RubberSideDown

Not many bands can make Velvet Revolver look like a 'Chenille Popgun,' but RubberSideDown offers a bit more bang for your buck. Often tossed into an L.A. rock genre that is heavily rooted in ripped denim, red bandanas and Jack Daniels, RubberSideDown offers ZeroFighter. Full of guitar solos laden with southern twang, crashing cymbals and thunderous bass lines, ZeroFighter takes us back to the rock future.

In a music market saturated with indie this, pop that, RubberSideDown strives to be different and gets back to the sort of rock seduction that makes Van Halen, AC/DC and Aerosmith so appealing. On "Get Real" vocalist Kevin Casey flips the proverbial bird right on cue: "I don't want to be like you / I can see through your cheap facade."

Truthfully, this glam/rock sound is hard to come by. Cherish it before it fades like your acid washed denim.

-JJ
- Owl Magazine www.theowlmag.com

"RubberSideDown, an upwardly mobile San Francisco band that sounds ready for arenas."
- San Jose Mercury News

There’s something to be said for the real deal. A breath of fresh air after inhaling recycled and mediocre fumes for so long you can’t remember the last time you got truly excited about anything. Sometimes you wonder if maybe you’re just too jaded, if you’ve been around the rock block one too many times to even care.

After driving around last Friday for what seemed like hours looking for parking, then paying ten bucks to park in a garage, I was made to wait outside in line for another ten minutes, and I was on the guest list! So I was in no mood to hang out and really had no intention of staying past a song or two of the next band. When I found out it was RubberSideDown, I was curious. I’d heard these guys had a big draw, and figured it was probably hype. Sure, the place was packed and the lead singer was kinda cute in a “Johnny Resnik as a biker” way, but… oh well, what the hell. I’d stand near the door to make a quick escape.

From the first blam of the guitars, and the hit of the drums on the opening song, “Black Mountain.Road”, this band got my attention. Well, I should say lead singer and rhythm guitar player Kevin Casey did. Casey possesses that rare blend of bad boy appeal mixed with genuine enthusiasm for his music, his band and his especially his audience that spells rock star. He’s not a poser. Bowie, Stephen Tyler and Jon Bon Jovi still have it, Michael Hutchense from INXS, (who Casey is reminiscent of vocally) had it in spades, and Casey clearly had that intangible torch in his grasp. So I stuck around. And the songs pulled me in…

The second song, “Get Real”, the opening track off their new EP High Noon, began with a fun, foreboding bass line from bass player and pick user Michael Scott (who is a dead ringer for a young Gary Cole, remember that TV show Midnight Caller?) and some cool guitar riffs from guitar player Warren Caudle. Caudle, who seems to be in his own weird “Warren’s World”, with a bizarre combo of bandanna and backwards leather Harley Davidson cap on his head, was a perfect contrast to the prettier side of the stage, making strange faces while playing hook after memorable hook. Drummer Paul Batres held down a solid, behind the beat groove throughout the set. Get Real opens up into a big chorus, as many of the RSD songs do, a sign of good, hit songwriting. (Hits sell, remember, kiddies?) “Slip Away” and the plaintive “What Now” proved that point further.

”Echoes of London”, the opening song off their last CD, American Romantic, was so damn good I had to move closer to the stage. Casey was looking out at the audience like he had a secret that maybe he was gonna tell us if we got lucky and the band was having a ball, alternating between vibing off the music and each other. By the time they jumped into “She’s Like Morphine”, it seemed like everybody was hooked. The high point was a brand new song called “Julia”, so radio ready it sounded like a cover, even though it was clearly their own. “My Next Life” had another delicious bass hook and the closer “Say Please”, couldn’t have said it better. Please, sir, can I have some more?

RubberSideDown’s only down side was a lack of background vocals and maybe a few more compelling lyrics. But when you’re having that much fun, who cares? Catch ‘em at the Great American Music Hall on March 24.

-- Kimberlye Gold - Grapevine Culture

A lot of nice twists on this one. Rubber Side Down manages to take alt rock, a category that too many indie acts define as “playing guitar really loud,” and give it character. Every song is different. From track to track, we get alt rock songs flavored with early Brit punk, psychedelic kicks, grinding grooves, and yes, scorching guitar. But guitarist Joseph Bettencourt (who has since moved on and been replaced by Warren Caudle) isn’t just showing off. Tracks like “Slip Away” and “Hot Wheels A Go Go” prove that Bettencourt is flexing some impressive creative muscles.

He’s not the only one. This is a smart, cohesive, professional rock band. And they’ve got the right vocalist. Listening to Kevin Casey sing, you’d think Bono got restless, crashed a Matchbox 20 show, shoved Rob Thomas aside, and took over. It’s a rock radio-ready voice with an alluring rough edge.

The standout track is “Where Did You Go,” because I’m a sucker for a creative lyrical twist. I don’t know if songwriter Casey had this in mind, but it’s a gender reversal. A man finds himself in the traditionally female position of being dumped after a one-night stand. He then frets about and analyzes it like the opposite sex:

You might have told me that you don’t want to settle down,
that you had issues
things that I should know about.
I think I called you about a thousand times
You don’t answer the phone,
You’re never home...
Where’d you go? I’m not sure I wanna know...

Some tracks like “Rusted Chains” tend to go on a bit long. But it’s easy to forgive their tendency to get carried away sometimes. They just sound like they enjoy playing together so much. Their lives shows must be a lot of fun. - IndieMusic.com

"With melodic, guitar-driven songs and insightful lyrics tinged with pain, highlights of American Romantic include the lovesick 'Echoes of London'....the desperate 'Where'd You Go'.... and the resilient 'Broken'.....sensual bass lines, penetrating guitars..."
- Metro Active

I don't know about you, but when a band treads the line between the sloppy ferocity of The Replacements and the more commercial pop structure of Matthew Sweet or Tom Petty, I'm on board. Kevin Casey's radio-ready voice gets ample support from a clean, mean and lean rock and roll band that toe-taps several touchstones without falling into the derivative pool.... Tony Lemieux's slide guitar adds great punch and texture to "Seventeen" and "Broken", two songs that U2 and Paul Westerberg should cover, respectively. "Morphine" has a soulful vibe reminiscent of INXS (when they were "on" anyway), and one can hear influences ranging from The Records to Neil Young....the infectious and well-written songs display a band with a focused and original sound that makes you want to hear more. Those West Coasters can lap up what is certainly an electric live show; we East Coasters will have to settle for playing the hell out of this disc until our weather perks up.
- The MP3 Files with Bill Holmes
- The MP3 Files

"OK, these guys are about 10 minutes from hitting it really big. Their sound is sophisticated and smooth with touches of sarcasm. Musically rooted in classic rock with finishing touches in ultra-modern song writing and polished production. Hey, it works."
-- Victoria Joyce, Sugarbuzz Magazine, Nov 2005

complete review: http://sugarbuzzmagazine.com/Uncensored/rubbersidedown.html - Sugarbuzz Magazine