Rock N Roll Las Vegas

BORN RUFFIANS: THE INDIE ROCK BAND’S HISTORY

April 12, 2016 — Leave a comment

Band Beginnings
The Canadian indie rock band Born Ruffians was started in 2002. Only at the time, the band was under a different name; Mornington Drive. Guitarist and vocalist Luke LaLonde, bassist, and vocalist Mitch DeRosier, and drummer Steve Hameline formed the band in Midland, Ontario. In 2004 the band moved to Toronto which is where they started to get success from their energetic live shows, wit-filled lyrics, their sounds that’s a cross between Vampire Weekend and Modest Mouse, and a strong online fan base following. After the move to Toronto, they officially became Born Ruffians.

First Success and Record Deal
The Born Ruffians recorded a demo that helped get them signed. Warp Records releases its music in North America. Paper Bag Records releases its music in Canada. XL Recordings Records takes care of their music releases in Europe. In 2006 they released their first EP which was titled the same as the band’s name.

Debut Album
The band created their first debut full-length album -Red Yellow and Blue- in 2008. Red Yellow and Blue’s track list included their popular song Hummingbird as well as the songs: Red Yellow and Blue, Barnacle Goose, I Need a Life, Little Garcon, Badonkadonkey, and Foxes Mate for Life, Hedonistic Me, In a Mirror, Kurt Vonnegut and Red Elephant. Born Ruffians performed Hummingbird in an episode of the TV series Skins -a British drama centered around the lives of British teens- later the same year Red Yellow and Blue came out. Hummingbird received quite a bit of radio airplay by CBC Radio 3, as did the band’s cover of the Grizzly Bear song: Knife. Red Yellow and Blue had excellent reviews from music critics, but it wasn’t as big a commercial success as Warp Records was hoping it would be.

Sophomore Album
Say It was the second album of the Born Ruffians and was released in 2010. They added a new band member for this next album. Andy Lloyd joined as a keyboardist and guitarist for them. The second album had the songs: Oh Man, Retard Canard, Sole Brother, What to Say, The Ballad of Moose Bruce, Higher and Higher, Come Back, Nova Leigh, Blood The Sun and Water, and At Home Now on it. This second album met with a combination of good and bad reviews from critics. Many critics and fans felt Say It just didn’t have the same quality songwriting as past Born Ruffians music. Writing the songs primarily in the studio may have also worked against their creative process than helped them out. The band chose to take a break before writing again.

Luke LaLonde’s Solo Album
While Born Ruffians went on a brief hiatus the band’s lead singer and guitarist recorded a solo album. Luke LaLonde’s Rhythymnals featured his soft, light almost hopeful-sounding vocals and an alternative sound with a similar wit and musical whimsy as the music Born Ruffians typically made. Rhythymnals were recorded from 2010 to 2012 and were officially released by Paper Bag Records in 2012. The track listing includes: Grand (Rhythymnals), Hate the Night, Inamorataos, Undone, Shove Off, My Friend Archibald (R.I.P.), Red Wagon, Calm Down, Wave, and A Great Man. Rhythymnals was well received and praised for its creative melodies and harmonies.

Birthmarks
In 2013 Born Ruffians returned with their third album. Birthmarks were completed while the band was traveling and while they were in a rural area of Ontario. This move to stay out of primarily writing music in the studio proved to help the band return to their creative roots and resulted in a wonderful assortment of indie rock songs. The songs Needle, 6-5000, Ocean’s Deep, Permanent Hesitation, Cold Pop, Golden Promises, Rage Flows, So Slow, With Her Shadow, Too Soaked to Break, Dancing on the Edge of Our Graves, and Never Age make up the parts of Birthmarks. The original drummer Steve Hamelin quit the band permanently after the first part of their tour promoting Birthmarks. The drummer Adam Hindle joined Born Ruffians after Hameline left.

Ruff: The Fourth Born Ruffians Album
The Born Ruffians released their fourth album in 2015. Ruff was a strange step into the adolescent-like rude and yet gleeful attitude in the lyrics and the Born Ruffians’ beats and stop-and-go guitar sound. Ruff was viewed positively by fans and music critics alike. Born Ruffian’s fourth album was made up of the songs: Don’t Live Up, Stupid Dream, Yawn Tears, Don’t Worry Now, When Things Get Pointless I Roll Away, & On & On & On, Fuck Feelings, Eat Shit (We Did It), We Made It Let Me Get It Out and Shade to Shade.

