Leonora was Braver Noise's first album, before the album Sand Surreal, and building on the momentum of the Law and Order and Bollocks punk releases on Fetal Records.

In 1986, William Dagher, Dave Clark and Beat Digger teamed up with Matt Hunter who went to UMBC with William. Braver Noise started out playing Positive Force shows and a large part of their early success is attributable to Mark Anderson who appeared to take a liking to the band.

Braver Noise received favorable press… The Washington Post stated “A versatile band. Braver Noise can credibly play punk, funk and English folk…” The Baltimore City Paper wrote “The utter accessibility of this 8 song LP came as a pleasant surprise… fashioning a hybrid which cadges elements of folk, funk and hardcode… and a healthy dose of punk… Matt Hunter may be the best pure singer on the local scene.” The Maryland Musician wrote “Sand Surreal is nothing short of a masterpiece… remarkably impressive”

Braver Noise achieved moderate success playing the 9:30 Club and Hamerjack’s a few times and opening up for Billy Bragg and 54.40. Braver Noise received airplay on regional radio stations WHFS and WCVT. Braver Noise played a few Johns Hopkins University shows thanks to the connections of their friend Beth Johnson. Braver Noise played in NYC at CBGBs and Toronto at the one of the night clubs on Yonge Street.

Braver Noise’s favorite bands that they played with were Ocean Blue, Schmovie, Press Mob, Shudder to Think, The Undecided, The Unknown, and Strange Boutique. Braver Noise also played with Scream a couple of times at the Positive Force shows. David Grohl drummed for both Scream and Nirvana before taking the lead spot with Foo Fighters.

Braver Noise’s last show was in John Peltz’s back yard in the summer of 1991, a few weeks after William’s first daughter (Sophia Dagher) was born. Between 1986 and 1991, the band played over one hundred shows and spent over 200 hours in recording studios… Unlike Lyle Preslar from Minor Threat who had the good fortune mixing business with music when he ran Caroline Records, signing Ben Folds, Chemical Brothers, and Fat Boy Slim, none of the Braver Noise band members have derived a living from music.

The Sand Surreal and Leonora albums are available on all major online retailers and on the Fetal Records online store.