Mike Travis and Cliff White have played together for years in different bands: Naked Vanilla, Piston, Deo Volente, Meteorites, The Bricks ATX, and Vangarde Engine.
Naked Vanilla received quite a bit of local exposure which allowed the band to open for The Melvins, The Flaming Lips, The Jesus Lizard, and, well, many more. Steve Albini liked the band enough to offer his recording services. "Wooly Metal" has never been released; Amphetamine Reptile records passed on the record claiming Naked Vanilla was "too metal". A compliment if there ever was one! Naked Vanilla died an agonizing death brought on by fatigue and hunger .
Piston was initially a recording project that captured the rock (metal!) and new wave elements of Naked Vanilla. The recording was impressive enough to "Circus" magazine that Piston was featured as one of the unsigned bands given exposure in its pages. Piston gigged a few times around Austin with only two members (electronics and bass sequenced). Piston faded away to be replaced by...
Deo Volente started as a recording project and recorded two records before ever attempting to play live. The line up featured ex-Quiet Time drummer Chris Chillier on vocals. Deo Volente's second recording was reviewed by "Big Takeover" magazine and described as "Tool" with a french accent. This to the dismay of the band members who are not fans of Tool. Deo Volente broke up for all those reasons that bands do.
Bricks ATX has recorded its first record and is working on the second. This project with JJ Pistols and Adrian Moorefield is currently gigging in and around Austin. Check out The Bricks ATX for that Motorhead/Judas Priest type rock and roll!
Vangarde Engine is rehearsing and will be playing live soon.