Ready for Vegas or bust

By: ERIKA SOROCCO - For The Californian | Wednesday, August 8, 2007 12:14 PM PDT ∞

More than two years have gone by since the members of the Lake Elsinore-based band Ready For Vegas hooked up, forming one of the most well-known local bands.

On July 27, the band released their new album "Vegas Or Bust" and on Aug. 4 (before this column reached print) they played the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, opening for The English Beat and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies.

"We are all very excited about this show," drummer Brian Roberts said prior to the show. "We think it's a great opportunity to bring our music to a much larger, and broader audience."

That's quite a gig, but they think they're up to the challenge.

"This is what (The Cherry Poppin' Daddies and The English Beat) do to pay the bills, so we definitely need to bring our game," Mike Edwards said. "As long as we do that, the crowd will be won over."

But with excitement and preparation comes a bout of nerves that is more than easy to understand.

"I'm a little nervous because I'm not quite sure how people who haven't heard us will react to our music," vocalist Ruby Malone said. "I don't think people will hate us, though ---- we have never had that problem. I think we're a good band, and the crowd will recognize that, even if our music isn't geared toward their personal taste."

The Galaxy performance required much preparation and included breathing exercises to assist in calming nerves, and even tea drinking to ensure that vocal chords remain sharp and healthy for the lucrative show.

Ready For Vegas' album release is just an added bonus and shows the transformation of the band in recent years.

"The sound is different since I came into the band," Roberts said. "I bring more of a groove-type playing element to the music, verses the previous drummer who was decidedly more busy. I try not to overplay the music, but rather play to the music, which is something I think comes with maturity. Aside from that, the writing hasn't changed that much, which is a good thing, since the music has always been original and fun, with huge stylistic swings from one song to the next."

They passed up the services offered at local recording studios and recorded "Vegas Or Bust" in a studio recently created in Roberts' home.

"The album was tracked in its entirety in my home studio, which I have been building ever since I bought the place a couple of years ago," Roberts said. "We chose that location because we could work on the album at our own pace, which gave us the opportunity to turn out a better album than if we were to just go into a studio and track everything over a couple of days."

"It was also cheaper, and now we have the equipment to record however many albums we want," Malone added.

The set-up may have been helpful economically, but sometimes differing personalities and opinions got the best of the quartet, causing them to slow down and really think the process through.

"At first tracking was like pulling teeth," Edwards said. "We had all these grand ideas of how it should be, but no idea how to get there. We also had a lot of experimenting with equipment, because we simply raided Guitar Center. Beulah Mae had taken some courses in mixing, so we just flew by the seat of our pants. About six months in, we hit stride. It was tense a few times, but I think the CD will be better because of it."

With their self-titled debut album, Ready For Vegas concentrated more on putting an album out to help them book more shows. Eager to introduce some new tracks to their growing fan base, the quartet felt that it was due time to create something fresh that fans could get excited about, without losing their signature flashy, nostalgic tone.

"I would say that there is a wider variety in the music," Malone said. "We have always played a lot of different kinds of music, but this compilation is by far the most diverse. I think that our fans will like it. Even though it's so diverse, it still has our own Ready For Vegas touch. It still has our sound."

Ready For Vegas hopes to draw in new fans with the record without alienating old ones, and are convinced that their appeal can be blamed on one thing: originality.

"We have a very unique sound," Roberts said. "It's hard to say that in today's musical world, where everything has been done, but we truly do. It's a style that only comes from four good musicians with very different musical backgrounds, but it works. A word I have been using to describe our sound lately is 'popapunkabilly.' "

What's next? For now, the band is simply looking to get their name out there, and have their music heard.

"Who knows what's next?" Roberts said. "World fame, Lamborghinis into swimming pools, action figures, chicks .... We work hard, but are also a band of opportunity. It's hard to say what we have planned, because every now and then a great opportunity comes along and shakes that all up anyway."

"Vegas Or Bust is available for purchase Interpunk.com any of the band's live shows. For more information on the band and times and locations of their upcoming gigs visit myspace.com/readyforvegas.

Sound Bytes

Be the first to own Murrieta-based band, Step Stevie Step's new album, by attending their album release show at The Vault in Temecula on Aug. 11. The festivities start at 7 p.m. sharp. For info, visit myspace.com/stepsteviestep.

Temecula-based band, Mouthful of Snow, is looking for someone who can rock out on the drums. Think you have what it takes to stay on beat? Visit myspace.com/moutfhfulofsnow.

Erika Sorocco writes a monthly local music column for The Californian. She can be reached at calpreview@californian.com.