INTERVIEW: The Rumjacks plot out busy spring season
Photo: The Rumjacks’ new EP is called Brass for Gold. Photo courtesy of the band / Provided by Earshot Media with permission.
Punk fans should take note: The Rumjacks are ready to rock, and there are many opportunities to catch the band on the road in the coming weeks and months. Touring in support of their new EP, called Brass for Gold, the Celtic punks are opening for Dropkick Murphys and The Bombpops through March 20, and then they kick off a headlining tour May 1. One of their stops is May 2 at the Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck, New Jersey.
The Rumjacks have always honored their punk-ska roots, but they also leave a unique imprint on their songs and take the music genre into the future. For example, rather than trumpets for that typical ska sound, they insert the blares of Irish instruments instead. Their new EP has tunes like “One for the Road,” “Falling Back” and “Blinding Flashes.”
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with singer Mike Rivkees about the new EP, the new tour and what’s it like to open for Dropkick Murphys. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What are you most excited for fans to hear on Brass for Gold?
Oddly enough, I’m most excited for people to let these songs marinate and grow on them. Everyone knows stew gets better the longer you cook it. I think these songs are the same. At first listen, you’ll think, damn, these songs are great, and then they just grow and grow on you.
How did the song “Bloodsoaked in Chorus” come about?
I’ve been listening to The Madness a lot, and ska has always been in The Rumjacks’ sound. I was playing around with some riffs on the tin whistle, and the lead popped into my head. I said, “Yeah, this one needs a 2-tone (ish) sound),” and it took off from there.
Are you excited to open for the Dropkick Murphys?
Absolutely. The more I talk to those guys as we get ready for the tour, I’m getting more and more stoked. Oddly enough, one of my best friends is Neil from The Bombpops’ roommate, so I crash in his room whenever I’m in L.A., and he’s on tour. It’s gonna be a huge party with friends the whole time.
For your headlining shows, do you get to go deeper with your setlist? What’s the experience like?
Absolutely. With the singer change, we want to keep the old songs alive, so we play a lot of deep cuts. For me, I just try to deliver those songs the best that I can and do them justice. And then we play “Rhythm of Her Name” solo/acoustic, which is always a powerful song for me. It also strips down the song to its bare campfire elements.
Why is it that Celtic sounds and punk music work so nicely together?
Lyrically, there’s a lot of common themes, but musically, I think if you speed up most songs and throw punk drums on em, they just sound more fun. Take a Taylor Swift song, make the drums double time, and jack up the tempo, and have a gang of people shouting the chorus, and it would probably be a great punk song. Hot take zone, I know!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Rumjacks are currently touring with Dropkick Murphys and The Bombpops. The begin a headlining tour May 1. Their new EP is called Brass for Gold. Click here for more information and tickets.
