RUDIES

The Rudies


The Rudies, with a name just generic enough to confuse long-time music listeners, offer an interesting blend of reggae, ska, punk and classic rock on their self-titled release from Blue Pie Records. You’ll have no trouble spotting influences from Bob Marley to the Clash, and while there may be better acts in the grand scheme of the mainstream, these veterans of the Lexington, Kentucky music scene create due to a sense of passionate obligation, a quality that is both obvious and endearing.

The Rudies opens with Attilla the Dub, a number that blends an odd mixture of the Misfits, Sabbath and Living Colour with flavors that are distinctly ska and reggae – a formula that exemplifies what is to follow. Boss Rude Grrl manages to create an intriguing ambience, while Gunshot addresses the gun culture of the streets, tossing in an interest spoof of Skynyrd’s Saturday Night Special. Other standout tracks include Psycho Babylon, an offering that would make the perfect soundtrack to the political-based horror flick that is our current government, should that movie find a big screen; and Wrap Yo Head, a subliminal tip of the hat to the Spencer Davis Group’s I’m a Man.

At times, The Rudies can get a little repetitive, with songs wearing well beyond their welcome, but if jam bands are your personal pleasure, the Rudies are a tight fit – and undeniable when they lock into that hefty reggae groove.

www.myspace.com/therudies

- round magazine

RUDIES: HAYSEED REGGAE?
September 20, 2011 | by Skope

It seems safe to say amongst most people, the unmistakable sounds and lyrics of Reggae tend to conjure the same mental images/emotions. There are the Caribbean settings, island grooves and socially conscious messages, all piped through the lyrical delivery of a dreadlocked singer backed by the ubiquitous Tropicalia instrumentation that comes along with the genre. That being said, most people would be hard-pressed to imagine Roots Reggae from the heart of Bluegrass and Bourbon country. But for Kentucky Reggae/Ska outfit Rudies, it is the message of the genre that takes precedent, reinforcing that the music is about the ideas of the head and the emotions of the heart, regardless of where it is made.
So when the group of like-minded musicians came together, they purposefully melded their influences of Reggae, Ska and Punk into a sound that was as focused as it was far-reaching.



“We just clicked as far as writing goes and we play well together. Occasionally we surprise each other with some off the wall stuff but for the most part writing has always been very, very easy, organic and it just feels natural,” lead singer Saint Jerrod said. “But we just feel that if you have an audience it’s important to say something to them… to give them something to think about. Besides, there are enough bands out there singing about partying and everything that comes along with that.”

Following in the vein of politically charged bands the likes of The Clash, Bad Brains and the Reggae greats that came out of Jamaica, the Rudies main focus is on their own message and their responsibility to get it out to their fans.

“It just seemed to me that those types of bands just had something to say,” he said. “And I liked the way they could get their message across over a really cool beat. I think the way we like to mash things up, it’s our way of letting our audience know where we come from and because of that we get a nice mix of people; dreadlocks, traditional skinheads, punks… it’s a really cool crowd. Very eclectic; very racially diverse.”

“We just want to put out a positive message,” Jerrod continued. “It’s not that we’re trying to tell you what to do, we just want you to think about it. I think your relationships with your fellow man and fellow sisters are much more important. How you treat one another and how you deal with people that have much less than you… I think that’s more important than a lot of what you hear in standard radio fare.”

Jerrod et al. are riding their last release Attilla The Dub—an eight-track album that highlights the individual facets of their signature sound. “We wanted to put out something that reflected every nuance of what we’re doing,” Jerrod said. “We wanted to show our musicianship of course, but we also wanted to show where our heads are at.” The title track “Attilla The Dub” spotlights the Ska side of things with blaring horn work and the Rock side with electric guitar wails. What’s especially noteworthy is that the rhythm section also follows the style changes from the verses to the chorus. “Livin’ Under Pressure” plays out simply through both the vocal delivery and musicality. The familiar staccato Dub beat and instrumentation yield to the lyrics, which stand at the foreground of what can only be compared to a classic Dub style track. “Phsyco Babylon” opens to quirky bent-note guitar work before surrendering to a down tempo, Melodica filled tune all behind Jerrod’s effects-laden vocals. Again, the instrumentation is slight and lies just beneath the lyrics, with intermittent guitar and key fills.

