The Rust Blog

We're back!

2008-10-04T06:15:00.001-07:00

After a 2-month lull for various reasons, we have reassembled. Tonight we play at Main St. Grill in Weymouth, which is a fun, little bar that we all enjoy performing at. Check it out if you are in the area.

Tonight, we even have a keyboardist sitting in with us to see if it is an element we want to add to our sound.

Though we will be gigging again around 1-2 times a month, Rustbucket is still committed to our original work. We are still fleshing out several songs to be recorded for an album. 5 are currently ready to be mixed and we hope to add 6-10 more.

We'll keep you posted.

New Songs

2008-06-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

We have laid down 5 for our album, due out in 2016. At least, it seems like it will take that long if we continue at this snail's pace. Those songs are:

No Blueprint, Big, FM, Stages, and Walkin' the Dog.

Songs that are up for the next 7-10 slots are:

Wrecking Ball, Fire By Night Reverie, Land Not Far Away, Monkey, Turning Leaf, Beggars of Leon, in My Skin, Get Gone, The Hero, Catching a Glimpse, Monotonyville, Don't Think Twice, Which Way and Guatemalan Mountain Top Coffee Explosion.

Matt churns out songs like lightning.

Keep an eye out.

Rusting in the USA!

2008-02-11T01:26:00.000-08:00

Looks like Hillary's getting a little rusty.

Not the kind of Rust, say, that is inside a Bucket and when put together becomes some living, breathing organism of hooting, screeching, heart-pumping music that soothes the soul and grooves out the moves and gets everybody hip-hoppiting around till the wee hours of the 'morn.

No, not that kind of rusty.

I just mean the bitch is losing the presidential race.

And she is. Barack Obama is taking the lead with a win tonight in Maine and a clean sweep over the weekend. Quite a miraculous story when you think about it. Could you imagine a white woman and a black man running for president forty years ago?

No, you couldn't because it never would have happened. Now, to me it doesn't seem a big deal because I look at the character and ideals of a person and not their skin color or reproductive organs. But, shit! Just when you think this country's going backwards, the presidential race shows how much we've moved ahead collectively - even if we disagree and many key issues.

And on the Republican side you have a Mormon (recently dropped out), a fiesty Mick, and a fat guy turned skinny.

It's a nice change from your typical rich, Protestant, white dude.

Either way, the way things are shaping up, it looks like it may be between Barack Obama and John McCain, and as far as I'm concerned, with either candidate, the United States win.

Although they have different agendas and systems of approach, both really seem to be willing to work on both sides to accomplish what is best for the country, to see through illusional separation of blue and red and cut to the core of the problem. And they're willing to debate on a public forum like any real democracy should.

And that is it for my Rusty Political views. Back to the band:

We've got new photos posted up on our MySpace page and a compilation of our original tunes is still in the works. Look to March, Bucketheads. Hold on tight. I know the anticipation is killing you.

Next weekend we have a break but we'll be back right after that to rock into March. See you around the bend.

USA! USA!

2008-02-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, wilt thou please read thine blog? For in the humble hopes of thy bosom will one find thine true quest for thou which is greatest within the essence of the Rustbucket.

H ello.

I'm the drummer.

I play drums.

They are fun.

The Boston Police sure know how to party!!!

2008-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Another throwdown at The 6 House in South Boston with all the attendant chaos and beligerence, and the Rustbucket boys are not in jail.

In "Piano Man" Billy Joel sings how "the microphone smells like a beer", but that's because he's a wino, in my case the mic smells like a beer because my lovely friends all think they're the Pips to my Gladys Knight. Why is that alcohol seems to embolden and enliven everyone's inner muse and inspires them to let go of their inhibitions and just simply let it all hang out? Why do people insist on singing songs that they dont know the words to? I mean I do that, but I'm getting paid to do it. What pray tell, is the benefit for you, my inebriated companion? Perhaps I shall never know, at least I hope I dont need to find out.

But Boston's Boys in Blue delivered the coup de grace last night, effectively putting the kaibosh on the final song of the evening. Apparently we were so loud that we were rattling the trough and the boys couldnt eat. Last night wasn't Rustbucket's first run in with the law, however, and I'm beginning to think I ought to take take up criminal justice simply to be able to finish a set.

Now Rustbucket look forward to another intimate evening of music and revery at la casa de Frankie D. I look forward to seeing you all in the near future. And do, dear reader, feel free to register and post to this blog yourself, so that perhaps you may contribute to some of the mindless train of the thought dribble that makes its way to this board from me and my cohorts.

Godspeed.

Rustbucket out sucka!

-Bigz

This is why I blog, this is why, this is why I blog...

2008-02-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

I blog, therefore I am.

Profound. And I'm sure that I'm the first one to say it.

