Rude City Riot

"Ska tends to be typecast, modeled to a great extent on the early 80s Two Tone look and sound from England, which makes Rude City Riot different. Sure, the horn arrangements and rhythms that are ska trademarks are here, but the album starts with a rock and roll urgency that suggests Rude City Riot is flexible and won’t be hemmed in by typecasting. It even sounds like Loverboy, which is really unexpected. “Bonnie And Clyde,” which follows, has a punk edge. “Imposter Man” could be Toots And The Maytals. “Kick Me When I’m Down” mixes Van Halen guitar with a tough reggae rhythm and nagging chorus. Etc.."
- Tom Harrison, The Province Newspaper (Sep 16, 2011) - The Province Newspaper

Hailing from snowy Vancouver and dealing in their own unique brand of self-described "Power-Ska", this seven plus piece have created some weighty sounds on this full-length debut. Just as stated on the tin, the album finds a pleasing balance between the heartfelt camaraderie of traditional, shout-along street punk & chirpy, grins-aplenty sound of 2-tone Ska, complete with horns and Hammond Organ. With gang-vocals, chorus cheers and woahs aplenty, the record is an invigorating first effort. An uplifting listen for fans of Left Alone, early Millencolin and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
- Tom Williams, The Big Cheese (Sep 03, 2011) - Big Cheese Magazine and www.bigcheesemagazine.com

If you replaced the up-strokes with down and the horns with another guitar, Vancouver, BC's Rude City Riot could be Canada's next Chixdiggit ? that is to say, creators of some incredibly well crafted, straight-ahead, insanely catchy pop punk. The phrasing of the verses and the expert creation and execution of a killer chorus (not to mention the lead vocals of singer Dustin Lionhart III, which are pretty similar to Chixdiggits' K.J. Jansen) are pretty much where the comparisons end though, because Rude City Riot like to ska the hell out of their stuff, and they do it impressively well ? doubly so considering this is their debut. The seven-piece shine on "Victoria," an anthem about a troublesome girl (or is it a city?), and "Rudies Don't Care." Both open with that beloved ska brass and continue like the best of favourite commercial ska punks Reel Big Fish and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. A select group of people will treasure this, with Rude City Riot keeping the ska dream alive. (Stomp)
By Nicole Villeneuve - Exclaim.ca Canada's on line music authority

Oi! There's a strong new voice in the ska scene and it belongs to Rude City Riot. The Vancouver septet released an eponymous debut EP in 2008 and have been receiving kudos internationally from critics and live audiences ever since.

Their Nothin' But Time debut album showcases a sound they call power-ska; it's a harmonious blend of punk, reggae, soul and ska that files neatly enough under ska-punk.

Rude City Riot are heavier than The Planet Smashers — just listen to the title-track opener — but not as consistently chunky as Less Than Jake. Songs like "It's Raining" and "Got A Heartache" (which perfectly renders heartbreak on a sunny day) sound more like easy-lis'nen calypso-reggae.

The songwriting seems surprisingly sophisticated for a bunch of newcomers, until you learn that frontman Dustin Lionhart III has been writing ska music since he was 14. The tunes move along efficiently enough that, at 50+ minutes, the aptly titled album doesn't seem so long.

Lionhart's rude-boy lyrics tell tales of hoodlums and junkies in seedy neighbourhoods like Vancouver's downtown east side; all the anger, exhilaration and desperation of these sad but proud souls is brought to life through shout-out harmonies, beefy guitar riffs and a terrific horn section that especially shines on the rollicking instrumental "DC Riot Stomp," the album's best offering.

This is a very fine debut from a skilled team of musicians who clearly enjoy what they're doing. Not every riot in Vancouver has to be bad. - CHARTattack July 4th - written by Jody McCutcheon

You have to give credit to any band that tries to keep ska alive, especially when they play it as earnestly as Rude City Riot. The band describes themselves as power-ska, which is fitting enough, as they fill out the rest of their sound with heavy rock riffs and vocals that fans of Voodoo Glow Skulls should appreciate.

On their new EP, the band spends a lot of the time teasing the listener with hooks before turning back to heavy rock (see “Same Old Story’); however, they’re best when they drop the aggression almost entirely, as they do on “25 Years” and “Victoria.” The band is good at both approaches to the genre, but far-and-away better at the latter.

