Weekly Dig RIBS Profile – May 2011

By Steve Church:

RIBS have never shied away from their comparisons. Likened by fans and critics to such hard line, atmospheric rock monsters as Nine Inch Nails, Deftones and Muse, the Boston quartet embraces these associations as both a testament to their established musicality and an indicator of form towards attracting new fans. And after earning Reddit.com’s topvoted music post of all time within a month of releasing 2010 EP British Brains, (amongst other accolades) it’s clear that RIBS is a band that can flourish beyond the similarities.

“We’re not one of those bands that are like, ‘Oh, you can’t compare us to anything,’”

says guitarist and lead vocalist Keith Freund. “I think that what we do is rock music that’s meant to give you chills—anything that goes from something soft to something loud in a short period of time. [With] bands like Deftones and NIN, I definitely see the comparison there.”

High school friends Freund and bassist Blake Fusilier formed the basis for RIBS, writing music in Atlanta together before attending college in Boston in 2005. The two spent their time shaping and experimenting with sound while actively searching out new members to round out the group, discovering drummer Chris Oquist and guitarist (and fellow Atlantian) Justin Tolan, in Boston’s metal scene. Freund and Fusilier found their potential bandmates’ interests extended far beyond those of your average metalheads:

“I met Justin, who was this shred guitar prodigy. I was hearing about him through a lot of rumors, and he was in Guitar Player magazine,” says Freund. “Then I found out that he was into a lot of the same stuff that I was in to—Muse, Radiohead, Aphex Twin. That piqued my interest.”

Oquist appealed to Freund and Fusilier in much the same way, telling them right off the bat that his favorite artists were Paul Simon and The Beatles. With influences ranging from metal to electronic to ‘60s pop and four incredibly talented musicians on board, RIBS had its final lineup by March 2009. The band set to work on their first EP, British Brains, a guitar-driven effort in industrial doom and gloom mixed and produced entirely by Freund. A year later, Freund posted the completed British Brains on Reddit.com, where its ratings skyrocketed and sold 600 copies in the first week. For their next record, RIBS tapered their mechanical appeal in place of a more dance-worthy post-punk on 2011’s Locrian Singles.

RIBS have now cracked the local rock scene, garnering praise across Boston for their complex songwriting and fiery live performances. They’re currently working on releasing their next EP, Russian Blood, expected later this year. In the meantime, it’s all about performing in new and innovative ways. Incorporating vibrant lighting displays with their music, RIBS have set a standard of performance for Boston acts, and they promise something special—though they’re keeping quiet—for their east coast tour kickoff before snaking their way south towards Atlanta. And they’re hoping to pick up some new fans along the way.

“Our live show makes use of a lot of different elements,” says Oquist. “It’s about trying to pull people out of the usual experience of a show and doing something that is more immersed in what the music is about. That’s sonically, lyrically and visually a lot in terms of a live performance.”

RIBS
WITH LIGHTS RESOLVE
AND ART DECADE

THURSDAY 5.5.11

GREAT SCOTT
1222 COMM. AVE.
ALLSTON

617.566.9014
9PM/18+/$9

GREATSCOTTBOSTON.COM
RIBSTHEBAND.COM

SOURCE: http://digboston.com/listen/2011/05/ribs/

The Deli Magazine: Spring 2011 Tour Write Up

Boston-based quartet RIBS are setting off on tour this week, taking their Failure-meets-My Bloody Valentine dreamscape down the East Coast for the first time. The tour currently has 10 scheduled stops, starting on May 5th in Boston and ending on May 14th in Athens, GA.

RIBS has built a reputation across New England for the creativity and clockwork of their light-flooded live shows, making them a go-to choice for local support on national tours including Helmet and Circa Survive.

Reviews described their latest release, the double A-side Locrian Singles as a “double-knockout” – comprised of two “futuristic, star-screaming” singles – showing an evolution from the sneaking post-gaze of the band’s debut EP, British Brains, released last June. RIBS rose to prominence after British Brains became one of Reddit’s top music posts of all time.

The RIBS East Coast Tour will include the following stops:
05.05 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
05.06 – Danbury, CT – Heirloom Arts Theatre
05.07 – Albany, NY – Hudson River Coffee House
05.08 – Brooklyn, NY – The Charleston
05.09 – Baltimore, MD – Sidebar Tavern
05.10 – Richmond, VA – Strange Matter
05.11 – Greensboro, NC – Pin Ups
05.12 – Asheville, NC – The LAB
05.13 – Atlanta, GA – The Music Room
05.14 – Athens, GA – Rye Bar

–Chrissy Prisco

LINK: http://newengland.thedelimagazine.com/5476/ribs-embark-on-10-day-east-coast-tour-55-514

Ryan’s Smashing Life: RIBS Spring 2011 Tour Coverage

From rslblog.com:

An East Coast Run for RIBS

RED ALERT TOUR:
Words by Nick Parker
Photos by Mark Jenko
New Tour Kickoffs
Thursday 5/5/11 at Great Scott

This Thursday night in Boston you can see a band that tick all these boxes; a band that knows the difference between performing and merely playing their songs, musicians that really commit to every beat of the drum and pluck of the string, and songs with hooks you’ll be singing after the set is over. Since their incendiary (and insanely loud) headline set at the RSL four-year anniversary party a few months ago, RIBS have been busy plotting their next musical take-over. It comes in the form of an East coast tour, and, since we can say they are ours here in Boston before they are anyone else’s, where better to kick that off than at Great Scott.

