The Downtown Rulers Club Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Feb 21st 2010 1:00PM by Chloe Royer
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The Downtown Rulers Club are a recently formed rhythm and blues band from Austin. Made up of members from various local bands, they were named one of 10 Local Bands to Watch in 2010 by the Austin Chronicle. Spinner talked to drummer Jeremy Bruch in anticipation of the group's upcoming SXSW performance.

Describe your sound.

Our band's sound is anchored in neo-soul, rhythm and blues and funk. Some that listen might assume that there is a purposeful throwback within our music, but that's a function of the instrumentation. We're a stripped down outfit.

How did your band form?

I always wanted to start a soul [and] rhythm and blues-oriented band, and after living in Mexico I hit the ground running. Chris [Grady] knows Alex [Chavez] from the band Maneja Beto, and I met Beto [Martinez] back in 1996. We all just kind of came together.

What are your musical influences?

James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Donny Hathaway, NuTorican Funk, Ray Barreto, old Motown like the Temptations. Old s--t by dead people.

How did you choose your band name?

Chris came up with the name. It's a play on words taken from the Meters, the New Orleans funk band.

What is your biggest vice?

Some of us are smokers.

What is in your festival survival kit?

Drink tickets, golf cart skills, a chauffeur and a man with a mustache operating a dolly to move our gear.

What are your musical guilty pleasures?

The song 'Baker Street,' Air Supply, Hall and Oates, Huey Lewis and the News, the Little River Band and corporate neo-soul like Erykah Badu and what's that guy's name? John Legend?

What is the craziest thing that has happened to you while on tour?

You don't want to ask us that question. Probably getting into a wreck with a man from Mississippi who only had two teeth.

Who is your celeb crush?

Michael Douglas and Brittany Murphy. Wait, is it too soon for that?

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