There’s no reason their more radio-friendly material couldn’t get heavy rotation on stations looking to fill some CanCon slots on lesser-known acts. I’d probably wait to hear a full-length effort before I decide whether I like or really like this band, but for now, the EP will serve as a great teaser.
- Canadian Musician Magazine

Coming out of Vancouver with a hardcore ska sound that owes as much to Rancid and the Clash as it does to the Specials and Madness, Rude City Riot deliver the goods that are guaranteed to get any dance floor going throughout the night. This isn't slacker ska that makes you want to light up a joint in your basement. With an accomplished horn section and shout-along choruses, this is pure skanking music. (SPB)
- Beatroute Magazine, Calgary Alberta

Currently receiving loads of airplay here at the Do the Dog HQ is the stunning new CD EP by an awesome new Canadian outfit called RUDE CITY RIOT.

These guys capture a powerful uplifting 3rd wave ska sound reminiscent of the Mighty Mighty BossTones at their bolshy best with rousing shout-a-long choruses that get stuck in your head for weeks after you hear them.

Of special note on their EP is an incredible cranked up version of the Hotknives classic "Don't Go Away".

Kevin Flowerdew Dec 2009 - Do The Dog Zine - www.dothedog.com

"This is seriously infectious stuff. It opens with a solid acoustic guitar ska groove and a power vocal going on about feeling ill, which conveniently rhymes with "pills". When the band kicks in they're as tight as a screw. And look out for that sax solo. iPod worthy."

- John McLaughlin, The Province Newspaper - review of Rude City Riot song "Shots & Pills" (Mar 23, 2010)
- The Province Newspaper, Vancouver, BC

From the untamed wilderness that is the Pacific Northwest comes a gift…and a marvelous gift it is indeed. No, it’s not amateur video footage of Sasquatch doing the Macarena (although that would obviously rock). It’s better. Much better. Those crazy ska-nucks, Rude City Riot, recently released a double-sided digital single as a follow up to their debut, self-titled album. With “Imposter Man” and “Same Old Story”, RCR picks up right where they left off with the their last studio offering. Brilliant! Power ska at its best. The melodic elements of 2 Tone meets the edginess of third wave, pulling up just short of the ska-core precipice. These cats continue to impress.

- Drago - www.froglix.com - Music Review by Drago

"It is no secret that ska music has taken a back seat again in recent years. Well, let me be clear, ska music is all but gone in mainstream music right now. It didn’t take a back seat, it got all the way out of the car and took off in the other direction. Even previously ska-heavy acts like Aquabats and Goldfinger have dropped the style on recent releases.
Of course, none of that concerns the guys in Rude City Riot, a “Power Ska” six-piece from Canada. Formed in 2008, well after the end of the latest ska revival, Rude City Riot has taken it upon themselves to spread the ska sound. And you know what? It’s pretty damn catchy. I dare you to listen to “Imposter Man” and not sing along to the chorus. It’s got that reggae style that NOFX used so well on “Johnny Appleseed“."
- Tyler, TWOGROOVE.COM (Aug 06, 2010)

Rude City Riot come from Burnaby, BC and they got that sound that only Canadians can create.

Do they hear things differently, I don’t know? What I do know is that they can write some solid songs with relevance unlike some of their would-be musical counter parts. This self-titled release is their first and it tells you what you can expect to come from the band in only 5 songs.

Not your average ska/punk with the annoying skany skanky bubble pop. This has got some real punk grit and in a couple of songs you can hear traces of OPIV or Rancid. Not to be mistaken with these bands as the sound is really their own. They do an acoustic reggae/punk kinda thing on the song 25 Years with some nice transitions from chorus to melody. It’s a catchy tune with driving horns and a rhythm that builds to what seems to be a dramatic climax.

Another stand out track is Shots and Pills. Listening to the CD a few times over, that song comes on and I’m thinking “hey, this Dustin guy can really sing.” The riff on this song and vocal hook is great. The whole song is just upbeat, feel good, and infectious.

I can hear some of these tunes being used in films with the feelings they evoke. Whatever class/sub-genre you might like to throw them into in terms of ska music, they do have a good sound and that’s what matters. They know how to write and play music, and this is very apparent on this new release. I thought 5 songs was to short, but for an introduction to the band it seems like 10 songs long.
If you like your music with an edge, check out Rude City Riot. I’m looking forward to what they do next. - Gabe @ Music is our occupation

Rude City Riot - Self Titled EP
Release Date: November 22nd 2008

I was already familiar with a few of their songs thanks to their MySpace profile. I fell in love with Shots & Pills which is my favorite song on the album. I found it's one of the cutest love song I have ever heard. It got me hooked instantly and made want to hear more from the band. Most of their songs are upbeat, skankable and fun except for the second track, 25 Years, which is a bit more serious and has a slower pace but it is still a great song.

Their lyrics are smart (and sometimes even humoristic); they actually are talking about something and not just throwing sentences that rimes here and there. It reflects some sort of maturity although this is their first CD. Their sound is a bit hard to describe as it has an old and yet modern feeling to it. It is ska but the guitars will also rock from time to time.