While Rudies are riding their last album, they certainly aren’t ones to rest on their laurels. “We’re currently working on our new album and mainly it’s going to have more songs on it, more keys on it and you’ll see more of the Punkish/Ska essence,” Jerrod said. “Of course we’re trying to delve into the social topics and Rudies culture, but we’re really into the idea of letting go of white kids or black kids listening to a certain type of music because it kind of traps people into listening to something where they don’t want to listen to anything else or not give anything else a chance. We’re pretty proud of it. And next spring we’re releasing a fully instrumental album. Like a roots oriented, total dub record that we’re going to put on vinyl.”

“Other than that, we’re just keeping busy, playing out close to home and continuing to work to get our stuff out there,” he said in closing.

“Message” received indeed.

www.reverbnation.com/rudies

By: Chris West – cwest@skopemagazine.com

- skopemagazine.com

The elements introducing the Rudies could leave the band exposed to potential mocking with its winged fist breaking through the boundaries of a star on the album cover to the description of a reggae band from Kentucky with a “theme song” called “Rice and Beans,” but as soon as the track starts to play the lulling melody draws the listener in and washes away the elements which could lead to laughter.

Indeed, the Rudies do have a great deal of style and rhythm working. The band has opened for the legendary Wailers and claims Bad Brains as one of its influences. This truly is a mesh of creative juices squeezed into an EP to garner attention. The band dabbles in ska during “Attilla the Dub” and the effect of the power chords contrasting with the pull of the guitar elicits a heavier feel musically while the chorus, “IV'E OUTGROWN THE COAT THAT YOU GAVE ME. IVE' OUTGROWN THE RULES THAT YOU MADE ME,” lays claim to possible punk influence as well.


The swaying feeling to “No Justice” recalls a warm day on an island, rum drink in hand, crying out “there's just no justice; there's just us.”

Many bands strive for that elusive “original” description, but a band as diverse as the Rudies really hits close to the mark. The band recently signed with Blue Pie Records and is in the process of recording a second CD. Fans of rock, ska, reggae, and punk should definitely take the time to listen to the hybrid called the Rudies.

- Target Audience Magazine

Rudies
Junior's Cave Music Interview with the RUDIES
January 2011 Edition
Music Now Spotlight


by Isaac Davis Junior., BGS, MBA


Junior’s Cave’s music section (Music Now) presents the interview with the indie band Rudies. Enjoy this special spotlight as we learn more about what makes them so cool to listen to. Here is the spotlight for your reading enjoyment.


Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?

Rudies: We enjoy live performance, interaction with our fans via Internet, and the ability to do exactly what we want artistically.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have build up over the years about you in the process?

Rudies: Good question. As artists, we want to reach as many as possible on our own terms. If signed with a major, we would hope that they would understand our commitment to keeping our sound under Rudies’ control and allowing it to grow and change as we do. For us, music is more about invoking thought and dialogue than the trappings of rock stardom.

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?

Rudies: Our sound is unique among bands in our genre, and you can hear the many different styles that we are all influenced by. We feel that and the working class attitude of the band make us more genuine and more approachable...easier to connect with.

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?

Rudies: What you will hear is a mash-up of classic reggae and ska styles with a punk edge in the tradition of Specials, Badbrains, and Clash. Our lyrics range from urgent calls for change and social justice to raucous rude boy party style. Some of our songs are a bit more roots/rasta influenced dub sounds, that is what our fans like about us...we keep them interested by not staying in the same style all the time.

