Zone 5: Friday

Update: Friday June 15th around 12am

I was just finishing up a post, not really looking forward to tomorrows shift at the fine dining place I work at and was bored. Not so much bored, just restlessness seemed to haunt my legs and back. Cruising around Facebook, I notice that my favorite band was playing at my old stomping ground. Throwing on some decent threads i wandered out towards the noisy town in search of awesomeness. With only enough for a couple of clove cigarettes, sold by the awesome " T" the men's room attendant, I ventured around the crowed room. Sherlock's Pub in Addison was hopping and I even spotted some regulars from a while back that made the night for me. "Rat Ranch" ,even after so many months, was still a fantastic show to watch. Just the way they devote themselves to the fun of the crowd and the musicianship of every song they play lifted like before. I only had a few songs to listen to before their break, but when you hear "Enter Sandman' your feet and head are possessed by the rhythm. I stood in the safest place possible to look at the boys do their thing, 

standing next to sound-guy Eddie is the best seat in the house. On their break I got a chance to say my hellos to the fellas (Brett, Scott and Rick sadly was way back on his drums) and remarked that they still had a way with the dancing mob that seemed witchcraft... in not that any words. It's almost impossible to hold any conversation in that auditorium more than a couple of words at a time. Look to the article I did years back, below this post and you will see the full review. Even that mention, that small glimpse, doesn't do them justice. Go to their shows, read their bio on Facebook and become a part of Da Ranch!

Friday the 13th 2010:
Rat Ranch Experience

By Steven Gonzalez

The night felt cool and not a threat of rain in the forecast, I had just hung out with my friend "Bud". I was ready for my favorite band, the party band, the always freaking great cover band Rat Ranch! The crowd before 10pm, when I arrived, was an
eclectic mix of early 20-somethings and my crowd, the 30-45ers. I cruised around trying to get a good standpoint to watch the show but the  rush was settling down  everywhere.

I finally had to just sit behind Eddie the sound guy, 

who's one of the best sound engineers I yet to meet. Eddie's also the one that provides the kick-ass booty shaking music during the breaks!

  This is an prime example of a “Party Band” raised out from Houston and believe me they really bring out the party in the crowd. It’s like the minute it starts, they’re weaving a trap that everyone can feel some nostalgia towards. Tonight began with a little rockabilly, and of course the younger crowd looked glazed over! Sometimes it can be hit or miss, yet onwards they played, laying on the love of the early rock days. It’s the musicianship of this group which attracts my ear; every member brings it with full devotion. Brett and Kent play the spectrum, keeping the crowd focused on great riffs and amazing vocals. While Scott and Rick, the bass and drums, lay the tasty background!  And don’t get me wrong folks, that’s another great thing, there’s no fighting or conflict of vocals, the whole band comes together well!

  My love goes to Eddie, he has to accommodate for the room, the crowd,and the complaints from the restaurants next door! He leans back and says to me; “If you’re gonna write something, mention those dicks!” You got it friend, for all those restaurants around that can hear our fun, I got one thing to tell you… ”It isn’t’ ROCK, if it isn’t LOUD!”

 By “My Sharona” at 10:30, the crowd finally started heading to the dance floors, like good little brainwashed minions. Rat Ranch had their core group of dancers and there they would remain!

I was overloading on pictures on my rink dink Metro Piece of Crap, so out back I went. We were having a good night, even the back patio was full, and everywhere the look of enjoyment was in the air. These guys put off too much of a good vibe for the DB’s to fight! I mean, come on, how can you be serious when  Brett and Scott are doing a funny skit with their guitars humping air? It’s the totality of the show, it’s supposed to be fun and even the one liners during the transitions continues to push that feel.  After deleting 120 pictures from my 1.3 camera I venture back into the ever increasing fold.  “7 nation army” blasted through my cranium, back and forth between the 80’s and 90’s, that kept my age group locked on to the lead vocal Kent, the notes just hit spot on every time.

