xxrub

XXRub - “Someday Never Comes”

The term XX Rub (the brainchild of Bassist Robert Calixto) is a fictitious menthol- smelling talc that – when applied from head to toe – will shield you from THEM. THEM, of course is anyone or anything that will hurt or corrupt you. The band XX Rub, just getting its legs, explores similar themes of absolution, devotion, redemption, and facing demons in its debut CD, Someday Never Comes.

What you might expect from two blokes who met in church (Calixto and Lead Vocalist, Johnny H – who is very open about his journey toward sobriety in his solo-written “Sometimes in the Sun” and “I Can Hardly Wait”), is a collection of traditional Christian Rock chord progressions and predictable worship choruses & cymbal brush exits. You know, “Lord I Love You,” “Lord I Thank You,” “Lord You Heal Me,” now let’s rock.

XX Rub (who also features Steven Lopez on guitars) is more multidimensional – thank God. And although Someday Never Comes might work as an evangelical piece and contains Biblical references throughout, it won’t let you confine it to one little box or market. This is great news. It means that this band – whose influences include The Who, U2, The Stray Cats, Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd, and Maná – recognizes that the powerful themes it is playing with will also resonate with a secular audience.

The CD reflects the Rub’s influences, but more to the heart of it – their formative stage as a band. It is eclectic as hell: “Where is the Love’s” Punk-Pop sound is juxtaposed with “Sometimes in the Sun’s” forceful vocals and guitars. (They riddle you like bullets.). “Nowhere” begins with the exact same two guitar strums that kick off AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” but then (sweet relief) turns into the most catchy ballad with a lingering, sentimental close.
“The Mystery of Suffering” benefits from ambient guitar solos. You can see how with their new drummer (25 year old Chuck Campos) to round out the Rub, they will soon form their own cohesive style. The pieces are all in place, and the potential is sho’ nuff there – Campos, as I understand it is sort of a wunderkind prodigy.


Most of Someday Never Comes’ words and music were written by Calixto, and he at times contributes a marked Latin approach to lyrics: (My Little Frida Kahlo…Come Fly with Me…Are you ready, ready to go? My little dark moon sunshine…why did u lie?), and sound (I really want to hear Lila Downs tackle the title track en Espanol – yummy.).

Calixto also enhances the ending of Johnny H’s “I Can Hardly Wait” with sweet, sweet acoustic guitar. However, the “ping ping” staccato and jazzy bass are a tough act to follow. They frame the song with a meditative tempo and vibe. This is a perfect fit. “I Can Hardly Wait” is a plea, a prayer, a call to arms, and a poem. If you have ever begged God to deliver you from ANY pain, you can relate to it. If you listen to this CD, check out this tune. And if you ever wondered what might have happened to Jim Morrison had he gotten sober, he might have written something like this. Johnny H’s (like Jim’s) roots are clearly in poetry.

Whatever these guys sound like as they evolve as a group, and however deep their themes are, one thing is certain. This stuff is catchy. You will hum it. You will whistle it, and you will want to stop. That’s gotta be good.

Give this CD a whirl. Start XX Rubbing.
- Erikah

XXrub is not just for coating a person for protection but also the healing balm of music for the ailments of the soul in the millennium. It’s the new rolling rock of salvation, not just “stones”, but a mixture of all kind of geo-metamorphic rock there is in this planet! In his latest debut the lead singer “Johnny H” expresses himself “rocktistically” enhanced and powered by the guidance of the spirit. Striking down like a lightning, a “burning bush” while performing. He accents the stage with his famous moves, styles from a holy mixture of top famous rock and roll artists like Elvis, Axle Rose with the sweetness of the voice of John Lennon when singing ballads and slow rock. Now don’t forget the foundation of this healing band, the bass player Rob plucking those strings like series of heart beats, beating their way out of his guitar. Steven, “the screamer” lets his guitar scream to the fullest, with a piercing cry, uttering, screams of redemption, and fear to the Lord. The music won’t have its down beat without its drum player Chocs, with his rolling beats, clashing sounds of the cymbals; surely, earthquake won’t stop him, he will be the one to start it, redemption is near!
The album is an exquisite, alternative Christian rock music that sends a message of hope, renewal, reason of living, being lost, being in love!. The music is deepen by the words by the composers poetic lyrics derived from their rough, broken dark roads and trials searching for the light, leading their way back into it, the love of God!
Whether your feeling lost or in that dark road, or just plainly tired of the rock music from the same old station that you always listen too… Give this new album a chance to uplift you to a different pace of rock music. Do I smell menthol? Wait, I’ve got XXrub in me

Jim McCarthy
- Jim McCarthy

I listened to this CD after their Sat Feb 17th performance at BB Kings at Universal City Walk. This band explores different rock genres without sounding repetitive. Excellent lyrics as well as vocals are a rarity these days. Creative, refreshing acoustic and rock riffs make this the next band we are going to be following on KROQ but will not be limited as they explore different genres.

- Mike Johns