RIBS are an unashamedly heavy band. In a sea of indie, folk and Americana, they play music that shakes through your ribcage (no pun intended). I’ve read of various more or less strange comparisons (Joy Division?!) – perhaps Deftones is the best parallel with the operatic scale of their semi-metal sound. Either way though, the buzz about his band is worthy, and you can give them a great tour send off this week if you find yourself in the right place at the right time. The rest of the dates on the East Coast spin, follow…
CONTINUE READING: http://www.rslblog.com/2011/05/east-coast-run-for-ribs.html

WFNX 101.7FM Talks RIBS On The Breakfast Show

Fletcher of Boston’s WFNX and Boston Phoenix music editor Michael Marotta talk RIBS, give away a bunch of stuff on-air, and preview our upcoming 5/5 show at Great Scott. They also promise to buy you all screwdrivers.

SOURCE: WFNX.com

Hype NC Show Preview: Asheville @ the LAB 5-12-11

The Limited Edition Brains Out Tee

The first ever RIBS shirt is here. We’re printing a super-limited run of these to fund our East Coast Tour [via cold hard ca$h]. There will only be 100 of these puppies made, like, ever.

RIBS band tee shirt.

Printed on super soft, ultra comfortable Poly-Cotton blend heather black American Apparel 50/50 shirts. Get them here.

About the design:

This shirt is a visual rendering of “Brains Out.” With the help of IBUILDWORLDS (of British Brains artwork fame), we built a program that turns music into a visual using the frequency and amplitude of a sound file. We ran the audio for the song through a wireframe skull and this design is the result.

Tour Tour Tour Tour

Last month, we told you we’ll be hitting the road in May for our first-ever East Coast Tour. Here are the finalized dates:

05.05 – Boston, MA* – Great Scott – RSVP on Facebook / Tickets / Details
05.06 – Danbury, CT* – Heirloom Arts TheatreRSVP on Facebook / Details
05.07 – Albany, NY* – Hudson River Coffee House – RSVP on Facebook / Details
05.08 – Brooklyn, NY – The Charleston – RSVP on Facebook / Details
05.09 – Baltimore, MD* – Sidebar TavernRSVP on Facebook / Tickets / Details
05.10 – Richmond, VA – Strange Matter – RSVP on Facebook/ Details
05.11 – Greensboro, NC – Pin Ups – RSVP on Facebook/ Details
05.12 – Asheville, NC – The LAB – RSVP on Facebook / Details
05.13 – Atlanta, GA – The Music Room – RSVP on Facebook / Details
05.14 – Athens, GA – Rye Bar – RSVP on Facebook / Details

* Dates w/ Lights Resolve

Other bands we’re playing with: Grandfather, Hammer No More The Fingers, Ovlov, Whoarfrost, Jews & Catholics, Art Decade, Historic, Hans Darkbolt, Miles From Pangaea, Rat Jackson, Funny Like A Funeral, Pilots, Jewel Heist, Ear Theory, Collen Applegate, Sneaky Hand, NARC

Tour booked by Extinguish Presents.

How You Can Help

  • If we’re playing in your town, invite your friends to the FB event and bring them to the show.
  • If you know of anybody that will like RIBS, invite them to the FB event and bring them to the show.
  • If you want to help us promote in your town, email us and we’ll send you posters and all kinds of other cool swag.
  • Help fund our tour in style by ordering the Brains Out Tee.

RIBS Nominated For Best New Act In Boston Phoenix’s Best Music Poll

Someone upstairs must really love us. And by upstairs we mean the Boston Phoenix headquarters. (We live on the first floor, they’re on the 3rd. Awkward, I know…) Anyway, we’re nominated for this thing, and you can vote once per day for the next six weeks. Which is good because we’re not known for our performances on odd-numbered days. Just sayin.

http://thephoenix.com/BMP/Boston/Vote/NewAct/

Note: you’ve also gotta click “cast your ballot” after hitting “submit vote.”

P.S. Speaking of awkward, thanks for pitting us against our friends the Dirty Dishes Phoenix. Way to facilitate lasting friendships…

Editor’s Pick: Upcoming RIBS Show In The Boston Phoenix

From the Boston Phoenix Spring Preview this week:

RIBS + Lights Resolve + Art Decade

May 5
1222 Commonwealth Ave, Allston, MA

Editors Pick

You remember how worked up your mother used to get before your first day of school? Well, that’s how we feel about RIBS as they prepare to unleash their experimental metal all along the East Coast. We ironed their clothes, packed their lunch, and named them one of the 11 bands to watch in 2011. Now, we’ll be there to wish them luck when they launch their tour at Great Scott.

LINK: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Concerts/100686-Ribs-Light-Resolve/

FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198267473524838

Ticketweb: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3603985

RIBS Boston Tour Kickoff Show w/ Lights Resolve & Art Decade (5/5/11)

5/5/11 – BOSTON, MA – Tour Kickoff Show @ Great Scott w/ Lights Resolve, Art Decade