Nikki Matteson sings and plays an acoustic blonde jumbo body Guild guitar. Rich Rue adds harmony and plays slide and fingerstyle on his shiny old-timey resophonic guitars. Carrie Deans plays bass and sings harmony parts.
"Uncle Professor" operates the Elephant's Eye Liquid Light Show. Dr. Twist adds keyboard & accordion. As the psychedelic RueMates Jim Tollesfrud backs us up on drums. "Special K" adds drums now & then, as well.
Influences
The British Invasion, with emphasis on The Beatles and The Rolling Stones (esp. Brian Jones) as well as The Kinks, Pink Floyd, etc...The entire San Fransisco scene in the 1960's, esp. Big Brother and The Holding Company, Janis Joplin, The Jefferson Airplane, Jorma Kaukanen, The Doors and so on and so forth...Dick Cavett...Country Blues artists such as Memphis Minnie, Charlie Patton, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Blues singers such as Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton, Other Blues influences include Howlin' Wolf, Magic Sam, John Lee Hooker and his cousin Earl, 60's Folk peoples including Joan Baez, her sister Mimi Farina and Richard Farina, Bob Dylan, Holy Modal Rounders, Current/Local musicians/artists include Holly Golightly, Amy Winehouse, Danielle Dax, The White Stripes, The Flaming Lips, The Roe Family Singers (a group Rich performs with every Monday night at the 331 Club in Northeast Minneapolis), September 29th, Rich Mattson, The Bitter Spills, The LuLu Gals, one of my first guitar teachers Jim Wuerffel, The Strangers (our Rock'and'Roll cover band) and The Seventh Gallery. Other favorites include Gene Vincent, Kevin Ayers, Triona Ni' Dhomnaill, Gram Parsons, Richard and Linda Thompson, Fairport Convention, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Oh yes! Cannot forget about the Ska/Reggae bug either: Lee "Scratch" Perry, John Holt, Bob Marley and Willie Nelson's "Country Man" album. I gotta say that Television's Greatest Hits has warped my mind pretty good--and Rich says "let's not forget The Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird" either. Oh my! There are so many to mention and many more to come :)
Sounds Like
Three eggs in a frying pan, without the frying pan.
Hey Rues & Mates - Hope you have great shows the next 2 Fridays - know you will - sadly will be out in the jackpines on those days & unable to show up - see ya soon tho! An extra large peace for you! Prof. Jim
Thanks, I really enjoyed working with you guys as well. Whenever you are looking into putting together a new record give me a holler. I've been building relationships with big and small studio owners in all areas of the cities so that I can get people the best bang for their buck and fit rooms and the vibe of certain studios to the bands that will get the most at that place.
Also, if you need help putting together that tour you've been dreaming about, let me know. We can figure something out to make it as successful as possible.
hey folks, great show at the Hoot last weekend, the whole day was beautiful. just wanted to say that we got ahold of your album, and, dude... f-ing awsome. I've never gotten so many "dude, who IS this!?" s from people. keep up the good work, we'll have to play more shows together in the future (assuming we don't all get taken over by robots, in the future, and they don't let us play our instruments anymore... it could happen)
The Red Stag?!! I heard of that place! Isnt that the one in Northeast Minneapolis where ANYTHING might happen on a Sunday night, and its probably gonna be real good???!!!
Thanks for coming down to the 331 for the Crows' trip to the 'brite-lites'. Saturday ought to be big fun, too. Sometimes i think i camp out just by opening my mouth...
Hiya - As you may know, we should all meet at the 331 on Wed 3 June to hear the KFAI House Party guest artist(s) of the week, drink potions, and then listen to the Ruemates. Thats this week. Similar plan for next week. Then, in two weeks, its:
Greetings from Reduced Speed Ahead,MN! Tune in the KFAI House Party to hear the Summit Stunt Pilots on the 17th - then come down to the 331 for their ON-SITE RECORDING and performance of the early sets. Then stick around for something crow-dacious, with the Crows and a fairly special guest.