For the rusty heap of junk this band started out as, it has begun to gain momentum, and along with it a faithful, though a touch rowdy, following of fans. We have been holing ourselves up recently in our new rehearsal space, "The Bucket", located in friendly downtown Brockton, fleshing out new material, bonding with fellow local talents, and developing the Rustbucket sound.

There is a bright future for the Rustbucket boys indeed.

Over the last 7 months or so, the sound has evolved, harmonies are growing more intricate, melodies and rhythms are being forged into a distinctly Rustbucket sound. I've always been told to "identify, don't compare", but I can't help but notice how unique our sound is in comparison to many of our contemporaries. It's refreshing to find musicians with whom I can collaborate, and who encourage me to explore my own songwriting potential. I think the combination of having known one another for close to a decade, and having grown emotionally, intellectually and musically over the years reflects in a certain maturity and cohesiveness within the music.

I do say, there is a bright future for Rustbucket indeed.

Stay close and share the love. Its only just the beginning.

-Bigz

Weekend Off to Shake Out the Rust

2008-02-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

Just kidding, baby, we aint never gonna shake this rust off. Rust 4 life. Ya heard.

However, we do have a breather this upcoming weekend. Due to the overwhelming and physically, mentally and spiritually taxing demands of our massive following we have chosen to carve a free weekend into our schedule.

Actually, this is just the way our scheduling worked out. The former sounds much better though, I think.

Back on the circuit next Friday at The 6 House in Southie and in Kingston Saturday at Frankie D's.

As for originals, things could not be going better. We worked on polishing up "Fire by Night, Smoke by Day" last night and, if I don't say so myself, it will change the course of mankind FOREVER!

Good day sirs, madams and miscreants.

Bass

Rusty News

2008-01-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

Rustbucket would like to thank everyone for coming out to "the 6 house" Saturday night and watching us jam out. It was a great showing and a fun time! Perhaps our best show yet!
We seeped a few new originals into the set, like "Walking the Dog" and "Which Way To Go," and they turned out great!
Next weekend we have off after gigging every weekend in January. It'll be a nice break to reflect on life and the state of the world in general. I'm actually thinking of writing a novel during this precious time off. Perhaps I will do some meditation in order to achieve some revelation. I don't know. But, most likely, I will just sit on my ass and watch television.
Ya, that's more like it. I'll try to get a practice or two in there, too.
Two minutes to go and the Celtics are down 7 to Orlando. Not good news, peeps! We'll see if they can pull it off.
Later I'm gonna go see 61-year-old Stallone jacked up on steroids running through the woods and murdering a massive amount of "bad guys." That's right. It's Rambo time, mofos! He's back and more violent than ever!
Then later, I will watch "Rambone" and compare the two with an in-depth analysis/ report.
But I doubt anyone cares.
Is anyone still reading this crap?
See you in February!

-The Drummer

New musings in the Rustbucket

2008-01-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

So the Pats beat the Chargers and will return to the the Super Bowl once again to try and complete their perfect season! Oh, how exciting it is!
This was the big news of the weekend.
But yet there was even bigger news as Rustbucket played two shows last weekend. Of course, we didn't receive as much press coverage as the history-making Patriots, but we won't blame the media for their patriotic slant. Their just missing the real story here.
And once again we'd like to thank everyone who came out to see us.
Saturday night was special as we pulled out the acoustic set at Frankie D's in Kingston. Dan and I hopped on the guitars while Hugh strummed his mandolin and we all got intimate with each other.
It was splendidly well, indeed, and we'll be sure to bust it out again real soon. So stay tuned!

On another note, our practice pad has again moved, but this time to what seems a permanent location.
After playing in my friend's freezing cold basement at their duplex, the three of us determined that the spot wouldn't work as well as we thought it would, especially considering we like to play loud and late.
So, finally, we sucked it up and rented ourselves our own rehearsal space in Brockton.
This place is gonna be great, I tell you! We can play as loud and as late as we want.
There's cable tv, so we can bring in some couches, too, and lay out. The room's plenty big for the three of us and we're all real excited to have long, productive practice sessions like we did when we first started out.
So that's some wicked good shit, people! And that's about all I got for now. Keep reading and hopefully we'll see you at "the 6 house" this Saturday night!!

-Matt

Rustbucket news, sore throats and cops...

2008-01-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, Rustbucket was back at "The 6 House" in South Boston, playing to a large crowd of fans, friends and stragglers. Like always, we'd like to thank everyone for coming out and dancing to our music. We tried to get in as much music as possible, as we always do, into our 4-hour time span, almost playing until 2 am.

This Friday, come check us out back at "14 Union" in Plymouth.

