9 Questions With…The Fabulous Rudies
A few days ago I got in contact with Tom Voris of The Fabulous Rudies and asked for an interview. Tom was kind enough to respond and provide the first ever band interview for SkaSource.com! I’d like to thank Tom for his time and great answers, and plan on catching up with the band later in the year for an update…
Q: You did the Vans Warped Tour in 2007 as the BBQ band, and now you’re on the tour again for 2008. Any comments about what last year was like, any insights about how this year might be different, or what you are looking forward to most?
A: The tour was hard work! However, we raised the bar for the BBQ band in that we made the BBQ a huge event “After-Party” every night! We usually had a sponsor such as “Lost…Energy Drink” or “Pabst Blue Ribbon” to donate what we needed at the bar that night. Ask any band member from the 2007 Warped Tour if they enjoyed the specialty drink, “Late Bus Call” and see if you can spur any fond memories of the After-Party. It was very cool to hang out with all the bands and everyone that worked on the tour. The beauty of it was that they all came to us for the party so we got to know everybody on the tour. This was a great privilege because otherwise being a new band on the tour we probably would have been too shy to approach most of the people. Many of the bands on tour helped make the events better such as Flogging Molly (thank you, Dennis) putting together “The Irish Car Bomb” night or Pepper’s Reggae night. When we came to our home town of San Diego, Auggie of Skank Out Productions, had Mike Pinto, of Mike Pinto & the Mashers, w/ members of The Skank Agents perform live acoustic ska and San Diego became one of the best parties on the tour. “Alternative Press” magazine played big part in the San Diego After-Party as well. We can tell many stories but as they say about “Vegas,” “What happens at the Warped Tour, stays at the Warped Tour!” So to sum it up…it was a blast! The clean-up every night though…let’s just say we were the last band to leave every night!
Q: What do you think about the current state of the ska music scene – bands, fans, etc. Do you see it progressing, getting bigger, staying the way it is?
A: First of all I consider bands and fans of ska one in the same. We all love the music. I think there is a cool underground right now as I see more and more people into ska, especially a new generation coming out of high school. I haven’t seen so many new bands (mostly in or right out of high school) since the mid-90’s. I don’t think it will get to that level of the mid-90’s but who knows. I especially like the bonding between all the different kinds of ska lovers from traditional, skins, third wave, 2-tone, and people who just love music in general. Maybe with a respect and support of each other, our music we love can enjoy a nice little resurgence influencing other music, people, the world (yes I’m stretching it a bit but why not?) I am really into some of these alternative bands that have adopted at least some ska influence like Bedouin Soundclash (great band), Vampire Weekend, etc. Right now the ska music scene’s future looks bright!
Q: Do you have any plans to record and release new material? If so, do you plan on doing a traditional CD release, or possibly a digital-only release, or something that people can legally download for free, in the vein of recent releases by Radiohead and Pennywise?
A: We plan on releasing an EP CD (3-5 new songs) while on the Warped Tour for about $5. We’d like are fans that come out and see us to have something new and still make a little money so that we make it home. We hope to make a full length CD when we get back but we’ll see.
Q: Can you tell us about how the songwriting process works for the band; how ideas evolve into complete songs?
A: Up to this point our horn players (Don Carter-trombone/trumpet & Aaron Hudson-sax/keys) have written the bulk of our songs with maybe a song or two written by myself or Cassandra. These new songs we are recording are more of a band effort.
Q: Lots of ska bands become associated with a “signature” cover tune. Yours is obviously “99 Luft Balloons.” How did you arrive at covering that song, and what other cover tunes have you performed live?
A: This was about 6 years ago when Cassandra just joined the band. Cassandra grew up in Germany and I thought this would be perfect as she was learning some of our “older songs.” It has turned out to be a fan favorite! We’ve done many cover tunes live but our favorite ones are and still do from time to time – A Message to You, Rudie (The Specials version), 5446 (Toots & the Maytals), Get Up, Stand Up/Stir It Up (Bob Marley), and One Step Beyond (Madness/Prince Buster).
Q: You’re opening for Bad Manners pretty soon. Have you ever played with them before? Are they a musical influence for you guys?
A: We’ve never played w/ Buster and the boys before but Bad Manners music and Buster himself have been a big influence on me personally. In fact, after spending some time with him in the ‘90’s, I started The Fabulous Rudies soon after.
Q: Any new, up-and-coming or younger bands out there that have impressed you? Anything in the ska world that strikes you as fresh or innovative?
A: I mentioned Bedouin Soundclash. What The Aggrolites are doing right now is something special and influential. It looks like Deal Gone Bad are finally getting some love nationally. I really enjoyed Bigger Thomas as I got to see them live for first time last summer. Also look out for some good reggae bands out of San Diego I’m sure whoever reads this may want to check out – Stranger, NOIZ, and Tribal Seeds. But as far as new bands there are plenty. I’ll let you know our favorites after the summer tour. Look out for the all girl Japanese band on Warped Oreska!
Q: Do you ever tour outside the US, and if so, any favorite countries to visit?
A: We have not toured outside the US as of yet. This is one of our biggest goals for 2009! We have been talking to Bucket and The Toasters so we’ll let you know.
Q: Anything you’d like to plug, feel free to mention it here.
A: Come out and support us on Warped Tour ’08, www.warpedtour.com! Keep in touch as well @ www.myspace.com/fabrudies.
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