Patrick Allan Lew (born November 15, 1985), better known by his stage name Patrick Hayashi, is an American musician, YouTuber and occasional actor. He currently plays guitar for Benigneglect, which also features fellow Fil Am rapper A.K.AYE, and also plays guitar and makes music with PLB. He also makes occasional appearances with other bands on the freelance indie circuit. He is best known for his tenure with TheVerse, where he played guitar, recorded and toured between 2015 and 2019. He has also played bass for the band Pleasure Gallows for a few months as a fill in.

Characterized by his lowbrow humor, erratic and charismatic public persona, Lew has also made a brief uncredited cameo appearance on Season 4 and Episode 1 of the Amazon TV series The Man in the High Castle. He also won several titles in the regional music scene, as well as being a Class of 2019 40 Under 40 inductee at his alma mater California State University, East Bay, being the first major Japanese American male to receive the award.

EARLY LIFE

Patrick Allan Lew was born on November 15, 1985. He is of Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese descent and has two siblings, his older brother Ricky and younger “fictional” sister Madeline. An avid rock and roll music fan who idolized Nirvana, Metallica, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as a child, he used music as an escape from his rough upbringing and relatively troubled childhood by listening to CDs of his favorite bands and reading the success stories about his favorite rock bands.

He began playing guitar once his maternal cousin Andy was living with his family one Summer as a foreign exchange student at City College of San Francisco, playing his older brother’s old Fender guitar and amp he left sitting in the closet. One year after beginning high school, he began to play guitar in a band. He supported and motivated himself through trusting his close friends in his networking and through his mother.

Lew graduated from Wallenberg High School in 2004. He would later attend City College of San Francisco, before transferring to California State University, East Bay, where he graduated in June 2011 with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Music.

INDIE MUSIC CAREER

EARLY BANDS (2001-2007)

Lew began playing music regionally at age 15 whilst attending high school. He formed his first band with his schoolmates Eddie Blackburn, Shawn Blacharski and Tommy Loi. His first ventures in the scene were being a photographer for more locally established metal bands such as FLOOD (which featured his schoolmate Eli on bass/vocals) and being a one time roadie for New Jersey based Asian American fusion duo Fantasia, which also featured violinist Jack Hsu.

He began home recording on a Portastudio and began putting his work out there on the Internet. At age 19, his band was briefly signed to a developmental contract with an indie label based in La Jolla, California. His band would soon be dropped from his label and his developmental deal after sending his demo CD and EPK to the label. During this period, Patrick Lew would drop a couple mixtapes of some musical ideas that his band worked on under various former band names.

While attending City College of San Francisco, he met his schoolmate Zack Huang and began pondering and brainstorming ideas to do an upstart local metal band. While attending Skyline College for one semester, he met his close friend David Arceo, who would join him and Zack for a jam session at Lew’s house. Together, they formed the startup metal group Band of Asians. Together, they began booking time in a local recording studio and began creating music together.

On November 15, 2006, Band of Asians self released their first and only studio album REVENGE through CDBaby. The album would later be retconned and rereleased as Patrick Lew Band’s debut album Jump! Rattle! And Roll!!!, in 2019 on CDBaby and various streaming platforms. During 2007, Band of Asians would begin touring locally in San Francisco performing onstage in different and fluctuating band lineups, most notably, at City College of San Francisco.

PATRICK LEW BAND (2007-2012)

Finding Himself (2007-2008)

After Band of Asians concluded their regional tour across recreational centers and school by October 2007, Lew began pondering a solo music career due to problems keeping his group Band of Asians together musically and personally. After the tour ended, the band’s lineup dwindled down to just Patrick Lew and David Arceo for a myriad of reasons.

Patrick Lew would also participate on Soundclick.com’s 10th Anniversary Songwriters Contest and was a Quarter Finalist before getting eliminated. That same year, defunct website DMusic.com handpicked Patrick Lew as the Rising Artist of the Year.

