THE RUBENS ANNOUNCE EXTRA SHOWS
With all the swagger of a dirty country blues band, it is hard to believe The Rubens have only been playing together for just eighteen months. Perhaps Australia’s lo-fi answer to The Black Keys the Margin brothers Zaac, Elliot and Sam and childhood-friend Scott grew up just ten minutes from Camden in the small town of Menangle. Making waves with their smooth, soul-soaked sound, they have been forced to announce extra shows on their Don’t Ever Want To Be Found tour.
Despite not even having recorded an album The Rubens were voted #57 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 last year with their home-recorded track, Lay It Down. With Sam’s husky vocals, the lazy pick of Zaac’s guitar and a swinging hip-hop beat all swathed in the warm reverb of Elliot’s organ their very first release cruises with all the confidence of a much older band. Their second release, My Gun is a little more lyrical, offering up a whisper of vocal harmonies and a syncronised punch of drums and organ. Sounding like an aural doppleganger of Jace Everett’s Bad Things (the soundtrack to the award-winning opening credit’s of HBO’s True Blood) the tour’s namesake Don’t Ever Want To Be Found expands and hints already of what these ruggedly-handsome boys are capable. Shot on Super 8mm film creating a instagram-esque summery filter, the accompanying film clip features the boys running through what may very well be Menagle to a sun-streamed abandoned hall. To bring the song home resonates well with their enveloping soul-blues rock.
At the beginning of this year The Rubens recorded their debut album in New York with renowned producer David Khane whose experience boasts Paul McCartney, Regina Spektor and The Strokes. Now the Rubens are touring on their Don’t Ever Want To Be Found tour in the lead-up to their appearance at Splendour In the Grass and Adelaide’s Spin Off Festival. Their last tour sold out like wildfire and only limited tickets are available for their extra Sydney and Melbourne shows.
Jul 18-19, Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, moshtix.com.au
