Courtesy photo David Neff, Jas Sawyer, Mark Gray and Javier Padilla are on their way to releasing their first album as The Conflict. They hope to have the CD drop on Halloween.

THEY ARE: The Conflict

THE SOUND: Though one of their MySpace music categories may be “Melodramatic Popular Song,” they play more of a rock-pop-alternative fusion with occasional influences such as reggae thrown into the mix. “We like to incorporate as many elements as we can within reason,” said guitarist and lead singer Javier Padilla. “We come from different backgrounds artistically ..... The way the band sounds, it's just the way our individual influences overlap.

THE BAND: Javier Padilla, guitar and lead vocals; David Neff, guitar and backup vocals; Mark Gray, drums; Jas Sawyer, bass

THE NAME: “(The Conflict) is actually supposed to be a reflection of the different places our music comes from ..... one band that can do anything,” Padilla said. But Neff has another take on the band's name. “All of us are kind of like at that stage in our lives right now ..... we're all kind of conflicted about where we want to go in the future,” Neff said. “But The Conflict is the thing that makes all our other conflicts seem like no big deal,” Padilla adds.

FACTOID: The Conflict boys love their beer pong. Catch them after a show and bring your ping8pong ball.

WHERE TO SEE THEM: The band will play the Saturday, Aug. 4, Groundbreaking Garden Party, a fundraiser for the San Antonio Garden Organization and their community garden on South Presa Street. The event starts at 8 p.m. at the Guess Factory, 533 Roosevelt Ave. Tickets are $5 at the door. On Sept. 1, the Conflict will play Jack's Patio Bar and Grill, 2950 Thousands Oaks Drive.

THE WEB: Visit their MySpace to listen to songs as well as see Gray roll down the street in a shopping cart. myspace.com/thisistheconflict

THE 210 TAKE: Though Padilla and Neff, both seniors at UTSA, have been playing together for several years, the band in its current line-up has only been together for a few months. But the group is on its way to releasing a premiere, and thus far untitled, first album. They hope to debut their tunes on Halloween. Padilla pens the basic songs and lyrics for the members who then add their own flourishes. According to Padilla, many of the pieces revolve around “relationships, usually failed ones” though some reflect other topics such as politics. Sounding a bit like Blink-182 but less whiny, a bit like Green Day but less punk, The Conflict is sure to lead to musical harmony.

Jennifer Lloyd | 210SA