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THE RUTABAGAS
During the summer of 1991, two brothers decided to form a band. The oldest, Todd Vukmanic, assuming lead guitar and vocals, and the younger, Jon Vukmanic, playing rhythm guitar. They acquired a drummer from Pittsburgh, Scott "Stymie" Erskine. The band went through several bass players before deciding to strip the four piece down to the original three piece with Jon converting to bass.
"The Rutabagas" began playing in the college scene from the fall of 1992 until the spring of 1995. "We would be rippin' some Chuck Berry or Eddie Cochran and after the song a kid would approach the stage and say, "Hey man, that was great. Do you know any Pearl Jam? It was a really frustrating time!" (Todd)
They continued to play various parties, picnics, benefits, and other social events. "We're just anxious to play right now," says Jon. "We've been in and out of the college underground for years. We've paid crazy dues. Now we wanna get out and show everybody what we're about."
The band has come to appreciate the resurgence of Rockabilly in the last two years. "It's good to see bands like The Reverend Horton Heat, or The Stompin' Pompadours out of Ohio obtain some credibility. The things that the Stray Cats were doing from 1981-1992 were way ahead of their time. Brian Setzer rejuvenated music, for me at least, without even knowing it at the time. He brought back rockabilly, big band and swing. It's just now that everyone is starting to listen." (Stymie)
A lot of the music coming out today is based around the affection for primal 50's country and rockabilly. The Rutabagas cover that aspect as well as the dark side of rockabilly and the blues. The band attributes a lot of its influences to early outlaw performers such as Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Elvis, The Ventures, and Man or Astro-man. They also encompass the heavier rebel sounds of such bands as The Clash, Social Distortion, The Rolling Stones, and The Ramones.
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