The Blue Rubies are here and the new four-piece band will bring experience and talent to the stage Saturday, March 9 at the Up and Under Pub, 1216 E. Brady St., for the release of the debut CD "...Wanna Dance?".
The group -- comprising drummer Victor Span (Sugarfoot), guitarist/vocalist Robert Allen, Jr. (Zoot Suit Boogie), bassist Andy Lester (Sugarfoot) and piano player Bill LeClair (Buddy Guy, Otis Rush) -- will play three one-hour sets starting at 10 p.m.
{INSERT_RELATED}The Blue Rubies' style is comparable to The Mighty Blue Kings, combining classic soul, groove/swing, boogie, blues and rockabilly; a blend Span feels will appeal to a wide audience that appreciates good music. But he believes the biggest attraction is their stage performance.
"A lot of bands play this kind of music, but what makes us different is that we really get into the music and not just stand up there and play," Span says. "That's our biggest goal, presentation. You have to have a good personality to be a good frontman, to get the audience involved and into it, and we're lucky because Robert's just the man.
"Being in the back on the drums, there's not much I can do to excite the audience, but I have perfected a flaming drum solo where I set my drum sticks on fire."
The 11-track "…Wanna Dance?" is packed with everything from upbeat swing numbers that will make you wanna dance like Earl King's "The Hucklebuck," to hard blues songs with emotional lyrics and crying guitar, like in their original "Blues and Pain." There's jump blues and groove songs like Little Milton's "That's What Love Will Make You Do," too. The Blue Rubies pride themselves in tweaking the arrangements of the covers that they do to add a personal touch and to offer the audience something beyond straight covers.
The Blue Rubies formed in the fall of 2000. Span wanted to start a project in the Midwest, where this style of music originated. He and the other members are originally from Milwaukee, so here was the best place to start. Span was looking for musicians that had the same ideals, including consensus on the balance between originals and covers.
"You've got bands that just play originals, and that's sometimes not what people want to hear; plus, it limits the places you can play," Span says.
Currently, The Blue Rubies' repertoire is about one-third originals and the rest covers. Though issues like those have importance, the key reason Span chose to work with these particular musicians is because of their talent; he feels they really inspire him to play at the next level.
"I believe in the guys; I believe in the music. That's why I'm back in Milwaukee," Span says.
In addition to the three other "core" members of the band, The Blue Rubies sometimes feature guest musicians such as Jim Eannelli (Sam Llanas' Absinthe, Sugarfoot, Colour Radio) and vocalist Jim Schwarz (The Blues Disciples).
The Blue Rubies hope to start a national and international tour in the fall of 2002, playing venues anywhere in the US, Canada and Brazil, and then onto Europe. Locally, The Blue Rubies hope to host a "Potpourri Show" which would include Milwaukee's best rock, swing, blues, hip-hop, funk and improv bands.
"It's to get Milwaukee's cultures together and hopefully introduce new things to different people," says Span, who notes that cities like Chicago and New Orleans offer such "genre-crossing" shows which have proved to be successful. Span believes they could be quite successful here, too.
Catch The Blue Rubies at the Up & Under Pub Saturday, March 9 at 10 p.m. (21+ -- sorry underagers) for good music, flaming drum sticks and a high energy stage performance. Admission is $5 and CDs will be available for $15 each. Soon, Span hopes to have a grab-bag that will offer a CD, T-shirt and bumper sticker all for $20.