While Patrick was enjoying his time playing live and loud onstage on campus, he wanted his then-band Band of Asians to go somewhere further. However, nothing came out of the masterplan and eventually Band of Asians amicably split in April 2008 mainly because of creative differences and everyone in the band having different long-term plans ahead.

Critical Jackpot, Controversy and Peak Years (2008-2012)

Depressed, unsure of himself and defeated by the opposition and hardships. Patrick Lew laid low for a short period. He quickly found an outlet for rearranging Chiptunes music on FL Studio on his old laptop for a short while. He was also experiencing a lot of polarizing and lukewarm reactions on social-media for his music for mainly “invalid” reasons. But he was not going down without a fight and was willing to do whatever it takes! Even if he was trying to figure out life while in his early 20s. He left the city he was born and raised and relocated to Antioch, CA in the East Bay with his mother.

Patrick Lew decided the only way to go as a creative outlet for his solo compositions and ideas was to start something new and fresh. He was still performing and recording under the Samurai Sorcerers name all over the Internet. Even after Tommy and Eddie have moved onto other things in life. Patrick really thought the band name Samurai Sorcerers was very tacky, possibly ethnocentric and that nobody would take his band seriously with that kind of name. One morning after grabbing a cup of Strawberry Boba, Patrick Lew decided to rechristen the Samurai Sorcerers officially as the Patrick Lew Band on a MySpace blog. He also began home recording and doing everything himself. Until he reacquainted with someone from his past to become the Patrick Lew Band’s drummer and while attending CSU East Bay, a few of his rather uncool and unsupportive classmates.

The Patrick Lew Band’s peak years in the indies (maybe still amateur?) between 2009 to 2012 can be summarized in lots of detail. The PLB was primarily an online collaboration type of band where everyone involved would communicate via Facebook private messages, AOL instant messenger and etc etc. They would record each part separately in their own home studios, email each other all the files and Patrick would copy, cut and paste everything together with his own input. Patrick Lew dated his college sweetheart Samantha during Summer 2009 but eventually got into a “faux” marriage with his then-partner Faith on October 30, 2009. He was misused in the dating scene for quite a long while with names we are definitely not going to mention of course! This six year relationship was derailed by religious differences, manipulative and emotionally abusive tendencies and other controversial subject matter.

The creativity did not stop however. During the PLB’s peak years of 2009 through 2012, the band self-released three albums on the Internet: Curb Your Wild Life (2009), Let It Rise and Against (2009) and Murder Bay (2011). After a three and a half year absence from live performances and touring, Patrick Lew began occasionally playing live again. Making a comeback gig at his alma mater CSU East Bay on February 9, 2011 performing an improvised version of the song “Matchmaker.” A small-scale tour was in the works apparently for the PLB as plans were being discussed. Such as grabbing a permit to play live shows wherever they can. The PLB was actually offered to play a benefit concert at UC Berkeley some time during Fall 2010, but was cancelled when none of the bandmates could agree or co-exist to do the performance. To make up for it. PLB would busk a little in their former hometown of Antioch, CA during June 2011. These performances were taped and some of it has been uploaded on Patrick Lew’s YouTube page.

The Patrick Lew Band began receiving notice through online media outlets such as AbsolutePunk and were interviewed by renowned British music critic Leicester Bangs. Things were apparently looking up...

First Band Breakup (2012)

The masterplan initially was to reinvent and rebrand Patrick Lew Band as an actual performing and home recording band. Playing shows locally and recording songs in their own home studio in the East Bay. However, creative and personal differences and some band drama ripped apart the former PLB. Patrick wanted to further reach his goals as an artist whereas his former bandmates at the time were rather uninterested in pursuing a secular area in the music business. On September 5, 2012, Patrick announced the former Patrick Lew Band's breakup on Facebook.

THE STEEL LIONS (2012-2017)

Patrick responded to the implosion of the Patrick Lew Band lineup by forming The Steel Lions to get back at his disgruntled colleagues. He quickly landed a distribution deal with an upstart small label based in the Pacific Northwest and took some of his “rejected” music and demos to The Steel Lions. His relationship with his then-partner Faith looked to be on the brinks of improving and becoming solid at the time. However, that did not turn out to be the case.

