Thursday, August 16, 2018

Acclaimed Chicago band Martin Van Ruin releases new album, will perform Aug. 17 show at FitzGerald's


By ERIC SCHELKOPF 

Following the release of its 2014 critically acclaimed debut album,  "Every Man a King," Chicago band Martin Van Ruin continues its adventurous ways with the album "Current Day."

Martin Van Ruin  will celebrate the release of the album with a show on Aug. 17 at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Tickets are $10, available at ticketweb.com.

I had the chance to talk to Martin Van Ruin bandleader Derek Nelson about the new album. 


Q – Your first album, "Every Man a King," enjoyed rave reviews. Did you feel any pressure in following up the album? 

None at all. This whole thing is pretty free of pressure. If we feel any, it’s just about making sure that we’re making something that feels right.
Q – In sitting down to make the new album, what were your goals and do you think you accomplished them? 

We wanted to write songs and tell stories that were somewhat appropriate for the times we’re living in. There are parts of music and songwriting that are universal and timeless, but we didn’t want to make music that was a tribute to the '70s, even though those influences will still come through.
Hence the name of the release,  "Current Day." 

https://soundcloud.com/martinvanruin 

Q – Mike Lust recorded and engineered the record. How did you hook up with him and what do you think he brought to the project?

Lust is the very best. He goes way back with Pete Falknor (drummer/songwriter/everything else), and he records in the same practice space as us and has recorded us before. 

So, it just made sense. It was good to have another songwriter in there to help guide things in the right direction.

We needed him, actually. We recorded in so many stops and starts that it wouldn't have worked without somebody who could pull it all together.

Q – Are you just concentrating on Martin Van Ruin these days? What do you like about leading this particular group of musicians?  

I’m definitely not leading anything here; it’s a collective effort from all of us. We all just do whatever interests us. 
 
What the seven of us share is a need to make music without wondering what we’ll get out of it other than the music. That’s enough. 

Q – The band has been compared to Bob Dylan and Neil Young. Do you consider them to be a big influence on the band's music? 

Yes, for sure. I think what’s drawn people to them for so long — I mean, the songs of course — but also that they’re free. They do what they feel like.

I remember seeing Neil Young do a show solo, and he had all these instrument stations set up around the stage, and after every song he’d just wander around in slow-mo and decide what to play next. It was like watching somebody rehearse, except it’s Neil Young.

Q – Do you have any dream projects or collaborations? 
 
I've always been obsessed with T Bone Burnett, so he'd have to be high up on the list.

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