SPOOKEY RUBEN
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | INDIE
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Spookey Ruben's lovefest
Eccentric bedroom-pop maestro takes crowd on a trip back through the 80s
By SARAH LISS
SPOOKY RUBEN with GIRLS_ARE_SHORT at the Reverb, May 17. Tickets: $8. Attendance: 350 (sold out). Rating: NNNN
halfway through his high-
energy whirlwind of a show, local merry prankster Spookey Ruben gleefully invited the crowd to accompany him on a trip back in time. He was a little too late -- the Reverb was already feeling the 80s with a vengeance. Sure, the hair was less frightening and the Dynasty shoulder pads were nowhere in sight, but the evening was a synth-tastic journey back to 80s high school, Spookey-style. And damned if it wasn't a blast.
Spookey Ruben rocked the Reverb with the synth-tastic new joints from his Bed and Breakfast discs.
With visions of wood panelling dancing in his head, adorable opener girls_are_short, aka Daniel Zabawa, warmed up with a crowd-pleasing set of earnest rec-room synth pop. Nearly hidden by his gear as he huddled centre-stage in a hoodie sweatshirt, Zabawa seemed overwhelmed by the cheers and applause.
Kooky Spookey followed with evidence he's been listening to critics' complaints that his new two-disc set Bed and Breakfast is repetitive. His explosive live show proves that what he needs is a good editor; stuck with a time limit, the musical mischief-maker cut out the flab to deliver a tight, entertaining show.
Starting off with the gentle lullaby Goodnight, Sleep Tight (the lead track on Bed), Ruben built momentum through his bouncy set, showcasing the highlights of his new material.
From the Clearasil-scented adolescent power-pop of Shauna to the nerdy A.M. radio lament When You Fall In Love With Someone Who's In Love With Someone Else, every tune had the kids busting moves by the side of the stage. It was a symbiotic synthesizer lovefest -- Ruben played off the sky-high audience energy, and they ate up his act with a pure joy as palpable as the neon bubbles popping in midair.
The crowd howled with even more delight when MC D-Sisive appeared onstage during disco number Born On Labour Day to deliver a ridiculously short shout-out to fans of 80s faves Danger Bay and the ever-popular Degrassi Junior High.
Random? Yes, but it makes sense in Spookey's world.
- NOW magazine Toronto
Discography
SHACKLETON
MECHANICAL ROYALTY
AUSFAHRT WALSRODE
ALONE AT THE ZOO
BED
BREAKFAST
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION VOL. 2
MODES OF TRANSPORTATION VOL. 1
Photos
Bio
"You can't help but recognize Spookey Ruben as eccentricity in its purest form." -Allmusic guide
Highly regarded as a pioneer in the post-Nirvana Alternative music scene, Spookey Ruben's successes began in the mid-nineties with many of his self-directed music videos making it into high rotation on MTV and MuchMusic.
'Modes of Transportation Vol. 1' (TVT Records) Spookey's 'homespun/playing all instruments' debut LP shot to the top of music critics Top Ten lists, catapulting him into world-wide acclaim, hailing the album as the 'Pet Sounds of the 90s' and crowning Spookey as Canada's King of Lo-fi pop.
"Pop Fantasia Genius" -Mojo Magazine
His vibrant live performances both w/ band and solo-acoustic have taken him around the world (Europe, Japan and North America) sharing the stage with likes of The Flaming Lips, Supergrass, Fishbone and Ben Folds Five.
"Tommy Douglas or Spookey Ruben? - Which of these men is our greatest Canadian?" -Toronto Star
With the launch of 'Spookey Ruben's Dizzy Playground' (Divine Cardboard/Hi-Hat Films) a short film series which airs online at Exclaim.ca and Aux.tv Spookey has created a special place for him to stretch his 'child's eye' imagination with music, humour and fantasy. His newest EP 'Shackleton' (Hi-Hat/Sonic Unyon) was just released in conjunction with a successful East Coast Tour in June 2012.
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