Band Tours
Their touring destinations have led them throughout Canada, North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. The Born Ruffians have toured with the bands or musicians Caribou, Tokyo Police Club, Franz Ferdinand, Peter Bjorn and John, Hot Chip, The Hidden Cameras, The Honorary Title, Girl Talk, Stereolab, Architecture in Helsinki, The Hold Steady, The Drones, Cut Off Your Hands, Four Tet, Tame Impala, El Guincho, Jay Reatard, Buraka Som Sistema Dj/Mc set, No Age and The Temper Trap.

Most Popular and Notable Born Ruffians Songs
The most played songs from the Born Ruffians on YouTube start with Needle as most played. The band’s other most popular songs include Oh Cecilia, Hummingbird, I Need a Life, Little Garçon, What to Say, Don’t Live Up, Barnacle Goose, Foxes Mate for Life, and Ocean’s Deep. Hummingbird is maybe their most notable song as they performed it on the show Skins and it was played in a United Kingdom televisions advert and in an Australian car ad. Little Garçon additionally was in an American Express commercial.

Current Band News for Born Ruffians
Currently, the indie rock band Born Ruffians is touring in support of their latest album Ruff. They will be touring at venues in Europe and the United States this spring 2016.

HISTORY OF ROCK & ROLL IN LAS VEGAS

March 29, 2016 — Leave a comment

Las Vegas has quite a history behind it as far as rock and roll is concerned. The Las Vegas scene began to change back in the 1960s. Rock and Rock became popular back in the early 1960s. las Vegas has seen its share of Rock performers over the years.

Las Vegas has held live shows for over 60 years. Recognizable Rock stars that have performed in Las Vegas include the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, the Eagles, ACDC, Van Halen, and many more.

back in the 1960’s Las Vegas saw its share of famous faces. Janis Joplin, the Beatles, and Alice Cooper all performed in Las Vegas back at a time when Rock and Roll were considered something new and a bit out of the ordinary. People would come from all over in those days just to get a little taste of this new music called Rock. No one knew at that time how huge Rock & Roll would eventually become.

The Tropicana in Las Vegas has hosted spectacular Rock and Roll events over the past few years. In 2015 famous Rock Stars performed at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Speedwagon Guitarist Dave Amato, performed at the Tropicana throughout February 2016. Dave Amato drew large crowds at the Tropicana last month. Amato was the lead guitarist for REO Speedwagon.

This live “Rock & Roll” concert experience has turned Las Vegas into a Rock haven for many of people. This extraordinary concert experience with some of the most famous Rock stars is made possible through the use of video, light shows, professional dancers, trained actors as well as High-Quality BOSE.

The Vegas light shows bring so much to life for visitors. The light shoe along with the video and the extraordinary dancers make the Vegas experience all the more special. Real historical footage from the past 45 years helps to bring the Rock experience to a whole new dimension. The footage makes you feel as if you a living a piece of history all over again. The well put together footage takes you back to a period that covers 1960-1990.

From time to time guest artists also have joined the show. Artists include Bobby Kimball, Mickey Thomas, Joe Lynn Turner, Lou Graham as well as Jon Anderson. Anderson and Graham were a part of the group Foreigner.

The Las Vegas Sun Times ran several articles about the fascinating entertainment being offered especially at the “New Tropicana” in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Rave reviews have certainly helped businesses along the Vegas strip.

Raiding the Rock Vault in Las Vegas has featured such names as Stephanie Calvert (Starship), Howard Leese (Bad Company), Robin Mc Auley (Survivor), Rowan Robertson, and many more. Paul Shortino and Michael T Ross are also part of the Rock experience in Las Vegas. Paul Shortino and Michael T. Ross received several standing ovations during their appearance in Las Vegas.

Doug Aldrich also raided the famous Vegas Rock Vault back in August of 2015. Traci Guns also performed at the “New Tropicana” in Vegas. Tickets for this exceptional Classic Rock Concert Experience were mainly purchased online.

Helpful show reviews are also available online for anyone considering attending the Class Rock Concert Experience in Las Vegas. All concert and show information is available with specific dates and times. Vegas is helping people create the perfect memory with the spectacular Rock shows as well as some of the original Rock stars themselves making an occasional live appearance.