Waco's Punk Rock Past Part 4

If there was ever a time to be a part of Waco's music underground it was in the year 2001. Just a few months into the year and there were more bands playing then anytime I could remember. After Korc74 called it quits, we started working on a new project. Kevin, Aaron, John, and I decided to go a different route with our music. At first we were practicing in the youth room of Aaron's Church, but soon we would share a practice space with a new and upcoming band.

Remember those two young kids, Roberto Ramirez and Shay Scranton? That first show they had gone to, the one with Korc74 and The Paperclip Pirates, in December of 1999. They started a band, with their classmate Jason Jordan. They called themselves Well Inside Out. I first saw them play in the spring of 2001, with another band that also impressed me. A punk rock band from Gatesville Texas, named Garage 34. Most of the shows we're happening at either Trinity Lutheran Church or, our unofficial home, the Jubilee Theater. There seemed to be a couple of shows a month. The American Culture Experiments we're playing outside of Waco, getting their name out there. ADD was also playing shows around Texas. Kids from all over Central Texas where descending on Waco to see every band they could, and it wasn't just punk anymore. Bands like Ethan Durelle, who played kind of an indie rock style, were gaining popularity. Mark Needs a Chick seemed to have more shows in Dallas and Houston than in Waco. Waco was spreading their unique sound all over.

A few months of practicing with the new band, now called The Faction, our drummer decided to take a mission trip, essentially a two-month hiatus from the band. Since we were practicing with WIO, we just asked Berto to fill in so that we can continue to practice. With the exception of ACX and ADD, most bands fell in the category of pop punk. This was a style that The Faction was not trying to be. Having Berto jam with us was a challenge for him. It pushed him to play something he had never done, and that eventually led to Well Inside Out getting heavier. Soon, Aaron came back and we got back to business as usual. Now it was time to book a show. In the fall of 2001 the faction took the stage at Trinity Lutheran Church. Another New Edition to the Waco scene was a band named Dorks For Hire, a really cool pop punk band who opened up the night. I remember seeing a lot of Korc's t-shirts being worn by the crowd. I was actually nervous, just before we took the stage we were talking about how the crowd may not like us. With our red white and blue candles, and upside down UN flag draped over the drum set, we started our instrumental intro. Heads bobbed up and down to the beat, then Kevin screamed out those opening lyrics, "first period rolls around, shots are fired you hit the ground." I saw jaws drop and people stare, confused at what they we're seeing, then like a whirlwind, bodies slammed, the crowd cheered, and moved with excitement.

Less than a week later, we saw the same results when we played a show in Gatesville. The Faction, Well Inside Out, Garage 34 trifecta had begun. It wasn't long before styles in the scene diversified, bands from more than just Waco we're coming to see and play, and more new bands like Soundcheckk Lint, , Release the Controls, and Preskool were gracing the stage. The Faction would go on to play regularly until our singer got married. After his wedding, he took some time away from the band, and we reorganized under the name Fallout. Still playing as much as we could, but one man down. It was around that time that the music scene had gotten to a size that warranted politics.

In the Fall of 2003 The Faction would reunite for one last show and we, mostly I, would find myself in the middle of controversy, and a grudge match that would tear the scene to pieces.