Rajiv Patel

Rajiv Patel is a musician and virtuoso solo-guitarist from Mesa, Arizona.

Rajiv Divyang Patel
Rajiv Patel while performing with Before Braille
Background information
Genresindie rock
Occupation(s)guitarist
Years active2002-2004, 2006–present
LabelsSunset Alliance
Associated actsBefore Braille,
The Letterpress,
The Retaliation for What They Have Done to Us,
Strickland,[1]
Dear and the Headlights[2][3]

Story

Patel's Bands

Soon after Before Braille recorded its debut LP, The Rumor, Rajiv Patel was recruited and joined the band as its new lead guitarist.[4] Although he was still only in high school, Patel would seriously influence the style of Before Braille's music [5] and, according to members of the band, significantly improve it.[4] The significance of his contributions to Before Braille are most obvious when discovering that some of the music from his solo-releases, such as Make Like a Tree from Of Black Water and Make Like a Tree Part 2 from Get Phased directly inspire the Before Braille song Ticker Tape Charade, which appeared on the Spring Cleaning album.

Patel is also well known for his work as "lead bass player" in the band The Letterpress. Unlike many other bands, The Letterpress lacked any guitars, featuring only two bass players and a drummer.[6] This, however, allowed the band to showcase Patel's skills in quite a different way to make up for the lack of guitarists.[7]

Patel's Solo Work

In addition to his work as a member of various bands, Patel, would also garner significant attention as a solo-guitarist. Because of his unique style, which draws on rock and Middle-Eastern influences, many critics agree that his music might take a couple listens to get used to,[8] yet all appear to enjoy his work, noting that "If you take the time to get into it, you’ll REALLY like this."[9] Ron Trembath at FensePost.com provides another example of the critical acclaim for Patel's solo work, calling it "the fresh cigarette on a Sunday morning or, if you prefer, the black coffee for the unsurpassed rain. This is just plain wonderful." [10]

His live show has been as well received as his recordings, leaving critics "blown away by what an amazing guitarist he is" and finding it "hard to believe someone could make that much music with just one instrument." [11]

Patel's musical hiatus and return

In 2004, Patel took a two-year hiatus from the music industry in order to serve a mission in Peru for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[12] After returning from Peru, Patel got back into music. However, because Before Braille broke up while he was still in South America,[13] he would initially pursue other projects. One of them, for example, was a venture with former members of Before Braille and Jared Woosley of Fivespeed called Red Means Red, although it does not appear that this band ever really got off the ground.[14] Then in 2009, Patel released his first solo recording in five years, the Get Phased EP, and toured with Dear and the Headlights as both an opening act, as well as its bass player.[3][10]

Discography

Solo Albums
Release date Title Label Notes
2003 Obey the Cattle Sunset Alliance
2004 Of Black Water Sunset Alliance
2009 Get Phased EP Sunset Alliance This was initially released as a tour EP, that later became available to the broader public.

Albums with Bands
Release date Band Title Label Notes
? The Retaliation for What They Have Done to Us Self-Titled Sunset Alliance Patel's song Bipolar Bear, which appears on his Of Black Water album, is a hidden track on this album.
2003 The Letterpress Input/Output Sunset Alliance Ravij Patel played bass in this band instead of guitar.
2004 Before Braille Cattle Punching on a Jack Rabbit EP Sunset Alliance
2004 Before Braille Balance and Timing EP Sunset Alliance, Bad News Bears Records
2005 Before Braille Tired of Not Being Away From Here Sunset Alliance, You and Whose Army? Records
2009 Before Braille Kill the Messenger, Keep the Message Sunset Alliance
2009 Before Braille Spring Cleaning Sunset Alliance The songs Ticker Tape Charade and Oh Well appear to be directly influenced by Patel's Make Like a Tree and Deer in the Headlights, respectively.
2011 Before Braille Instrumentals Sunset Alliance

Solo Contributions to Compilations
Song: Rock 'N Roll Friends Check Each Others' Books Back In

References
  1. Myspace Strickland Fan Site retrieved 02-24-12
  2. Common Wall Media Official Site: Dear & the Headlights, Artists retrieved 02-24-12
  3. Chilton, Steven.Reflections on Clarity: Rajiv Patel of Dear and the Headlights, The Phoenix New Times, Up On the Sun Blog, Mar. 4, 2009 retrieved 02-25-12
  4. Dominic, Serene. Blind Ambition, The Phoenix New Times, Oct. 3, 2002 retrieved 02-25-12
  5. Carradini, Stephen. Before Braille, IndependentClauses.com, Mar. 21, 2004 retrieved 02-24-12
  6. The Letterpress Official MySpace retrieved 03-15-12
  7. Shimmer, Matt. Review of Input/Output by The Letterpress retrieved 03-15-12
  8. See, e.g., Shimmer, Matt. Indieville.com Review of Obey the Cattle retrieved 03-15-12
  9. Carradini, Stephen, Independentclauses.com Review of Obey the Cattle, Feb. 22, 2004 retrieved 03-15-12
  10. Trembath, Ron. Rajiv Patel [Featured Artist], FensePost.com, Dec. 10, 2009 retrieved 03-15-12
  11. Escoto, Mike. Kinch's Christmas Party at Rhythm Room, Up on the Sun Blog, The Phoenix New Times, Dec. 23, 2009 retrieved 03-15-12
  12. Stinkweeds Review of Cattle Punching on a Jack Rabbit Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 02-24-12
  13. AlternativeAddiction.com, Band profile: Before Braille retrieved 02-24-12
  14. Red Means Red MySpace retrieved 03-08-12
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