Dustin Ritter Band – Dead Airwaves

The Dustin Ritter Band or the DRB as most fans have shortened are a three piece rock band based out of Regina. DRB was formed in 2009 by frontman guitarist/songwriter Dustin Ritter, bassist Chicken Fingers Travis Reshaur and Judd Stachoski.

The band put out a three song demo featuring songs “Broke Feet”, “LTD” and “Swing for the Fence” in 2009. It was apparent that this was a band to take notice of. Their versatility as a band lends them to play with anyone and anywhere in the province. They come by it honestly with the three members all being Saskatchewan boys and supporting our eclectic live music community.

Just recently the band put out their debut release. I was excited for this as I enjoy the band very much live and thought their ep/demo had great songs that could make a great record. I wondered if those songs would make the cut on the new record. They did. They sound bigger, better and fuller on the finished product, Dead Airwaves. They are accompanied by ten other equally great songs. The band is hard to describe. They take from all sorts of influences. This is apparent in their record, but if I had to describe DRB I would say they are a Headstones kind band with more folk, more pop and more funk sounds.

The record is great for all ages. It really has something for everyone. While it is probably best described as folk-rock record, some songs rock harder than others. Songs such as ‘Do This Thing’ which is reminiscent of 90’s grunge with killer backing vocals that make it my favourite “rock” song on the record and ‘The Most Annoying Thing’ which really picks up at the end making surprisingly better than it already is. Others walk the fine line of almost being country such as ‘Stuck in the Psych Ward’. The song never quite falls there, rather the song just takes guitar elements of the country genre all while Dustin’s vocals keeps it the steady at the folk-rock wheel.

‘No Avoiding This’ is an anthemetic sing-a-long that Travis shines on seamlessly. ‘Broke Feet’ and ‘Echo When I’m Gone’ are campfire-esque songs that make my shoulders sway while listening to them. I can picture the smiles and good time fun that the DRB bring to every show in these two. ‘Let’s Pretend’ is a relaxed reflective piece about life that Judd’s larger than life sound is apparent on.

‘Into Steam’ almost has a Goo Goo Dolls like feel to it. That being said Dustin is sure to make it his own with distinct vocals. Dustin chooses some unique vocal phrasing on my favourite track on the record ‘Swing for the Fence’, however it also makes the song. It’s still is a dancey sing-a-long that I have had on repeat for entire afternoons.

I can’t help hear an almost Sesame St melody in ‘Backup Plan’. I know it was completely unintentional but it makes me smile. The record ends with the title track that I could lay on the couch and listen to for hours. It’s a relaxing therapeutic song to me that is complimented with the nice addition of Donnie Johnson’s violin.

There are no blistering solos on the record. No songs about strip clubs or heroin. It’s just a great folk-rock record in which all the songs meld together nicely.

But don’t take my world for it… buy the record.

Cheers Rockers.



http://www.myspace.com/dustinritterband

Album Artwork by: Evgenia Mikhaylova
Evgenia Mikhaylova: Dustin Ritter Band New Album Coming Soon!!!!!!!!!guess....with my cover!!!!!

Band photo courtesy of Kim Jay photography