Amidst the transitional period and rebuilding, Patrick Lew graduated college with a B.A. in Philosophy at CSU East Bay and passed his driving test at the Pittsburg California DMV on September 24, 2012. His relationship with his then-partner Faith declined considerably at an accelerated pace by the end of 2012. She became the apparent “Black Widow" of the PLB but in her own kind of way. Frustrated with his status in life and disillusioned with the politics of the music business and feeling unhappy with his role in the scene. Patrick Lew took time away from his passion for music. Focusing on adulting and working a real day job.

He wouldn’t disappear however. Because of his circle of friends clamouring for Patrick to get back onstage. His band The Steel Lions was booked to play at Mama Art Cafe on September 13, 2013 which a video recording of his performance has since been leaked all over the Internet. The next day however, his then-partner Faith and Patrick had a terrible argument over him doing the gig and feeling more discouraged. Patrick Lew decided to stay away from indie music once again. Even his acquaintance Salvador Martinez tried to coax Patrick into playing with his new band Kings of Malevolence during late 2013, it was obvious that Patrick’s heart was not into music at the time.

Patrick Lew would sporadically record material in his home studio in San Francisco, CA. Having invested in a Macintosh computer and new musical gear gained from his salary from his day job secretly behind closed doors. It was around this time, Patrick went into a Guitar Center and bought him a cherry red Epiphone Les Paul Junior which would become his signature guitar.

The Steel Lions was intermittently active during this time frame. With occasional Facebook posts being updated with memes and Patrick Lew's other passion in life: Smart TV and professional wrestling. Since Patrick Lew Band's first hiatus in September 2012, the band's Facebook page was reportedly never updated and left blank and unmaintained until PLB officially returned to the indie music scene during early 2015.

Thankfully, Patrick knew enough was enough. His six year “faux” marriage and relationship with his then-partner Faith ended on July 17, 2014 and Patrick has since never looked back and moved forward. He also acquired the rights to the Patrick Lew Band name and on January 2, 2015, the Patrick Lew Band (now a solo project for Patrick himself) returned to performing and recording in the indie circuit.

Patrick Lew would collaborate with former Distorted Harmony drummer Erick Salazar in his recording studio in mid 2015. Working on new musical ideas with Erick for a future Steel Lions LP. These recording sessions resulted in the Steel Lions album Unfinished Relics which was released on CDBaby and streaming services and apps worldwide on May 12, 2016.

By this time, the original and former Steel Lions Facebook page was merged with Patrick Lew Band's official and verified Facebook page. Patrick described Steel Lions as a "stop gap" band. Comparing the transition to Sega 32X being a stop gap for the Sega Saturn. The Steel Lions quietly disbanded in early 2017 as Patrick Lew was concentrating more on his indie music career with TheVerse and the revived Patrick Lew Band.

SECOND RUN WITH PATRICK LEW BAND (2015-2019)

The Madeline Lew Era (2015-2017)

Continuing where he left off. Lew was putting himself more out there on social-media platforms like Facebook and received an endorsement and became a spokesmodel for Antennas Direct, a digital HDTV antenna maker. Lew rebuilt his home studio and rehearsal space in his residence in San Francisco. And began playing music again. More determined to become better at what he's been doing. In 2015, the new Patrick Lew Band began self-releasing new music on social-media and through iTunes, Spotify and other digital platforms including their albums To the Promised Land and Bubblegum Babylon.

After dabbling with side-projects and some personal demons. The Patrick Lew Band returned to the scene better than ever. Lew won the award for "Best Experimental Rock Song" in July 2016 with the Akademia Music Awards. That same year, the PLB released their first official DVD and began working with booking company Afton to help get the PLB some shows to play locally. Even local Bay Area rock radio station 107.7 THE BONE mentioned the Patrick Lew Band on air. Patrick Lew’s crossdressing alter ego Madeline Lew (fictional younger sister) joined the PLB around 2016 as well and began making a buzz on social-media in a small way too!

