie passed away on April 8, 2017. Which postponed any future plans and events for PLB. Patrick was later hospitalized in the Summer, but was cleared medically to return to performing and touring with PLB before Summer ended. 

During the Spring and Summer of 2017, PLB quietly worked intensively on new music at Lewnatic Records (also PLB HQ) in San Francisco. They would turn those sessions into a new album Cold Sirens, which was released worldwide as a digital album on August 20, 2017 on Spotify, Apple Music and every other major streaming app.

The band PLB began working with their booking agents MyAfton in mid-2017, and was tentatively scheduled to perform at Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco on August 6. The show was also advertised on-air by San Francisco classic rock radio station 107.7 THE BONE. Low ticket sales pushed their show to-be-rescheduled on October 8, 2017 instead. This live performance was filmed and later uploaded on both Patrick and Madeline's YouTube channels. 

It would also become PLB's final public appearance in almost three years. 

The band PLB would take a lengthy leave-of-absence caused by the passing of their mother. For the next three years, Patrick would play music with other local bands. Madeline would often make prominent appearances online during this period on social-media despite the sabbatical. 

2020 - Present:

PLB would make their shocking return to music full-time on March 17, 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the entire world. 

 

Patrick's plan and reasoning for bringing back PLB was to finish unsettled goals from where they left off three years prior. And to make the Patrick Lew Band bigger, better and badder than before. The goals would be realized successfully. This was PLB's most successful and profitable period to date. 

During 2020, PLB was featured in numerous press and music related blogs online. On June 13, 2020, Patrick was interviewed via FaceTime in Japan from the Baka Broadcast on that week's edition of The Bantercast. 

The band PLB was also heavily active on YouTube and social-media. By this point, their algorithms and fan base skyrocketed slightly online. By the end of 2020, at least 43 countries worldwide heard Patrick Lew Band either through YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music or elsewhere. The band PLB also performed a couple live-stream concerts in 2020 and two live-stream performances in early 2021. By this point, technology has advanced well enough to do PLB under these conditions. 

Madeline would also be heavily involved in PLB's creative process, lending her vocals on some new tracks. Breaking the 4th Wall: Her singing voice was created through VOCALOID 5 and her likeness was now being created through Gender Swapping and Reface apps on iPhone. 

During 2020, Madeline Lew from PLB would begin releasing her own solo material via A.I. With a more Video Game Music type of sound. 

The band PLB would release a large quantity of new music between 2020 and 2022 digitally. And expanded their online content and community outreach worldwide.