My dear Reader, I’m not here to blow air up your asses, this band really is that enjoyable. Do they rock 100%? No, but it’s the flaws that make this band. Some of the transitions can be a bit sluggish when going from old to current trends, and the crowd responds to it. I can understand when I hear that some folks say that the songs are dated. You know what, fuck that! I enjoy those older songs, when they made “Tainted Love” their bitch and then presented her ass for the partygoers and quickly merged into “Don’t fear the Reaper”…I freaking lose it! I also lose it when I see a 60yr old man in a black jacket and gold chain pass by me, “LOL-ing” my ass off! 

  I had to get better shots of the music fest, this crowd was swaying to every riff and also getting drunk. That’s when I met up with my old friends and Sherlock’s regulars ,Elizabeth and Jeremy, I the seat next to the stage!

During the first break me and Jeremy actually asked Scott a couple of questions towards the attitude of the band. Of course, thanks to the demon Vodka, sprite and grenadine, Jeremy was our lead (intoxicated) interviewer. The general thing that Scott spoke of with my fellow writer is this; a simple band with down home roots, they keep the energy going while staying very bluesy.They lay on the 80’s, it's the foundation along with some heavier rock genre, feels like Iron Maiden. They still play to the crowd, every time, it’s about them, out and dancing, enjoying themselves, that’s  Rat Ranch goes for. I had to get another interview with someone from the crowd but I didn’t anticipate how drunk everyone was, so it took a while top find a sober couple. I’m gonna lay the questions to everyone to answer on the comments below, here we’re her answers:

1. What’s the one song you love that Rat Ranch plays?

a. “Cars” she absolutely loved it when they played that, it was the newer stuff she kinda didn’t have a taste for.

2. How’s the sound or “feel” reaching you during the performance?

b. Sounds good, little loud, but we’re in a bar, and it’s a live band, so she gets over it.

3. If you could choose the next song, what would it be?

c. (her boyfriend stepped up at the same time) any song from Journey and Red Hot Chili Peppers, not very specific but both felt that the band could knock play those groups well!

At about 11:30 I was getting ready to wrap it up, sorry Readers, I was pulling a “Cinderella” move. So far, the energy was in between. The early 20’s were shaking their butts during the breaks to pop/rap/dance while the 28 and above folks were having flashbacks during the show. The show felt like being in a stormy sea, always moving on the wave, going everywhere yet staying in the flux of transition. 

“Observation, watch the people, hear the band for what they really play.”

 Jeremy was a fountain of knowledge towards band reviews. Think like George Carlin he said, detach yourself from the experience to really write about them. Times will change, embrace that change, appraise the change and then reflect on it. A proper observer, he says, thinks outside the box looking in, but he participates in the box as well.

You know what I get from that mind setting?

Rat Ranch is a safe band, they play to the familiar, and they pull it off. They aren’t trying to impress you, the  musicianship should achieve that, they want to invoke your nostalgia. They transmit memory into physical reality.

Then, “Worst Enemy” blasted out and I was dazed for a good 10 seconds as the roar of the crowd accompanied the song.  The ladies were out and working up the boys when “Sweet Home Alabama”  came on. This was where I stared to pay close attention, not to the swaying (and really short skirted) dancers, but to the lead guitar Kent. The solo was received well, he shredded it just like I knew he could! I wish I could hear more from Brett or Scott because just the look on their faces shows the same passion the lead guitarist has. Brett is freaking hilarious when he’s working the crowd, just the “Good ol’ boy” comes out and you can not help but love him. 

Then, came the Black Eye Pea’s “I have a feeling”, and that was all the pop rap I was gonna take. The folks loved it but it was getting late and that’s was the best song to leave to.  In the end, they bring that party band feel with enough entertainment that the fun is there for the taking. I’m honored to watch them work their craft and also glad to know these fine gentlemen well.