STLBlues CD Reviews :: Rum Drum Ramblers

Mean Scene

By East Side Slim

Rum Drum Ramblers – Mean Scene – Lightnin' Thunders Music/Big Muddy Records, 2011

The Rum Drum Ramblers are "favorite sons" of the St. Louis music scene, appealing to older semi-jaded blues hounds, younger punkers and scenesters, acoustic-minded folkies and most everyone in between. For the benefit of readers not familiar with the band, it is comprised of 3 young south city men (St. Louis): Mat Wilson – guitar and intense man-of-a-thousand-voices vocals, Joey Glynn – basses of all sorts and laid-back demeanor, and Ryan Koenig – harmonica, vocals, percussion, mandolin, washboard (and anything else he can fit in his case.)

Rum Drum Ramblers have a sound like no one else – making new sounds that sound old but yet new via their talent, vibrancy, energy and inventiveness. Passion is the essence for what they do, starting with a base of pre-war blues and taking that in any direction that pleases them. Mean Scene is their 3rd album that I am aware of, with each being a step forward in the evolution of the band's sound (from a very strong start.)
The 'Ramblers brought in a few special guests and friends to augment some of the cuts on the CD, including: Adam "Lightnin'" Hoskins (lead guitarist for Pokey LaFarge), Tim Sullivan (piano & organ), Felix Reyes (lap-steel) and the Funky Butt Brass Band horns (Matt Brinkmann, Ben Reece, Adam Hucke and Aaron Chandler). Reyes was instrumental in achieving the rich yet old-school sound of the CD via his production work, along with Mike Hero, Dave Herrero and Shane Kiel. The CD (an LP version is also available) artwork is also special and entertaining in its own right, courtesy of the talents of Bill Streeter, Shane Kiel and Ashley Marciano.

The Songs: (all songs written by Rum Drum Ramblers)

1. Jack & Tom
--This jaunty yet sparse tune represents Rum Drum Ramblers' sound at its core – percussive acoustic guitar work, kitchen-sink hand percussion, melodic acoustic bass fiddle and idiosyncratic vocals – old school soul for the modern age.

2. Jump Into A Frenzy
--This laid-back, melancholy tune sounds like it walked right out of Tin Pan Alley…and only in a positive way! The additions of piano (Tim Sullivan), trumpet (Adam Hucke) and clarinet (Ben Reece) flesh out the sound a bit, reminding me of the music the Asylum Street Spankers performed early in their run.

3. Mean Scene
--The title cut for the CD, this mid-tempo rousing tune recalls the bluesy hokum of artists such as Tampa Red. If you are not familiar with the music of Tampa Red (Hudson Whittaker), well shame on you…

4. If It Have To Be
--I've heard this song dozens of times and I'm still not sure how to describe it – other than exceptional. Maybe take some Sonny Terry, throw in some early period Lowell George bluesy eccentricity, and stir it up among an unforgettably catchy bluesy melody…yes…that might do it!

5. Nothin' New
--This track works an earthy, loping, Texas swing vibe, replete with acoustic back porch-styled harp work. Catchy? Indeed.

6. Gonna Haunt You
--From the watery chording and falsetto howling at the beginning of the track you might be unsure where this one is heading, but after that short introduction the song settles into a fine romping bluesy number. At first listen the vocal delivery and harp squalls will catch perk up your ears, but listen to closely to the wonderfully melodic bass lines provided by Joey Glenn. His melodic playing allows Mat and Ryan to wander off in eccentric directions, adding great color and emotion to the band's music.
--per CD notes, this song is "dedicated to the memory of Robert Ward and his untouchable Magnatone sound". (A nice pun included by the way, as Robert Ward was a founding member of an early version of the Ohio Players who were called the Ohio Untouchables at the time.)

7. Hometown Blues
--I guess the toy piano used here qualifies as part of Ryan's percussion accessories! The percussive guitar chording heard here comes close to merging a Dixieland jazz style with '30s blues lament. It's very much a rhythmically oriented mid-tempo blues, with various flourishes that ensure that you know this is a Rum Drum Ramblers tune.

8. Get Behind The Wheel
--Mat's love of old cars is showing on this tune, played in a jaunty 2nd line fashion with the Funky Butt Brass Band horns. The lyrical content is full of delightfully eccentric twists and turns, adding to the joyful vibe of the song, with the tune continuously building in intensity until it feels like it is going to fly off the highway in a trail of blown rubber.

9. Kicks
--A pleasant little ditty speaking to the desires of a younger man toward a woman a few years his senior… the only thing missing is a cat playing jug (although the bass fiddle fills in pretty well.)

10. Do You
--This pop-folk tune is reminiscent of things you might have heard in the early to mid '60s, from folks such as Koerner, Ray and Glover. It has a very pleasant melody, featuring what almost sounds like tack piano (a piano with tack pushed into the hammers.) The pleasant melody is in juxtaposition to the lyric, which has a much more pointed edge – which to me sounds like a warning about being too hard, too cynical, not be open to the joys of life and people and ideas around you.

11. All The Little Days
--Ah, here's Rum Drum at its raw best – an idiosyncratic slow blues with shades of Pat Hare and Lester Butler (yes, combining new and old) - the individuality and honesty of the 'Ramblers' music will draw you in and keep you there!

12. What I Must've Done
--This set-closer almost qualifies as a ballad, although it's just a tad too quirky and quick of tempo for that. This one is an acoustic solo piece from guitarist Wilson featuring a melancholy and gentle feel, but still possessing a raw edge.

The Verdict:

Mean Scene is the sound of Rum Drum Ramblers maturing, absorbing all their influences and ably assembling them into a sound of their own. While the bands' rawness and edginess are still very much on display, so is an attention to song craft and musicianship that would seem to transcend the calendar ages of the band members. Mean Scene is an album the band has every right to be especially proud of, as well as being an album that is a gem to listen to. Let's rate this bad boy – East Side Slim is handing out an STLBluesometer rating of 4.50 to Rum Drum Ramblers' Mean Scene. Turn the volume up a bit from time to time so that you can experience every nuance contained within.

If you happen to see that Rum Drum Ramblers are playing a venue near you, strongly consider catching the show. The primary reason is because of the talent level of the band and the joyousness of the music. Also, due to various commitments by the band members Rum Drum plays a limited amount of live dates, but rest assured it will be a night to remember – guaranteed.