Backup is on the Way

Funky big bands and ensemble music have always held a sweet spot in my heart. Most recently you may have become familiar with one of my current favorites, Lawrence, but that is one of many in a long list of artists in this arena that hit a particular need for me. St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Busty and the Bass, The Suffers, and The Dip all come to mind, but Ripe, until recently, was fairly unknown to me.

From what I can tell, this Massachusetts born band has been lighting up the local scene like wildfire, and it is hard not to take notice. Their electric vibes and sound have got me hooked. I’ve got a fever for Ripe!

The sound of this seven piece, that’s right I said seven piece, band is hard to describe. They bring in influences from all of the aforementioned groups, but for me, they draw in an additional factor. There is an inherent reggae or ska-punk quality and sound that Ripe brings into the scene. A band from the early 2000’s called RX Bandits comes to mind, and they have a soft spot in my formative heart, but Ripe’s lead singer, Robbie Wulfsohn, puts everyone else to shame. That is especially true for comparisons to the ska-punk sound, but that reference is more to highlight the overall musicality of the band.

Ripe dropped a debut album in 2018, but their recent singles (HOPEFULLY) suggest that they will be releasing a sophomore album in the not-so-distant future. 2018’s Joy in the Wild Unknown was a work of art, but those recent works make me think that the band hasn’t quite shown their hand.

2020 has graced us with four tracks so far, and each one has been magical to put it lightly. My personal favorite has been their most recent, “Backup.” The song kicks off with some tasty guitar riffs before they mellow into the background as Wulfsohn enters the picture. His vocals, though distinctly different, bring to mind the sounds of Rainbow Kitten Surprise mixed with Kings of Leon. The resulting combination has an inherent warmth to it that will have you coming back for more.

Considering the lack of vehicles to consume live music, I’ll save describing some of the other singles so that you can formulate your own first impressions when you listen to one of their live streamed gigs on YouTube (below).

The band has begun performing a few drive-in shows in Massachusetts, and hopefully things will continue to trend in a direction where more things like that are happening. I miss live music dearly. In the meantime, I’ll be on the edge of my seat anticipating Ripe’s next release, and you should be too.

Spread the music. Spread the love.

Cheers.

-Travis

As I mentioned above, Ripe has performed a few streamed sets, and the set at Relix from this February provides a better idea of their sound when stripped down. This performance features 3 of their 2020 singles: “Five in the Morning,” “Backup,” and “First Time Feeling.”

This Audiotree performance of “Flipside” adds the rest of the band back in so hear the true sound with brass and all.

Acoustic covers always pull me in, and this cover of Ellie Goulding’s “On My Mind” at picturesque Red Rocks is no exception.