Amy Wiseman Staff Photographer Dollybraid performs for their last time Friday night at the Groovy Mule. The Denton-based band formed in 1997 and toured around the nation. [Click to enlarge]

Memories of Dollybraid draw emotions at final performance

“This means so much to me because even though the band is breaking up, Danielle and I are starting something new,” Blake said.

Laughter ensued from the mouths of shocked witnesses when Blake knelt down before the Groovy Mule stage.

The sold-out crowd cheered after hearing Danielle Condray, the bride-to-be, agreed.

A group of rockers raised their lighters into the air, adding a glimmer of hope to a night that would later be filled with sadness and tears.

“The biggest Kleenex box will be on stage with me beside my drum set,” said Dollybraid drummer Robert Jones.

Jones, who is better known by fans as “Moonshine,” said directional differences have forced the band mates to go their separate ways.

Mark Sims, guitarist, said that he would describe the group’s split as a necessary evil.

“It hurts, because Moonshine and I were the co-founders of the group and it’s hard to see your baby cease to exist anymore,” he said.

Sims said he could remember a time when the group wasn’t very popular and didn’t have the fame or the fans.

“We built ourselves up and the fans were a major part of our success,” he said.

Condray, Denton resident, said she was furious at the news of the band’s break up because she loved the group.

“It’s kind of angering because they were really good,” she said.

“It is so disappointing that they are not going to be together anymore.”

However, many people said they were not really concerned with the motives that led the band to move on, they just wanted to try to hold on to the memories.

Devoted Dollybraid fans bought T-shirts and compact discs as David Neff, Dollybraid vocalist, took the stage.

Neff opened the show by saying, “I hope that we aren’t over-capacitated.”

The crowd went wild when Neff began to freestyle to a funky soulful beat.

Dolly Braid’s original bassist Jose Yllana said that it was hard for him to sit back and watch the performance.

“There was a time when I was a part of this band and I will always feel like there is a piece of Dollybraid with me, but now that it is ending I feel like a part of me has ended,” Yllana said.

The clock struck 1:45 a.m. and Dollybraid played its final tune.

A woman fought back the tears as she captured the moment with her camcorder.

“Tonight was the most emotional night for all of us, because have been through a lot as brothers in music,” Jones said.

Band remembers NT roots, rise to fame in Southwest

Mark Sims,
Dollybraid guitarist

In the past six years, members of Denton-born rock band Dollybraid have extensively toured the United States, shared the stage with some of rock’s finest acts and closed a chapter in their lives together as a band.

The band formed in 1997.

Robert “Moonshine” Jones, drummer, Mark Sims, guitarist, and Jose Yllana, bassist, met while rooming together in Kerr Hall.

David Neff, vocalist, joined the band almost a year and a half later after auditioning.

In July 1999, the band released its self-titled debut, “Dollybraid,” which sold nearly 1,500 copies.

“It was like kids in a candy store,” Sims said.

“We just kept staring at it, saying, ‘we have a CD out.’ It felt great.”

Dollybraid released “All the Hype Money Can Buy” in August 2000, selling over 3,000 copies.

For Sims, music has always been a big factor in his life.

“Music, and more specifically my band, has opened my eyes and my mind to so many new things in the world,” Sims said.

“It’s taken me to places that I might not have ever seen. It’s revived me when I was down and kept me happy through hard times. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The band toured relentlessly in promotion of their latest album.

While on tours, the band made stops throughout Texas, Little Rock, Oklahoma City and Louisiana.

They also shared the stage among a slew of musicians during Edgefest, including the Nixons, Stroke 9, Oleander, Everclear, Lifehouse, Dexter Freebish, Weezer and Fuel.

“I think the two times we played at Edgefest were amazing, especially the most recent one,” Sims said.

“Our single had been out for a while, so people actually knew who we were.”

Recently, it was announced the Dollybraid would end its career as a band and begin working on different projects.

“I was mad when I heard that Dollybraid was breaking up,” said Sophia Stuttes, Houston junior.

“They were so essential to Denton’s music scene because they were such a great rock band.”

Yet, there were no hard feelings and the reasoning behind the breakup was mutual among the band members.

“When people start to want different things, you risk a lot by staying together,” Sims said. “Without each member being happy with what they are doing, there’s no point on going on.

That’s kind of what was starting to happen, so we chose to end it on good terms and leave the door open for the future.”

There have already been talks of a reunion show.

Band members have said that they are not allowing this breakup to have an affect their future musical projects in any way.

“I shared six years of my life with some very talented and fun people,” Sims said.

Sims said the time with the band has been wonderful.

“We learned so much from all of our mistakes, that we walk away with the power of knowledge and experience,” he said.

“The people that we’ve met, the bands we’ve played with and all of the listeners we’ve gained are all priceless.”

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