I know it is only an EP but it definately deserve a 9/10 since it is an excellent and very satisfying debute in my opinion. Rude City Riot is my best discovery of 2008 and I personally can't wait to see what will come up next.

Favorite Songs: All of them but especially Shots & Pills

Rating: 9/10

Caroline - Ska Montreal
www.myspace.com/skamontreal/reviews - Ska Montreal

"Hi, we got cd, and it's great! We're using it a lot on our show. Stay prolific..."
- "File Under Ska" Radio Show - Stuttgard, Germany (Mar 06, 2009) - "File Under Ska" Radio Program

Our ska friends from the True North Strong and Free, Rude City Riot, have been honoured by having a track from their debut CD included as part of a new complilation disc. The Pier Compilation – Exposed 2010 features some of the best reggae, rock, ska and acoustic performances from out West. You will find “25 Years” is track number 7 on disc 2. While this compiliation does boast some excellent music from a number of talented artists it’s our humble (but accurate) opinion that Rude City Riot steals the show. Please forgive us if we seem a bit biased. It’s only because we are…congrats Gents!
- Drago - WWW.FROGLIX.COM

"Fast rising Canadian outfit RUDE CITY RIOT have released a superb new double A side digital single featuring the tracks "Imposter Man" and "Same Old Story" on Skaspot Records. Fans of the Tosters will love these guy's pumping, highly dance-able brand of 3rd wave Ska! You can catch live as they play clubs and Festivals across Canada this summer."
- Kevin Flowerdew, Do The Dog Skazine (Jun 01, 2010)

"Rude City Riot are one of the newest ska bands to grace the North American music scene, yet their recently recorded EP shows all the signs of a tight-knit group of musicians who simply gel together, even though they come from varying musical backgrounds."
-Craig, SkaSource.com

- SkaSource.com

"Yes, they are strong musicians with exciting stage presence and they have a great band name but....... what really stands out for this ska band is original songs. This band has what many 3rd wave ska bands lack - radio friendly tunes."
-Dan Cowan, SkaSpot Live Network - Skaspot Live Network

Rude City Riot are a cool new band making noise in Canada with their new self-titled release. They have been playing shows like crazy building up a nice following and when you hear their music there’s no questioning why. They play an infectious brand that meshes various punk, reggae, and ska elements which make for some pretty dynamic sounds. We had a chance to step into the ring with their vocalist Dusty Lionheart and ask him a bunch of questions. He was man enough to take on the barrage of headbutts, elbows, and flying knees we threw at him and here is the result as the dust settled.

Please tell us who is Rude City Riot and why this name?

Dusty: Rude City Riot is one of Vancouver’s newest Ska Bands. We are a six piece full of energy and determination. We are on a very important mission to introduce the rest of the world to Ska and its infectious power.

Why this name? Well the word “Rude” is pretty obvious dating back to the first wave Jamaican roots of the music. We felt there was so many ska bands out there with the word ska integrated within the name. Not that there is nothing wrong with that at all.

I even was in a Vancouver band over ten years ago called “The Skavengers”. We decided we could still have a cool band name without having the word ska in it but still keep some tradition at the same time. The “City Riot” part of our title reflects the grit and “in your face” style we play. Ska is the base and starting point for all of our songs. We play ska, we play punk, we play soul and rock. When all these genres get in a brawl, RCR is what rises when the smoke clears.


What made you wanna play the music you play?

Dusty: One of the unique things about RCR is that we all come from completely different backgrounds in music. We are all like minded in the fact that we are all together because we love Ska and Reggae. On top of that we range in age from late 20’s to early 40’s. That is a huge gap with all kinds of influences and tastes being brought into the picture. Kevin Tang our trombone player is finishing his degree in Music and has an extensive Jazz background. Scott Farnham (bass) and Richard Craven (saxophone) are directly from the 2-Tone era of Ska. Myself, Scott Atkins (guitar), and Sean Fury (drums) are all influenced by The Third Wave. That being said, Scott A also has an extensive Metal and Hardcore background which can be heard in some of his guitar solos. I come from a strong upbringing of being surrounded by Blues and Soul from a very early age. My father Big Hank Lionhart released two albums on RCA in the early 80’s. Perhaps all of these backgrounds being brought to the table would explain why nobody can pin us down to one style as of yet.

How would you describe your music?

Dusty: I pretty much described our sound in the previous question. I guess the main thing that stands out with our music is that it packs a punch. We have even been coined as “Power-ska”. We love that term and we have accepted it. There is lots of melody to be heard but with an edge and a grit. The horns are more of an accompaniment than a leading force. It gives it a very strong presence. We are in your face but we grab you with a hook at the same time.

