March 1, 2016

Premiere: Rick Rude's Bombastic "Stromboli"

Rick Rude's Bombastic 'Stromboli'

A forthcoming, vibrant EP from indie rock combo Rick Rude shows the Dover, New Hampshire five know how to play the angles. Or, we suppose, how to play angularly, in the tradition of the great and greatly exercised rockers of the '90s musical underground. The new five-song collection Mind Cook alternately cools out and rocks out, hinting at jazzy intentions one moment and then exploding into Superchunk-indebted infernos on songs including the bracing title cut. Indeed, Mind Cook exhibits substantial range in the gentle slink of the verses of "54 TLOC" and the subdued closing coming-of-age ballad "Little Boy." Rick Rude seems particularly comfortable establishing calm centers in three-quarter time, as in the aforementioned closer, and these placid moments make their yanging, bombastic complements all the more potent.

The clear highlight of the set is the alternately slamming and noodly ripper "Stromboli," which sits in the center of Mind Cook. The tune thrashes and bops through almost two minutes before unhinged vocals ever-so-briefly plead their case via several strands of elongated syllables. At its most cacaphonous "Stromboli" sonically hints at Pretty Girls Make Graves circa "Speakers Push The Air," but the song's genteel passages are just as important in conveying Rick Rude's playful character. Salty Speakers pairs with Cat Dead Details Later Records to issue Mind Cook as a vinyl 7" March 18, and one can already pre-order the set right here. Salty Speakers previously issued Rick Rude's split cassette with Kiss Concert, which is available from Bandcamp right here. There fans can also find additional EP and singles tracks, as well as Rick Rude's April 2013 debut full-length, Heavyweights. Rick Rude plays Providence this Saturday, and heads out on a week-long tour to support the EP on St. Patrick's Day. All presently known tour dates are below.

Rick Rude: Bandcamp | Internetz | Facebook



03.05 -- Providence, RI -- Viva/Paragon Cafe
03.17 -- Dover, NH -- Wrong Brain HQ
03.18 -- Buffalo, NY -- The Glitterbox
03.19 -- Mansfield, OH -- Relax, It's Just Coffee
03.20 -- Rochester, NY -- The Bug Jar
03.21 -- Cambridge, MA -- ZuZu
03.24 -- Portland, ME -- Hella Good Tacos
05.01 -- Portsmouth, NH -- 3S Artspace
05.06 -- Winooski, VT -- Waking Windows Festival
05.28 -- Portsmouth, NH -- Birdseye Lounge
06.11 -- Peterborough, NH -- The Thing In The Spring Festival

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