RUTS DC
2 SETS + DJ playlist curated by RUTS DC
7:30Ppm, Thursday 11th July, Bedford Esquires
Tickets priced £20 are online from Seetickets and available in person from Slide Record Shop & Bedford Esquires Bar from the 8th May
Ruts DC: ELECTR/acoustic Volume 3
10 Track Turquoise Vinyl LP – Extended CD & Download 5/7/24
Here we go again. That one. The one that says acoustic guitars go against punk.
The Evidence: Item A: Woody Guthrie’s Gibson L-00. Exact age unknown. Instrument body hand
painted with the words “THIS MACHINE KILLS FASCISTS”
Because sometimes it feels right to strip back, to pare down and to scrape off all that is surplus.
Because sometimes it feels important to reveal the bones and the purpose.
This, of course, does not diminish the significance of the other records. The ones which glow with
studio radiation. The full, the deep and the burnt dub low end offerings.
No your honour.
Some people won’t let it go.
The Evidence: Item B: Johnny Cash’s Martin D-35 as played in St Quentin Penitentiary.
Tell the lifers and the knifers banging metal cups that the music has gone soft.
Ruts DC was, is, and always will be, a belief system where urgency, necessity, purity and primal
energy are solemn commitments.
And that as long as what comes out of the speakers has power, attack, groove and prowess the
instruments used in it’s making isn’t, really, that important.
What you hear on this record is what was played, and captured, in the studio.
Simple as that. No indulgent studio refinement. No afterthought solos fileshared across timezones
and seamlessly digitally grafted in by a software technician who never heard of Link Wray, Big Star
or The Modern Lovers.
But do not mistake the primitive for the sloppy. No sir. Do not mistake that for one minute.
The precision here is from practice. From playing. Honed instinct. The seventh sense understanding
that a great band has. Forged and tempered over time. The road. The studio. Life. Death.
The Evidence: Item C: Ruts DC Electro Acoustic Volumes 1, 2 and, now, 3. What you are holding
in your hand is pure, uncut, high grade Ruts DC. Another mistake not to make. Do not think it is a
record to be played quietly.
Play it loud for the same reasons that it was recorded. Because it matters. Melody, ideals, rhythm
and rights. The word is the weapon.
Still.
No further questions your honour.
People Unite.
Graham Erickson 2024
Ruts DC
ELECTRacoustic Tour 2024
Tue 9th July WALTHAMSTOW Trades Hall
Wed 10th JulyBRIGHTON The Albert
Thur 11th JulyBEDFORD Esquires
Fri 12th July HUDDERSFIELD The Parish
Sat 13th July NUNEATON Queens Hall
Sun 14th July DERBY Hound Dog
Tue 16th July WORCESTER Marrs Bar
Wed 17th JulyBRISTOL Fleece
Thur 18th JulyYORK Crescent
Fri 19th July DUNFERMLINE PJ Molloys
Sat 20th July STOCKTON Georgian Theatre
Sun 21st July CARLISLE Old Fire Station
Fri 26th July WORCESTER Marrs Bar
Sat 27th July DARWEN Library Theatre