This blog is on Chris Ruest, I first met Chris at The Blues City Deli in St. Louis, MO. around 2016. I think there were two things that grew me to Chris’s music. One was his distinctive vocals; he has a real almost grit kind of Blues voice which gives his song that extra bit of Texas feel to them. The other thing about Chris is his guitar style, it also has that Texas Blues feel to it with a bit of Roots edge. All I know is that the first time I heard Chris play I was hooked. One other thing about Chris is that he is a real down to earth kind of guy and real easy to talk to. Chris mentions a few of his influences in the questions below. I feel that he really shows the talent of Jimmy Rodgers & Elmore James. Chris also has a real knack for writing songs and collaborating with other musicians. One in particular comes to mine Gene Taylor, an amazing piano player. I would have to say that Chris Ruest is in my Top 5 best Blues Guitarist. So, if you happen to get a chance to see Chris live, I Highly Recommend you go. Also there are a couple links below that you can hear some of Chris’s music and you can read Chris’s answers to the questions I was able to ask him. https://www.chrisruest.com/ https://www.facebook.com/chrisruestband https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeGx5F0MA1jX6ReuIDdqTiw https://www.eltororecords.com/El-Toro-R-B/fbclid=IwAR0scTdBzEyKXk5SBwyeLwVjLp633l5byj7gvHnJGR8uXF9mpzkVxN_JWRM https://envikenrecords.com/ 1. How long have you been playing music? I’m 47 years old now I started playing music when I was 12-13 years old, but I did not play seriously until I was in my early 20s and I left Connecticut for Texas to play professionally at age 25. 2. How many bands have you been in? I have played in several bands over the years Wanda King Linda, Gail Lewis tribute band The Texas Cannonballs, Sean Pittman band, Robin Sylar, Paul Bonn band, Gene Taylor Band and predominantly my own band the Chris Ruest band…. 3. Where were you born? I was born in Bristol Connecticut 4. Are you self-taught? I took guitar lessons at age 13 until 16 from a private teacher… 5. Who are your biggest influences? Sam Myers, Robert night Hawk, Elmore James, Hounddog Taylor, Jimmy Rodgers, Homer Henderson, Robin Siler, Brian Calway, Anson Funderburgh, BB King, Robert Junior Lockwood, Eddie Taylor….. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? I would call my music original music influenced by roots rock ‘n’ roll blues and American music. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? My first gig was a house party I was 17 years old on a makeshift Stage that fell apart while we were playing, and a drummers cymbal landed on my guitar damaging it permanently…. Lol A true image of what the future had to hold. 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? keep it real! 9. Do you write your own songs? I write my own music I do a few cover songs on each album typically under four cover songs with the exception of my live Cd where I purposely played my favorite cover songs. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? Ozzy Osbourne, Danzig, Django Reinhardt, a lot more 😂 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? Crying. 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? I like performing my original song called I’m down off of the Gene Taylor and Chris Ruest Albums 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? I wrote a song for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top although he has yet to hear it. If anyone’s got a recent email address for him let me know HAHA.
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This blog is on a duo Andrea & Mud, I really don’t remember how I discovered them. All I know is that when I first heard them I knew there was something pretty awesome here. Andrea & Mud have combined a bit of Rockabilly with Surf music, and some Honky Tonk. I have to say it’s a great combination. I think their description of what they play is “Surf Western Music” this is a perfect description.
