"WORLD'S SHITTIEST BAND" MEMBER RUBEN ARTHUR GIVES US AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ABOUT HIS BAND GOING VIRAL
First off, tell us a little about yourself. What do you want the public to know about you?
I don't want the public to know anything about me, specifically. Sorry.
We’ll get to your band in a minute. But, first, I have to ask about the video. How did you first hear about it going viral?
A friend of mine, Collin Wheeler, in a local pop-punk band, Sad Cops, sent me the link to the reddit post the very next day saying I was "reddit famous."
What was your first reaction?
I am a big fan of a now no-more local band Problem Dogg that had a similar instance of going viral for playing a similar variety of "fuck you fucked-up" music, so I was very flattered. They're my heroes, actually. Although, they were a rehearsed band and what we did for the video was extremely improvisational and spur of the moment. It was an open mic and I thought it'd be really funny to show up and do a crazy set. I didn't expect it to be worth any amount of further attention. I thought we'd have a funny time not giving a shit and then it'd be like it never happened.
So there’s no band name or anything yet, I’m assuming?
Nope, we wrote down "Lisa and Ruben", literally. Although, I do like World's Shittiest Band. Thats what Ebaumsworld called us, ha.
I like that name, actually, haha. How did the employees at Midway Mart feel about it?
Conflicted about the reactions because people seemed to be assuming that it was a booked set and attacking their decision, when in reality it was just an open mic. The store owner Rahim Dewji is extremely supportive of local experimental musicians, though, and there are great fucked up sets there all the time, which made it a little more surprising that we warranted such a reaction. But ultimately they were extremely supportive and said it didn't matter.
Rahim is a really nice guy.
An unbelievably nice guy.
Everyone wants to know how the kick drum is doing. Still OK? Haha.
Yes, the kick drum is still pretty much intact, no damage that I've noticed. Although, it's a fair point that it was being abused. We had planned on using the whole drumset but forgot to bring a rug in our haste. So the drum parts were just all moving around and it got to the point where it was like "fuck it whatever." Earlier footage of the set shows us trying to play it and then having to drag everything back into place the whole time.
We’ll get to your band in a minute. But, first, I have to ask about the video. How did you first hear about it going viral?
A friend of mine, Collin Wheeler, in a local pop-punk band, Sad Cops, sent me the link to the reddit post the very next day saying I was "reddit famous."
What was your first reaction?
I am a big fan of a now no-more local band Problem Dogg that had a similar instance of going viral for playing a similar variety of "fuck you fucked-up" music, so I was very flattered. They're my heroes, actually. Although, they were a rehearsed band and what we did for the video was extremely improvisational and spur of the moment. It was an open mic and I thought it'd be really funny to show up and do a crazy set. I didn't expect it to be worth any amount of further attention. I thought we'd have a funny time not giving a shit and then it'd be like it never happened.
The dancers were members of a local avant-noise duo Cut Shutters, and Lisa [Soper] and I had only really just started playing together a few times before, just jamming, but we connected instantly. And it'd been a while since she'd performed, so it was gonna be just a "rip the band-aid off nothing matters" thing. We were pretty much just all hanging out, although Lisa and I are definitely pursuing more structured material together. Could not be considered an actual band at that time, just us jamming in public pretty much.
So there’s no band name or anything yet, I’m assuming?
Nope, we wrote down "Lisa and Ruben", literally. Although, I do like World's Shittiest Band. Thats what Ebaumsworld called us, ha.
I like that name, actually, haha. How did the employees at Midway Mart feel about it?
Conflicted about the reactions because people seemed to be assuming that it was a booked set and attacking their decision, when in reality it was just an open mic. The store owner Rahim Dewji is extremely supportive of local experimental musicians, though, and there are great fucked up sets there all the time, which made it a little more surprising that we warranted such a reaction. But ultimately they were extremely supportive and said it didn't matter.
Rahim is a really nice guy.
An unbelievably nice guy.
Everyone wants to know how the kick drum is doing. Still OK? Haha.
Yes, the kick drum is still pretty much intact, no damage that I've noticed. Although, it's a fair point that it was being abused. We had planned on using the whole drumset but forgot to bring a rug in our haste. So the drum parts were just all moving around and it got to the point where it was like "fuck it whatever." Earlier footage of the set shows us trying to play it and then having to drag everything back into place the whole time.
How did the video end up on reddit? Do you know? Was that just used without their permission?
Yeah, exactly. He doesn't seem to know how either.
Wow. Crazy to think that there’s somebody out there just lurking like that.
Yeah, ha. I've got a clue, someone keeping an eye out for "bad music."
Has the video affected your daily life in anyway at all?
Not really. Except for it occasionally being mentioned, and the musicians I spend most of my time around and admire just loved it and thought it was hilarious. I'm not in school or involved with a peer group really, pretty much only go out for music.
Lastly, how do you feel about the current state of music in Denton? Good or bad?
The general scene I think is keeping it going in spite of setbacks which is really cool. I think the noise-rock scene here especially is some of the best music in the world right now, but I'm particular.
Setbacks?
The lack of venues for instance, particularly the loss of Rubber Gloves which was vital to local music. Now it's been a game of trying out venues and a lot of trial and error.
Anything else you would like to add? Shows or releases coming up we should know about?
This'll be a phenomenal show [below]. I'm not participating but love everyone that is. My other band Nobodynose & The Troubles are playing a couple shows coming up [next show below]. Also, Rick Eye and Reece McLean are the two most important people to making this crazy shit happen here. All their projects are spectacular, and they're extremely supportive of budding noise-rock acts.
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview.
Hey, thanks for the interest!
Comments
Post a Comment