Brandon Underwood

Brandon didn’t discover music until he was around 9 or 10. He remembers going to a John McLaughlin Shakti concert at the Center for the Arts in Escondido with his dad when he was eight. This is when his musical awareness began. From that moment, he started to appreciate music differently.

My dad has a big influence on my musical ear. He taught me how to listen to music and how to understand what the drummer was doing, and that really helped from a pretty young age. I really owe all of my musical taste and my drumming to my dad, if it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would be playing drums now.” – Brandon Underwood

Brandon was introduced to fusion jazz artists like Billy Cobham and Tony Williams, Narada Michael Walden, Dennis Chambers, Dave Weckl. It changed his perception of music, what kind of music he listened to, and how he listened.  

In 2009, he joined his first band called Arcane, a progressive, fast and technical rock. Brandon and the guitarist now have a two-piece band called Ruderalis. A very technical progressive metal with all instrumentals.

He also plays in a Spanish rock band called Que Oso, fast rock with a lot of Latin influence including the vocals, which are all in Spanish. Que Oso has played in venues such as the House of Blues San Diego, Tower Bar, Til Two Club, and Soda Bar.

Brandon plays in bands of all genres. He has drummed for Gravespell, a black/death metal band, a hip hop band called Strange Theory Experiment, and Puzzled Eyes, a fun Indie Rock band from Vista.  

I really enjoy playing all different kinds of music, I don’t like labels of being a particular type of drummer. I play all styles of music, in my opinion, that’s what makes you a musician.” – Brandon Underwood