Ruin The Nite set a tone for friendship and fun with ‘Sang To Me’
Boston’s premier ‘Dad Bod Rock’ band deliver sterling new single October 14
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Ruin The Nite’s debut album ‘Sound The Alarm’ out in November via Rum Bar Records
Photo Credit: Pat Piasecki
BOSTON, MA [October 14, 2022] – Blame it on hubris, blame it on the pandemic, blame it on being around the rock and roll block a few times and knowing to trust your friends and collaborators more than anyone else. But when Ruin The Nite came together to craft their debut album Sound The Alarm, the Boston sextet didn’t need to look very far outside their immediate circle to get the job done. “We did this record 100 percent ourselves,” proclaims vocalist and bassist Chris Duggan. “We wrote it, recorded it, engineered it, mixed it, did the artwork… I am proud we did it this way.”
The pride shines through on Sound The Alarm, a collection of 10 brash booze- and brass-driven tracks, recorded at Duggan’s Blue Banshee Recording Studio in Brewster, that sound like nothing else in the Boston music scene. With Sound The Alarm set for November 11 release via Rum Bar Records (CD and digital) and the band themselves (vinyl), activity around Ruin The Nite is set to pick up drastically: The LP’s glowing lead single “Sang To Me” hits the streams on Friday, October 14; an album listening party goes down October 26 at New Republik in Cambridge; and the record release takes over Faces in Malden on release night.
That’s a lot all at once, but it begins with the release of “Sang To Me,” a melodic mountain of a tune that pushes Ruin The Nite’s self-declaration as Boston’s premier “Dad Bod Rock” band to the brink. In addition to appearing on Rum Bar Records’ After School Special Fall 2022 compilation, “Sang To Me” is a good primer for the record – big memorable chorus, upbeat feel-good nature, and Duggan’s weathered n’ worn vocals contrasting in harmony with the band’s horns and keyboard components – but also stands on its own as a hooky little earworm that’s as fun to hear as it is for the band to play.
“I think it's basically a story about lack of communication in a relationship,” Duggan admits. “It's about letting down your walls and being free to say what needs to be said. Being vulnerable enough to express your truth, no matter how sharp and pointed those words might be. I think I had a iPhone memo demo of me fucking around with the chorus on my phone for a bit. I believe we were farting around at the practice space and whatever we were doing popped that chorus back in my head. Lyrically, the words just came. No real thought behind them. The chorus was just fun to sing.”
And fun is part of the Ruin The Nite blueprint. Formed by Duggan alongside his former Goddamn Draculas bandmates Jeff “Chip” Nicolai (keyboards) and Dave Norton (drums), the seeds of Ruin The Nite were planted shortly after the 2014 Rock And Roll Rumble winners dissolved a few years back. The trio kept playing together, hanging in their practice space and trying new things, building on bits and pieces of the endless list of bands each had been a part of in former rock lives. Quickly, and rather unsurprisingly, things began to gel. “We felt pretty good about how things were going so we talked and decided to start up a new band, with the intent of bringing something different to the table,” Duggan adds. “This turned into Ruin the Nite.”
Rounded out by guitarist Matt Sullivan, trumpeter Dan McCool, and saxophonist Nathan Blaser (who replaced trombone player Brandon Rainer, who appears on the album), Ruin The Nite are a six-piece project where the goal is to just have fun, hang with friends, and play the music they want to play both on record and on the stage. In January 2021 they self-released a three-track demo collection called Scratch Tracks, and built upon that initial sound – proving early on that any sort of aim for a particular sound was abandoned as the band just played what came naturally – and playing on their own terms.
“We all love different styles of music and I think that we do a decent job getting everyones vibes into these songs,” admits Duggan. “It seems we are at our best when we aren't trying or aiming – and whatever wants to come out, does. We all love music and playing with each other. The initial goal, which I believe is still our goal, is to play music for the sole purpose of enjoying it. Covid was an asshole for a couple years so we couldn't do much, but now we are looking to write and record tunes that make us happy, play shows with friends and just really enjoy being in a band with good musicians who all really respect each other.”
With that kind of in-house network, no wonder Ruin The Nite does it all themselves.
Media Contact: Please direct all press inquiries to Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co or Rum Bar’s Lou Mansdorf at malibulou70@gmail.com.
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‘Sang To Me’ single artwork:
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Ruin The Nite is:
Matt Sullivan: Guitar
Dave Norton: Drums and vocals
Dan McCool: Trumpet
Chris Duggan: Vocals and bass
Jeff Nicolai: Keys and vocals
Nathan Blaser: Saxophone
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‘Sang To Me’ credits:
Written, produced, and engineered by Ruin The Nite
Recorded at Blue Banshee Recording Studio in Brewster, MA
Art and visuals by Dave Norton
Trombone by Brandon Rainer
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Ruin The Nite short bio:
Boston’s premier “Dad Bod Rock Band.” Debut album Sound The Alarm out November 2022 via Rum Bar Record and Ruin The Nite.
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Ruin The Nite secondary press photo:
Photo Credit: Pat Piasecki
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Press Contact: Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co
Rum Bar Records contact: Lou Mansdorf at malibulou70@gmail.com
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