Spring Break
Musicians offer more than rock; offer message
Issue date: 11/12/03 Section: A&E
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It seems as if the less irreverent and "in your face" you are, the less success you find.
Few musicians risk giving up their future riches to preserve their integrity.
For acoustic-driven rock band Rubicon, their message takes precedence over their rock star dreams.
"Our faith influences our music," says lead singer Rob Ham. "I believe in writing lyrics that make people think."
Ham collaborates with bassist Justin Little to write songs.
The band has been playing together for over a year now.
Ham and Little are joined by drummer Luke Rideout, electric violinist Justin Ooms and guitarist Craig Keys.
Like a puzzle, the band was pieced together, bringing together members from all over the country.
Members hail from small towns in Southern California like Hesperia and Solvang, as well as Minneapolis, and Sisters, Oregon.
Rideout describes their music as "(Sounding like) The Dave Matthews Band, but stripped down, simpler, a harder."
"It is a bit more organic," Ham said.
Their songs are blessed with numerous solos and graceful melodies.
When the band got together, they were not sure of what sound would come out of it all.
What was originally supposed to be a two-man acoustic affair, ended up being a five-piece rock, acoustic rock hybrid.
"The sound we came out with was not what we originally expected when we started playing," Ham said.
Fusing all their influences together, the band came out with a sound all their own.
Ham noted that Toad the Wet Sprocket, Jars of Clay and the Dave Matthews Band as his major influences in his musical career.
Rideout was bitten by the music bug early. His father was a worship leader when he was a young boy.
"I always wanted to be able to play drums for him," Rideout said.
He also pointed out Pearl Jam and the Dave Matthews Band as his major influences, but also gave credit to Tommy Walker, who is a worship leader at Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock where he attends, and his pal Tim Kane, who is "an awesome guitarist" and keeps him motivated to perfect his craft.
The quintet has a four-song EP currently out, but is in pre-production for their first full-length album, which begins production in late December.
The name of the album will be Fly. Ham and Rideout insist that it will be a little harder.
The band plans on booking more tour dates and is looking forward to progressing not only as artists, but as people.
"We want to go as far as God takes us."
Rubicon will be playing Nov. 16 at the Village Covenant Church on N. Barranca in Azusa. For more information call (626) 335-4013.