Bassist for The Rescu, Mike Vaughan, says the reason it took them so long to record their album, was because they had to teach Rusti, their drummer, to play.
It’s this kind of natural, friendly banter, that makes you wish you could have been a fly on the wall to experience the fun these guys, Mike, Graham Lowndes and Brendyn “Rusti” Rossouw, seemed to have recording their self-titled, debut album.
The album took a year and a half to record, something that suited the band just fine.
This was a completely independent project and the band recorded whenever they could around the schedules of their individual music related “day jobs”.
“We were never afforded the opportunity to book out a studio,” Mike points out, adding that because they had no label, they also had no deadline.
“We were never too close to things,” Rusti says, adding that this allowed the band to step away from the project and listen later with fresh ears.
He also points out that the band had a big part to play in the mixing of the album, adding that they wanted a natural sound that they would be able to replicate as a three-piece band live.
“We want to be an honest band,” says Mike.
Graham, the band’s unusually quiet lead guitarist, takes a big breath before stating: “I love the fact that it was an in-house project,” before adding: “It is the recording I am most proud of.”
Graham and Mike know each other from their time together in another band.
They met Rusti when his band opened for theirs. “I was still in nappies while they were rocking out,” he jokes.
Mike adds: “We’ve been buddies for years.”
“It’s funny how it took a good few years for the stars to align.”
After a “situation” with their ex- drummer, The Rescu found themselves with an upcoming gig in just a few days and an incomplete band.
“I went and begged Brendyn to play just the gig,” Mike says.
After just one rehearsal and the band still verbally running through songs in the car on the way, the gig went off without a hitch and they were even approached after the show with an offer to sign the band.
“That led us to believe that maybe we had something to offer,” Mike says.
With that in mind, he set out to write new music for the band.
The band refers to themselves as purists and there is an honest, pure and almost naive appeal to their music.
“We are just trying to carry a positive message,” Rusti says.
“The album is all killer and no filler,” Graham says.
The first single of the album, “I did it or you”, has been playlisted on Highveld Stereo and their video will be screened on MK.
The band are now signed to Sheer Sound, Two Feet Music, the same record label responsible for Dirty Skirts, Taxi Violence and Plush.
The Rescu will be launching their debut album at Hanover Street at GrandWest on Wednesday 31 August from 20:30. Tickets cost R40 through www.webtickets.co.za or R50 at the door.
To find out more about the band, or listen to their album, visit www.therescu.com or their Facebook page. You can also follow them on Twitter at @therescuband.
. One lucky reader can win double tickets to the launch, as well as a copy of The Rescu’s self-titled debut CD.
Visit the competition page on www.tygerburger.co.za to enter.