On another note, Rustbucket has a new practice pad. Thanks to our friends David, Andy, Stephan and The Argonaut, we are now practicing closer to home in Quincy, across the street from a Buddhist monastery and, worse, below the neighbors of this duplex. Needless to say, we'll see how long we last. We tend to make a lot of noise.

That's all I got for now, boys and girls. My creative energies aren't really blooming tonight. I have a sore throat from smoking too many cigarettes and generally living a life that keeps my immune system battle-ready, so I'm drinking a cup of green tea with some milk. And I'd like to consume some more vitamin C but we're out of orange juice. Total bummer, dudes.

Also, I knocked out the power in my apartment after turning on a light in my kitchen that continuously blows out a fuse. So we tried to fix it with the breakers, but this time it didn't work.
So we called our landlord.
Our landlord's a cop. Nice guy. But he's got one of those "cop knocks," meaning three loud, ear-piercing knocks that makes you feel guilty of something even if all you're doing is reading a book. You hear the knock and you think you're reading something illegal, so you want to hide the book immediately or light it on fire to dispose of the evidence.
Turns out you're not doing anything guilty and are just another victim of the "cop knock," a systematic approach to cops invading high school parties and drug dealers' apartments.
Anyways, turns out that the breakers didn't work because the light where the wiring is fucked had the switch in the on position. Thus, when we were trying to turn on the breakers again, the switch that would knock out the power simply would knock it out again immediately. Electricity 101, people.

There ya go. Problem fixed. And now I'm done with my tea and will probably make another one.

Till next time. Stay tuned.

-Matthew Drum Drum

Songwriting

2008-01-11T06:25:00.000-08:00

Original Rustbucket songs to keep an eye out for:

Stages
Catchin' a Glimpse
Walking the Dog
The Hero
Fire by Night, Smoke by Day
Biggity Hoo Ho (working title)
The Window
Turning Leaf
Beggars of Leon
Which Way
River Wild
Hugh's New Doo (working)

Also, dear friends, fans and fiends you should expect at least 4 of these 12 delicious diddies out on an EP by early March.

As always, we appreciate you coming out to our shows and supporting us. Thanks for listening.

Brief Hi 8 Us

2007-12-13T16:55:00.000-08:00

Hello there Bucketheads (and there are more and more of you every day)

After a grueling schedule (wicked sahcasm dude) for the past 6 weeks we have hit a 2 week lull in our gigging. It's actually good timing with the holidays and all, and with yours truly feeling a little under the weather.

But after Xmas we hop back on the Rusty Trail and will be appearing at the usual venues (Frankie D's, 14 Union, The 6 House.) We kick it off on December 28th with a high school reunion for my college buddy Nick's graduating class. It is up in Maine, so it will be the first out-of-state gig for the band. Very much looking forward to it. We also hope to add 1-2 more steady venues to the rotation in the Quincy-Boston vicinity.

Anyways, keeping it brief here folks. Thanks to all that have come out to the shows thus far. We really appreciate it and look forward to seeing you again soon. Check our dates and come on out again!

Dan

Searching for the Sound...

2007-11-28T03:10:00.000-08:00

Nice subject line, I know. Too bad I stole that line from Phil Lesh's autobiography about the Grateful Dead. Nevertheless, I find it very fitting as 'searching for the sound' is exactly where Rustbucket is at right now. As shows for '08 begin to book up, Rustbucket has a bit of a break to spend some time writing more originals. The plan being, we'd like to enter the New Year with some original work to promote ourselves. That has been the underlying goal all along for Rustbucket.

Thus, for much of December, Rustbucket will head into the studio (AKA mostly my living room) to work on original material. There are already four strongs that we have that we feel we can hang up on the shelf, those being "Stages," "Fire By Night, Smoke By Day," "The Hero," and "Beggars of Leon." But we're looking for a dozen or so to really make an EP. And as we work on this, Rustbucket is 'searching for the sound,' if you will -- meaning Rustbucket's own sound. And so far, so good.

Writing songs is strange and unpredictable. You never know where a moment of inspiration will hit you or exactly how the song will be written. It seems that each song has its own story behind it and I think that's why VH1 came out with the show "Storytellers" back in the 90s. (Speaking of which, man, I loved that show! And MTV Unplugged? Whatever happened to that shit? I know! The music stations replaced music with gay reality tv shows about rich kid drama queens and dumb matchmaker game shows. But what 'real' music is around these days, anyways, for all the teenie bopping nation. Most of it's a manufactured pile of fecal matter!)

((::NEWS BULLETIN:: That Rustbucket Rant was brought to you by Matthew Drum Drum! Now back to whatever useless blabbering he was saying! ))

As I was saying, Rustbucket is working on its originals, trying to polish them off completely before entering the REAL studio to record them. But once we do, we'll post the songs up on our MySpace page and our original web site. (Right Dan the Bass Player (AKA Shaggy Scrubs, AKA my brother)?? That means updating this website, brotha!)

