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MUSIC REVIEW Portland's Rambush sets a new music precedent By Tyrell Trimble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tyrell Trimble for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 23, 2016 @ 9:00 am By Tyrell Trimble for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 23, 2016 @ 9:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Sludge pop is a genre known to few but greatly enjoyed by those privy to its existence. Portland’s rock trio Rambush is eager to expose audiences to this unique coupling of genres with the release of their third EP, “The Leech,” in the early weeks of May. The band made a stop in Southern Oregon to perform last week at Oberon's Tavern and a private house concert, splitting the bill with Ashland locals Slow Corpse and fellow Portlanders Smoke Rings. “The Leech” will be Rambush’s first release with Sound Judgement Records, and the EP signals the end of the band's long self-imposed hiatus. “This set was pretty much written entirely over the phone," says bassist Joey Wells. Guitarist Henry Smith describes “The Leech” as a character study of a personified version of the freshwater-dwelling parasite. “It’s about this leech character who needs help with basic everyday things," he says. "He’s completely incompetent. He’s not a bad guy but he’s simply incapable of maintaining his life, or completing everyday tasks. A lot of these songs are pleas for help.” This whimsical approach to somber themes is fueled the band's passion for contemporary comedy. Much of the time the members judged the quality of the songs by how hard they could laugh at it. "We all really bond over a sense of surly humor and that is reflected in the music,” says drummer and lead vocalist Jack Stinger. Rambush’s unconventional sound shocked Oberon’s patrons with an energy seldom seen in the small Shakespearian tavern. Rambush juxtaposes harmonies with harsh punk breakdowns. Its approach to rock can be attributed to band's unlikely laundry list of influences. “A couple years ago a friend turned me on to the ‘Smile Sessions’ by the Beach Boys," Smith says. "I pretty much listened to that album every day while writing these songs." Along with the Beach Boys, Rambush looks to pop band Animal Collective when crafting lyrics. “Animal collective really taught me to write lyrics phonetically, using the sounds of the melody to dictate what the words are,” Stringer says. The trio hopes that events like Saturday’s private performance will help to foster the tradition of house shows so integral to the Portland scene. With so many bands adopting a DIY approach to recording and distribution, it seems only logical that some live music may shift from venues to house parties. “House shows are big in Portland because there aren't as many all-ages venues as there use to be," Smith says. "The historic Satyricon got shut down, Back Space, Laughing Horse. They all went away.” The scarcity of spaces devoted to expression has started a reactionary movement forcing collaboration between the arts and music, Wells says. “People who really care about young musicians have started this sort of reclamation of space. That DIY aspect is one of the main appeals. You have all these friends who are artists, and none of the posh galleries want to take them. So you throw a house show with a couple bands playing and you set up a gallery.” Rambush’s trip to Ashland was just the first of many ventures south to expand their fan base. While there are few representatives in the genre of sludge pop, Rambush sets a precedent pioneering a new sound. “It’s kind of about all the sludge in your life and how you just have to smile through it,” Wells says. By Tyrell Trimble for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tyrell Trimble for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 23, 2016 @ 9:00 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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