Andrea has a very Country Twangy voice, which is very enjoyable to listen to. The tone and control she has of her vocals are just outstanding, also she can play the Saw. Now Mud play’s the electric guitar with that Surf sound of Dick Dale & The Ventures. Now as far as Mud’s vocals the only thing that comes to mind when I hear him sing is Johnny Cash. Which is a good thing. Now let’s talk their songwriting, to me they write songs that most people wouldn’t even think of writing about. This is one of the other things that makes me enjoy their music. I had the opportunity to ask them both some questions, their answers are below. Enjoy their responses. Plus, I highly recommend that you use the links below to look into Andrea & Mud. http://andreaandmud.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/AndreaandMud https://www.facebook.com/andreaandmud Mud’s answers
3.Where were you born? On 78, Snellville/stone mt. 4. Are you self-taught? Bass, tuba, and banjo- no Everything else yes 5. Who are your biggest influences? Guitar-Junior Brown, Gene Moles, Merle Travis Vocals- Dick Curless 6. What style of music do you consider yours? Country but I guess you could call it rockabilly if you had to, but I wear modern underwear. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? 2nd to last Battle of the band bands @ heaven in masquerade. I think I was 14. Glad I didn’t not stay around a few of my band mates much longer than that 😂 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Get ready to be poor but work your ass off and things will come 9. Do you write your own songs? I have a much easier times with songs I write over covers. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? A few of the one we cut in the studio recently. Really trying to push the boundaries of rhythm of country stuff. 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? Pottery- went to school for it and it’s my side hustle. Maybe something environmental 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? Dick Curless songs in general. Truck stops maybe. 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? Dwight Yoakam Most of the rest are dead Andrea’s answers 1. How long have you been playing music? About 7 years “professionally” even though I started playing guitar at 14. I didn’t really get into it until I moved to Georgia in 2013. 2. How many bands have you been in? technically. My first band was Hothouse Peaches and then I played as myself which included a version called Andrea Colburn & Her Low Standards and now, of course, Andrea & Mud. 3.Where were you born? Toledo, OH. 4. Are you self-taught? I took lessons at 14 when I lived in St. Louis. My teacher was one of the best blues musicians in the city, Brian Curran. He still is I do believe! Didn’t play a lot and then I moved to Georgia and was friends with some amazing musicians. They taught me a lot and Mud and myself taught me the rest. 5. Who are your biggest influences? I’ve always been very inspired by old music. Mostly the blues, especially at the beginning. Memphis Minnie and Robert Johnson. Bobbie Gentry inspired me to play guitar because her style was so unique. Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton may be my biggest influences with my current music style. And of course, I/we get a lot of influence from surf music. Link Wray, Dick Dale and the Centurions really inspire our weird shit. Spindrift too. Love them so much. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? We call it Surf Western because we have never felt like we fit into the “Country” box and of course, Mud’s guitar tone is too delicious to just play straight country. I’ve always loved Surf music, but I have way too much to say to just play that. Plus, I love to sing. So that made it obvious to just meld the two. I do have to say, Junior Brown coined the term, although he said Marty Stuart tried too also. We told him that’s what we call our music too and he seemed ok with it. Haven’t gotten a cease and desist yet anyway. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? It was with Hothouse Peaches at Star Bar about 6 or 7 years ago. So, I was 6 or 7 years younger. Messy, wonderful, sweaty fun. I was completely hooked. It took me a very long time to get to that point and I don’t plan on ever stopping. 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Decide if it’s most important to make money or do what you love. If it’s for money, make EDM or start an 80’s cover band. If it’s for love, stick to your guns and never give up. Be very patient and extremely determined and it will come. 9. Do you write your own songs? Yes. We do the occasional cover when recording and of course at long shows we play some but for the most part, they’re all ours. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? I have a soft spot for Garth Brooks. “Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old” gets played from an actual CD in my car whenever Mud isn’t in there. He doesn’t like Garth. I always tell him, if you grew up in the 90’s riding horses in rural Missouri, you’d love him too. As far as weirdest vinyl that I own, I’d have to say A Very Smurfy Christmas or Joanna Newsom. 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? I’d be an interior designer. I quit a big, fancy job a few years ago to play music full time and never looked back. Knowing I could look back if I absolutely needed to be nice though. 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? Right now, it’s “Foolin’ Around”. We mix the Patsy Cline version with the Buck Owens version and it’s very fun. We also do a pretty killer cover of “These Boots” by Nancy Sinatra, that’ll really get me going when they wanna dance so that is always a fave. 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? Loretta, Dolly, Neko Case, Eileen Jewel, Orville Peck. Maybe Robert Plant. I mean he did sing “Hot Dog” and that was country AF. |
AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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