Post-hardcore history is messy. If you've spent any time screaming along to "King for a Day," you probably think you know the story of Vic and Fuentes. But before the sold-out arenas and the massive Vic Fuentes fan base, there was a scrappy, chaotic, and experimental project called Before Today. They weren't just a "demo version" of Pierce the Veil. They were a fully realized, signed, and touring unit that helped define the San Diego sound in the early 2000s. Honestly, calling them a footnote doesn't do justice to how much the Before Today band members actually influenced the trajectory of the entire scene.
It started with a different name. Early on, they were Early Times. But legal issues—the kind that usually involve a certain whiskey brand—forced a pivot. That pivot gave us A Celebration of an Ending, their only full-length album under the Before Today moniker, released through Equal Vision Records in 2004.
The Core Lineup: Who Were the Before Today Band Members?
The DNA of the band was, and always will be, the Fuentes brothers. Vic Fuentes handled the vocals and guitar, while Mike Fuentes sat behind the kit. If you listen to those old tracks, you can hear the raw, unpolished version of the technicality they’d later master. Vic’s voice was higher, more straining, and less refined than it is now. It felt urgent.
But they weren't alone. Joe Tancil was the other guitarist. His style brought a specific jaggedness to the riffs that balanced out Vic’s more melodic tendencies. Then you had Mitchell Ballatore on bass. Mitchell was a pillar of that early sound. He wasn't just a background player; the bass lines in songs like "The Red Carpet" had a groove that differentiated them from the generic pop-punk of the era.
The chemistry was weirdly perfect for a bunch of kids from San Diego. They were trying to be technical like progressive rock bands but aggressive like the hardcore bands they saw at local VFW halls. It was a strange mix. People often forget that for a brief moment, this quartet was the "next big thing" in the underground circuit.
Why the Band Eventually Split
Success is a double-edged sword when you're young. They got signed to Equal Vision, which was a massive deal. At the time, that label was the gold standard for anything "alternative." They were label mates with Coheed and Cambria and Circa Survive. The pressure was on.
But things started to fray. It wasn't some dramatic, VH1 Behind the Music style blowout. It was mostly just life. By 2006, the momentum had stalled. Joe Tancil and Mitchell Ballatore eventually moved on. It’s a story as old as time in the music industry. You tour in a van, you eat gas station snacks, and eventually, the dream starts to feel like a job that doesn't pay enough.
When Joe and Mitchell left, Before Today effectively ceased to exist. Vic and Mike were left with a choice: quit or rebuild. They chose to rebuild. That’s how we got the transition into the "Early Times" of the Pierce the Veil era. But without that specific chemistry of the original four, the sound shifted. It became more theatrical, more "emo-pop," and less experimental post-hardcore.
The Musical Legacy of A Celebration of an Ending
If you haven't listened to A Celebration of an Ending lately, go back and do it. It’s fascinating. You can hear the blueprints for songs that would eventually define the 2010s. The song "Over the Edge" is a perfect example. It has these soaring choruses that Vic would eventually perfect, but the instrumentation is much more "mathy."
The Before Today band members were basically pioneers of the "noodly" guitar work that became a staple of the scene. They weren't just playing power chords. They were tapping, using strange time signatures, and trying to make something complex.
- Vic Fuentes: Vocals/Guitar (Went on to Pierce the Veil)
- Mike Fuentes: Drums (Went on to Pierce the Veil)
- Joe Tancil: Lead Guitar (Post-band life mostly private)
- Mitchell Ballatore: Bass (Post-band life mostly private)
There’s a common misconception that Before Today was just a "soft launch" for Pierce the Veil. That’s not quite right. Before Today had a distinct identity. They were darker. They were less polished. If Pierce the Veil is a high-budget action movie, Before Today was the gritty indie film that got the director the job.
What Happened to Joe Tancil and Mitchell Ballatore?
This is where the trail gets a bit cold for the casual fan. Unlike the Fuentes brothers, who stayed in the spotlight and became icons of the genre, Joe and Mitchell largely stepped away from the massive touring lifestyle.
They didn't disappear off the face of the earth, but they didn't chase the fame that Pierce the Veil eventually caught. This happens more often than you’d think. Some people love making music but hate the "industry" side of it. The endless touring, the meet-and-greets, the social media grind—it’s exhausting.
I’ve seen fans on Reddit and old forums like AbsolutePunk (rest in peace) speculate about reunions. Honestly? It's unlikely. The gap between what Before Today was and what Pierce the Veil became is too wide. The Fuentes brothers found a new rhythm with Tony Perry and Jaime Preciado that lasted for over a decade. That chemistry is hard to mess with.
The Evolution of the "San Diego Sound"
You can't talk about these guys without mentioning San Diego. The city has a very specific musical heritage. From blink-182 to Rocket from the Crypt, there’s a sense of melody mixed with a "don't give a damn" attitude.
The Before Today band members were part of a specific wave that included bands like Chiodos and The Fall of Troy. It was a time when being "emo" meant you actually knew how to play your instrument really well. It wasn't just about the hair; it was about the riffs.
Vic's songwriting in Before Today was heavily influenced by his father’s jazz background. You can hear it in the chord voicings. He wasn't just using standard shapes. He was looking for tension. That tension is what made the band stand out to Equal Vision in the first place.
How to Deep Dive Into Their Discography
If you’re a new fan trying to trace the roots, don't just stop at the album. Look for the Early Times demos. Some of those tracks have a raw energy that was lost in the studio production of the full-length.
- Listen to "The Red Carpet": This is arguably their best track. It bridges the gap between the old sound and what would become the new sound.
- Check the Credits: Notice how the songwriting was shared. In the early days, it was much more of a collective effort.
- Watch Old Live Clips: There are a few grainy, 240p videos on YouTube of Before Today playing small clubs. The energy is insane. Mike Fuentes was a beast on the drums even back then, hitting with a ferocity that seemed too big for the rooms they were playing.
It’s easy to look back and see them as a stepping stone. But for the kids who were in those small rooms in 2004, Before Today was the main event. They weren't "the guys from Pierce the Veil." They were Before Today. Period.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you're a musician looking at the trajectory of the Before Today band members, there are a few real-world lessons to take away from their story.
First, rebranding isn't the end of the world. They changed their name twice and survived. If your current project is hitting a wall, sometimes a fresh start is exactly what the creative process needs. Vic and Mike didn't give up when the lineup dissolved; they pivoted.
Second, technicality matters. The reason people still talk about this band 20 years later is that they could actually play. In a world of programmed drums and ghost-written riffs, the authentic, slightly messy technicality of A Celebration of an Ending stands out.
Third, know your roots. If you want to understand why a band sounds the way they do now, you have to look at what they were doing when they had nothing to lose. The grit of Before Today is still present in the DNA of modern post-hardcore.
To truly appreciate where the scene is today, you have to acknowledge the work Joe, Mitchell, Vic, and Mike put in during those early years. They weren't just playing music; they were building a foundation.
Go find a copy of that CD. Put on some headphones. Listen to the way those four guys interacted. It’s a masterclass in early 2000s angst and ambition. It’s not just a precursor to something bigger—it’s a piece of history that deserves to be heard on its own terms.
Start by comparing the track "Roots Beneath Ideals" to anything on A Flair for the Dramatic. You'll hear the exact moment the transition started. That’s where the real story lies.