There is something to be said for longevity and determination. When talking about the eight years San Diego’s Reason to Rebel has been a band, the subject can’t help but come up. Most musicians are content to just play music for fun with the hope that something good may eventually come of it. Reason to Rebel’s approach has always been a little different. Ever since releasing their first album in 2005, the band has made it a point to travel to the farthest reaches of the country in search of new fans and the kind of experiences that stick with you for a lifetime. Where other bands couldn’t handle the stress that comes with performing for your next meal, this band thrived on it, and used it as motivation to become the best musicians and entertainers they could possibly be. When not on the road, they were constantly writing and recording, knowing that you’re only as good as the next thing you put out. This work ethic and strive for excellence is what made the band self-release four albums, and drew such accomplished guest musicians as Ikey Owens (The Mars Volta, Jack White) and Brent Hinds (Mastodon) to perform on their recordings. There has always been a deep message attached to the lyrics found on Reason to Rebel’s music. Fed up witnessing indignities and corruption permeate our society on a daily basis, the group set out to make music that was socially conscious, as well as a rallying cry to the disillusioned. Over the course of the band’s career, their music has evolved on a continuous basis, seamlessly melding elements of hip-hop, jazz, and metal into a form of Southern California hard rock that is most definitely their own. Over the last few years, the band has had the opportunity to open for some of the biggest acts in music, including Incubus, Sublime With Rome, Cypress Hill, Smashing Pumpkins, and Serj Tankian of System of a Down, amongst others. The two times the band has competed in local Battle of the Band type events, they emerged victorious (first in 2011 at the Cabo Wabo “Your Shot To Rock” competition, and most recently at this year’s Hard Rock Cafe’s “Hard Rock Rising” battle). The year 2013 promises to be unlike any other for the band, as they have been hard at work writing and recording demos for an upcoming fifth album with Alex Pappas, drummer of the band Finch. They are especially excited about this new material, as it is by far the band’s most accessible yet. Be prepared to see a lot of Reason to Rebel in the months and years ahead. This is without a doubt a band poised to make the leap from underground sensation to, quite possibly, the next big thing...