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Rudies: All of us first and foremost love music, all have been playing since our early teens and some of us go back that far in friendship. After playing and touring with different bands, we got Rudies together because all the bands we had been in, none did what we do now. Recently, we were signed by blue pie records and are staring to receive some notice and airplay on an international level.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Rudies: The music of The Wailers, The Clash, Peter Tosh, and others like them. Their call to political and social justice for all really speaks to what we are about and what we want to say. A lot of music is about ego...not saying we don't have them, but we do feel if we have your ear. We should try and put some positive sounds and food for thought in it.

Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?

Rudies: Yes, in the sense of the many outlets that an artist has and the underground scene can be really supportive. The downside is that people define indie a lot of different ways, so that means lots and lots of bands ....makes it harder to reach the industry people that can help you. We got noticed because we sound so different from most in our genre.

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?


Rudies


Rudies: It has changed a lot already with all the online access to different DIY companies, markets and social sites so different from the days when the major labels controlled everything, from airplay to distribution...it comes down to what you as an artist want out of it..You can be heard, you can sell and market your music yourself. You define what success is.

Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?

Rudies: From our fans, nothing but Jah love!!From the critics, lots comparisons to our musical influences and respect for what we do.

Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.

Rudies: Absolutely! We have been making music for awhile with varying degrees of success; it is part of who we are.

Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?

Rudies: Stings a little, but you have to let that stuff roll off and stay focused on your craft. Not everyone will like what you do so there is no reason to get to upset over that kind of thing.

Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your pursuant of a music career?

Rudies: All are very supportive and proud of what we do.

Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?

Rudies: We are on iTunes, Jango, Blue Pie Records, and the following fan links

http://www.myspace.com/therudies
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/RUDIES/181213199209

Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…..

Rudies: We thank you for taking the time to talk with us. We hope people check the Rudie sound live up, love up, and stay up.
- JUNIORS CAVE

The Rudies
Posted May 2nd 2010 at 17:41 by OneMicEnt

The Rudies are a unique band from Lexington, Kentucky that would be in the Reggae, Ska genre. They have opened for the Wailers, Fishbone, and English Beat. They have one album out, and currently they are working on the second. I have posted two singles below for you to check ou
- the one mic

Jah Rules and " The Rudies " know that Blue Pie rules the indie world. We are very pleased to announce the arrival of " The Rudies " www.myspace.com/therudies on Blue Pie. The lads debut album will be available on Blue Pie for the world from the 1st of October. Check out these guys at their My Space. With long standing recording and live music careers the band brings together decades of experience all blended into one giant joint that is " The Rudies". Blending SKA, Reggae and Dub into a house filled with amps and 22' sub woofer for de bass man, these guys kick it and bring out old skooolll with the new millennium sounds that has now become " The Rudies". Always pulling crowds in their home town the band has now teamed up with Blue Pie to expand the bands music into new markets. Working with Damien Reilly and Stephen Wrench the band will be fine tuning the mastering and final touches on their debut album. For all the latest on the band check out their My Space at www.myspace.com/therudies Jah Rules - Blue Pie records

Island fever permeates Rudies. In the tradition of Toots & the Maytals, The Wailers and the ’80s punk flavor of Bad Brains, this 6-year-old Lexington, Ky., combo mines reggae’s persisting themes of justice and Jah. Co-produced by one-time Nine Pound Hammer drummer Brian Pulito, singer Jerrod Figgs veers toward soul on “Gunshot” and H.R. on “Wrap Your Head.” Guitarist Jeff Rice steadily employs a clean flange and wah vibe to round out the album’s ska component. Bassist Steve Cherry and Paul K. drummer Tim Welch revel in consistent syncopation, while sax flourishes from Dave Clark are smooth and welcome. Rudies aren’t political through and through; they pause long enough for a sultry shout-out to dancehall queens (“Boss Rude Grrl”).

- LEO WEEKLY