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Q/A: Ruder and the Shockwaves
In the second of a series of interviews with student bands, Jackalope Magazine sat down with the members of Ruder and the Shockwaves to hear about their experiences with music. Founder of the group, Matt Ruder, plays guitar, with Darrell Luther on the keyboard, Nick Quintero on bass, Marcus DiFillipo on drums and Daniel Mench-Thurlow on saxophone.
Jackalope Magazine: How did your band form?
Matt Ruder: I kind of conceptualized the project back in April. I wanted to do a combination of jazz and rock just because that’s what I like and I just said on Facebook ‘I’m starting a project’ and Marcus told me to hit him up if I needed drums and I asked Darrell to play keys because I wanted a keyboard player.
JM: What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
MR: Progressive fusion
JM: What is progressive fusion?
Marcus DiFillipo: It’s kind of like a smorgasbord.
MR: It’s a lot of jams. Honestly, I’ve just been writing the first things that come to my mind. It originally started out as jazz-rock, but it took a left turn into the progressive side- more experimental.
JM: Who are your major influences?
MR: Django Reinhardt, Steve Vai, Andy Timmons. Andy Timmons is huge because I saw him a lot growing up. As well as Peter Frampton, Charlie Parker…jazz guys.
JM: Who writes your songs?
Nick Quintero: It’s all Matt Ruder. Matt writes the skeleton and then we add to it.
JM: Where have you performed?
Darrell Luther: We had a performance at Warehouse 21, also at the Gift Festival in 2013. We also had a tour with Venus and the Lion to Phoenix and some places here.
JM: What’s your favorite venue to play at?
MD: I really like playing at school. I mean, as much as I hate playing on campus, I like playing here because we filled it up. We had a last minute show here and it was filled. So that was cool.
JM: If you could play anywhere in the world, where would you choose to play?
DL: Madison Square Garden!
MR: I was about to say Madison Square Garden! You can just put us down for that one. (Laughs)
JM: Do you have anything going on with your band right now?
MR: Just new music. It’s just in the ‘learning the new songs’ phase. In late February we’re going to have a show at Warehouse 21. And we’re going to record; we have an album. We’re going to try to have that done by the end of this semester.
Everyone can check out Ruder and the Shockwaves on Facebook here!
You can also download one of the band’s demo songs here! (Just enter ‘0’ in the price bar)
Jackalope Magazine is the student magazine of Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Building on the interdisciplinary nature of our education, we aim to showcase the talent of our university and character of our city.
I believe Rude Wave would be a better name for the band.
What do you mean by this, Steve? Sounds like you’re giving a new music genre title to them.
wow, I did not suggest the change of name because I thought anyone was being rude. But when I read my post I realize that’s the implication. Honestly, I think Rude Wave would be a good name for a band: it suggests a style or genre that is unique, and also refers to the name of the prime mover behind the group. That’s all I meant. And I thought the article was well-written and accurately represented (very briefly) the musicians involved.
I think this article falsely represents this band. I’m sure their comments were edited and/or paraphrased. These musicians love their department and the incredible teachers who have supported them. I have been to their rehearsals and seen them work. They are not pretentious or pompous. They are talented serious musicians who are dedicated to their craft. Also, Steve, you are rude!
Jordyn, what makes you think that these comments are edited and/or paraphrased? Especially when Ruder and the Shockwaves have said that this is exactly what they said on their Facebook page. Furthermore, agreeing with Marcela, what is even rude about their answers? I don’t get any bad vibes.
Steve, I don’t see what’s rude about what they said. I feel like this article is a great miss representation of this band. They work hard and sound great. Some things I feel are taken out of context, and I’m sure it sucks playing on campus, but that doesn’t mean that they’re ungrateful or bad people.
Take criticism for your article, it’ll make you a better writer.
Marcela, if you don’t feel like anything was rude, how are they being misrepresented? They answered a bunch of questions, those questions and answers were written down verbatim, then placed on Jackalope. What makes everyone so sure they’re being edited to the point of manipulation? And where’s the proof?
I am also confused at the taking criticism comment. I don’t see any useful criticism or criticism based in anything other than personal bias.
Overall, the band is still a great bunch, nor are they ungrateful or mean spirited.
Anyone who would like to listen to the recordings of the interview to verify that the interview was transcribed verbatim and not out of context is welcome to contact me on here or by email at samantha.podio@student.santafeuniversity.edu.