After several years of heartbreak, divorce and taking a sabbatical from the dating scene. In mid 2018, Lew began dating his former girlfriend and current friend Sigyn and joined her esoteric and experimental garage band based in San Jose, CA known as Crazy Loser in a Box. He also lent his voice as an actor for her cult YouTube animated series Deceiver of Fools, playing the eccentric Japanese-American comedic role of Tokiomi. Aside from being very musically active with three totally different bands: PLB, TheVerse and Crazy Loser in a Box. Lew also began contributing as a voice actor for a few friends' creative projects and recently has been potentially casted as an Extra for an upcoming Amazon Prime TV series The Man in the High Castle.

Patrick Lew would also be a fill-in as a touring bass player for the San Francisco punk band The Tortured for two shows in October 2016 after their former bassist Danville Dan left the band. Patrick was close friends with Johnny Lawrie (The Tortured's Frontman) and the two spoke to each other through Facebook about doing the gig and playing some music for the time being. Patrick filled-in as a bass player for The Tortured in October 2016 for two live performances. Eventually, Patrick and Johnny's friend Derek Zender would become The Tortured's official new bassist. And Patrick Lew was too busy writing and recording new music in his home studio with Patrick Lew Band.

Loss of Patrick's Mother & Further Regional Success (2017-2019)

Tragically, Patrick Lew's beloved mother Winnie Hayashi passed away on April 8, 2017.

The loss of his mother and a scabies scare took a toll on Lew temporarily and for brief period, he laid low. But never the man to surrender his passion for rock and roll despite what he's gone through, he performed a blistering five-song set at San Francisco's Brick & Mortar Music Hall on October 8, 2017 and released perhaps the best PLB album to date "OAKLAND."

Following the end of 2017, Patrick Lew Band was no longer a full time priority for Lew as his talents and attention drifted to playing music for other local bands. Throughout 2018 and early 2019, Lew would make very sporadic studio appearances with the Patrick Lew Band.

2019 proved to be a troublesome year for Patrick Lew. Brought on by two very bad automobile incidents, toxic relationships, cyber bullying and tensions with his father reaching a new all-time high following his mother’s passing back in April 2017.

However. Good things came waiting in its wings when Patrick Lew Band was finally honored for their impact in their community and the indie music scene. It was announced via Facebook that Patrick Lew was going to be inducted into the third annual CSU East Bay 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame ceremony on June 7, 2019.

The Patrick Lew Band would digitally self-release one final single under the PLB name. A cover of the old Monkees song “I Wanna Be Free” was released on streaming services (ex. Spotify and Apple Music) on April 8th. On June 7, 2019, Patrick Lew was inducted into the 3rd annual Cal State East Bay 40 Under 40 honors. He also became the first major Japanese-American male to earned the high honors and the second Taiwanese-American male (following Nick Vasallo) to receive the accolade.

This also marked the proper send-off for Patrick Lew Band and would become Patrick’s final appearance as Patrick Lew Band.

LEWNATIC/BENIGNEGLECT (2019-PRESENT)

Following his second departure from Patrick Lew Band, Patrick kept a low-profile. Instead, focusing on his day job as a chocolatier at Pier 39 and courier work.

On July 2, 2019, Patrick Lew announced worldwide through a press release that he would be pursuing a solo career under the name LEWNATIC. And was going “back to basics” as an artist. Focusing less on adhering to the traditions of the music industry and placing more emphasis on passion: “making metal music and putting it out there for everyone and living a more simple life.”

Intense guitar session videos were immediately filmed on his phone and posted all over Patrick Lew’s social-media accounts (ex. Facebook, Instagram and etc) as a buildup to an actual home studio recording.

Patrick explained that the second breakup of Patrick Lew Band:

“I started Patrick Lew Band. I ended it. Simple as that.