So as we work on our originals and get ready for the New Year, Rustbucket is 'searching for the sound,' a unique sound that will set us apart from the pack. So far, each of has written a song or two and then we have brought it to the table to be reworked and restructured into something we consider finished. Meanwhile, some songs have been written in mid-jam session. That's what I mean when I say the unpredictability of song writing. You never know how one is going to come up.

But that possible spontaneous creation of something worthy is what will keep us going. And we hope you enjoy what we will and have already created!

And as the songs begin to materialize and come into being, the "Rustbucket Sound" is also coming to the surface. We hope you'll like it and come out to support us.

Please stay tuned as Rustbucket starts to add more dates to their lineup, including a possible venture up to Burlington, VT and a brief stint in NYC.

Stay tuned and thanks for reading this extensive diatribe against MTV...

Sincerely,

Matthew Drum Drum

Bucketing along...

2007-11-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

Sup ya'll. Things have been going pretty good for Rustbucket. We've played a few gigs since our opener at Castaway's and we're already booking things up for '08. Our next gig is in South Boston on Jimmy Cox's bar "the 6 house." We'd like to welcome everybody to come and see the show. And stay tuned to the Rust Blog. More posts with more updates and musings! Thanks, you Rusty Bastards!

Rustbucket?

2007-10-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

Rustbucket? What does Rustbucket mean? The Band Rustbucket has a much different meaning than say, the dictionary definition of Rustbucket, but the essence of Rustbucket remains the same. So who are Rustbucket? What is Rustbucket? The enigma persists, the ambiguity confounds. The idea alone of defining the bucket precludes the desired outcome, and leaves hanging our nagging disposition towards categorization and understanding. So shall the boys in Rustbucket remain.

Fucking DJs!

2007-09-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

So last night we played our first gig and a good amount of people showed up. The first set was good, but the second set came out much stronger. Of course, there wasn't a sound system so it was tough to get the proper levels. Still, I think we're all happy with how everything turned out for a first gig...

Everything except the goddamn DJ!

First things first, if anybody books a band, you don't book a DJ with it. You don't share the spotlight with a dude that just blasts JAM'N 94.5 tunes over the surround sound. Not only that, but I wouldn't even call the douche a DJ. All he was doing was clicking songs to play off his iTunes. If that's the case, then EVERYONE is a DJ. This jerk just got paid for it.

So what happened was a race for time. Time was running out and we both wanted to do our thing: the band wanted to play more of their songs because we weren't close to finishing our set and the DJ wanted to click his mouse button on his laptop. The result was an improper ending to an otherwise great night and a strong set jam-packed with energy cut short.

For Castaways, it was a moderate way to change the scene. The owner wanted to do away with most of the hip-hop and make Thursdays a little more rock-and-roll. But the way it was managed just didn't make sense and never will.

Regardless, we played well. We had a great time and it looks like everybody else did, too. So that's all that matters.

It was our second time together as an official trio and it felt pretty good. Now we look to work on some original material as well as gain a couple of gigs in October. So check the myspace page for dates.

In the meantime, we'd like to thank everybody for coming to the show. We hope you enjoyed it! We did!

"What he said..."

2007-09-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

I was going to make my first post to ya'll and explain the goings-on before our first gig, but apparently my brother has beaten me to the punch. So I will have to "punch" him later. Ha! Regardless, here is my first post and I'd like to conclude it with just a simple:

"What he said..."

See you at the show Bucketheads!

Debut Gig / New Direction

2007-09-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

Our long-awaited public debut (at least as a trio) becomes a reality this evening as we take the stage to tear the roof off at Castaways in Bridgewater.

I know, I know you can't contain yourself can you? I probably wouldn't be able to as well. I might actually defecate in my pants if I were a fan. Uh.... what? Did I just say that? Anyhow....

Tonight also marks a departure from our typical lineup format. Normally, Rustbucket features 2 guitars and drums. Originally the idea was to have Hugh and I fulfilling the guitar duties, Matt on the skins and a Player To Be Named Later tackling the bass guitar.

However, after months of a half-assed, unlucky search we seem to have found an answer: Fuck finding a bass player, lets do it ourselves!

And thus, we will forgo our mission as a quartet for a simpler, stripped-down version of good ol' rock 'n' roll. Hugh and I will trade off bass duties where appropriate.

The tide has shifted. The course has been set. No more spinning wheels. It's time for the Bucket!

Rustbucket on the Radio!

2007-09-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

Hear Rustbucket on "Wart Radio with Trigger and Juice" Wednesday Nights on 90.7 WKKL from 5-7pm