Lets talk about your new release. What can you tell about it in terms of the sound and subject matter?

Dusty: It is our debut release. Like they often say, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”. It took us about a year to have it recorded, mixed, mastered, and pressed. We knew that being a brand new band that nobody has ever heard of would make it difficult to get help financially speaking. So we had to do it all ourselves. We would play and save up enough to go and finish this or that. Slowly but surely until we felt we had it right. The EP reflects alot of hard work and determination. Especially in times like these. People are working harder than ever to make ends meet. It is no different for us as a band. A close friend of ours named Alex “Condor” Aligizakis engineered, mixed, and produced the EP in it’s entirety. He is very well known and respected in the Vancouver scene. His background is rock and I feel that he is a big part of our sound.

The subject matter for the most part is a bit darker. With exception to “Shots & Pills”. When I was writing these songs, I was influenced by the spirit of The First Wave. On lots of those old records you hear songs about Rude Boys. I took that attitude and put a modern twist on it. We see lots of violence these days and I guess these guys are sort of like the Rude Boys of today. You can have a song with more serious topics like drugs or violence and still have a positive moral to the story. For example, in the song “25 Years” the guy robs a gas station and kills the employee. This of course is awful, but he got caught in the end. It is just lots of fun to develop a story or a character and let them come to life within a song.

Are you guys already working on new material?

Dusty: We have a barrage of new material being worked on all the time. I have been on a writing frenzy as of late. The rest of the band as well. We have enough new material for two full lengths. It is hard to keep track sometimes of all the new songs. We have played a few of them at some shows recently and so far the feedback is great. I guess time will tell which ones will make it onto the next record.

This song writing frenzy, what is your song writing process as a singer and as a band?

Dusty: As far as writing goes, i am the main writer. I have co-written songs with Scotty A. (guitar) as well. When he and I are working together he usually shows me some chord progressions that he has been playing with. From there I get it stuck in my head and start to hum a melody over top. After a melody is set I then figure out the topic of the song. Once we have a basic “Demo” idea for the song, we see if the rest of the band likes it and then the arrangement is discussed with the whole team. It is great working with Scotty A. because he can present me with some chords that I normally wouldn’t know. It gives a totally different feel. For example he wrote all of the chord progressions on “25 Years” and it has a bit darker side compared to most of the material I write on my own.

Our bass player Scott F. has also brought some material to the band. A few of his tracks have stood out and we have added those to our set. As a singer it can be difficult to sing lyrics in a rhythm different than you are used to. Scott is really great with allowing me to add or takeout syllables and words to his work.

When it comes to myself, I write everything in my head. I start with a hook or melody and i just keep humming it. I visualize guitars, horns, and everything i can inside my skull. Once I have it finished I play it and sing it out loud on guitar. Present it to the fellas and hope they like it. The band is very patient with me when we are learning a song because I have a tendancy to blurt out ideas. They understand that it was all in my head and I have to tell them as it comes to me.

So far it has been working out well for us.

What else should we know about you?

Dusty: Hmmm…
-Our drummer Sean Fury is an amazing Tattoo Artist and also plays drums for the amazing Vancouver Ska band Los Furios.

-We have the legendary Dan Cowan as our manager. Dan has been a music icon and guru for over 40 years. Dan played a large part in the success of The legendary “Villains”, Canada’s first ever Ska band.

-Richard Craven (saxophone) grew up in England and was directly part of The 2-Tone era.

-Myself and Scott A. graduated from High School together.

-I am a former Professional Wrestler. I had a brief one year career training under The Hart Family for Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, AB.

A wrestler eh? What’s your finishing move and if you could perform it on anyone who would be?

Dusty: Well my finishing move I called “The Peace Keeper” which was basically a power slam. If I could perform it on anyone it would have to be all those opposed to Ska Music! Perhaps, I could develop a new move called “The Moonstomp” Ha! Then after I pin my opponent I would Skank all around the ring!

If people don’t listen to the new cd can they expect a body slam or sleeper hold or something?

Dusty: Well most definitely not a sleeper hold. Instead we need people out there to wake up in terms of discovering ska. I would hope that if people listen to our record maybe it’s gonna hit them like a body slam!

Bonus Question: Is the moon made of cheese?

Dusty: I don’t know if the moon is made of cheese, but if it is, it is likely pretty stale! The guys from Symarip said “We have 3 million miles to reach the moon!” maybe once they make it there they can tell us. There is a man on the moon though and from where I am it looks like he is wearing a Pork Pie Hat.

Visit www.rudecityriot.com

- Music is our occupation Ska Blog