The real reason? I felt I've done that all I could creatively with PLB. And made all the impact I needed to and desired. And it was one of those grandiose ideas where it became a boring exercise to make sophisticated rock music where it didn't go as far as I would have liked it to.

I've said to myself before, "once the PLB runs out of creativity and becomes in danger of becoming a caricature of its former self. That was the time to pull the plug on Patrick Lew Band." Plus I've made all that impact I've needed to with Patrick Lew Band in just almost 20 years but not the way I wanted it to be.

Rather than spare myself more trouble trying to push PLB to major league status. I've went the other route as a solo artist where I just wanted to be free from the anxiety and stress and play music as a labor of love rather than pressure and push myself to become the G.O.A.T in rock and roll.”

Patrick found out that he was going to Japan for the first time with his father and the rest of his family to serve his mother Winnie’s final purpose that Summer. He decided when he was going to be in Japan to busk as an artist or do open mics with his new band LEWNATIC. His first trip back to his native Japan also changed him greatly as a person and also help repair some fractured relations with his father that’s been going on since the passing of his mother Winnie.

He came back to a hero’s welcome locally and at his day job at Chocolate Heaven Pier 39.

On September 6, 2019, Patrick Lew and Fil-Am rapper and friend A.Kaye performed an in-house live show at Patrick’s home recording studio. The performance has since leaked online on social-media.

While working with Crazy Loser in a Box sporadically in his home studio via online collaboration between himself and Sigyn for a new album. He decided to drop his first major release with LEWNATIC via digital distribution online. A two-song EP titled “The American Nightmare.”

He also began working with booking agents Afton Shows again on the side. LEWNATIC performed their first show in the Bay Area at San Francisco’s historic DNA Lounge on November 3, 2019. A video of the live performance has since leaked online, especially on YouTube. On December 15, 2019, Lewnatic would perform again at DNA Lounge, debuting a new member in the band, fellow Filipino rapper A.K.AYE. After weeks of teasing new members being introduced into the band, his friend and bandmate A.K.AYE would officially join Lewnatic as the band’s beatmaker, bassist and MC. This performance would also become the band’s debut release on Spotify, Brotherhood.

During early 2020, Lewnatic began working on new music in their home studio Lewnatic HQ in San Francisco. Some of these sessions were featured as a YouTube video of the band “working on new material.” Afterwards, the band Lewnatic shifted from being a Patrick Lew Hayashi oriented Speed Metal solo project to a new fierey and sonic Nu Metal band known as Benigneglect.

On March 8, 2020, the newly rechristened Benigneglect would perform at DNA Lounge once again. A YouTube video of their live performance has since surfaced online. The band is currently slowly and steadily working on new music in their own individual home studios, as well as pursuing solo projects amidst the COVID19 pandemic.

THIRD RUN WITH PATRICK LEW BAND (2020-PRESENT) However, retirement of the PLB wasn’t meant to be! On March 17, 2020, Patrick posted on Instagram confirming the return of the Patrick Lew Band in the indie music scene and the Yay Area.

Because of the COVID19 pandemic and resurgence of racism towards Asian people, further affecting his activities and live performance schedule with his band Benigneglect, Patrick decided to revive PLB for sporadic appearances in the Internet music world.

Working a lighter schedule with PLB in case Benigneglect is cleared to tour again. He began throwing empty house shows at his home studio Lewnatic HQ, beginning the COVID19 Lockdown Tour. He also became very active on his YouTube channel. Because of the pandemic affecting his professional indie music career and day job at Pier 39, he decided to keep busy with his PLB! There’s only more to come in the unpredictable, wild and out world of Patrick Lew Band!

CONCLUSION/MORAL OF THE STORY Let music be the labor of love! Patrick Lew's goal is to become bigger, better and badder in rock music despite his ethnicity or shortcomings. He will always be what he is, what he does and will continue to try and rock a million faces on the World Wide Web. And of course, the Bay Area.