Originally Ritcher with Pat McClimans and Mario Rubalcaba, in its early years, the band included a succession of members from hardcore and indie rock heavyweights such as Rodan, Endpoint, 411, Sunspring, the Rachel's, Falling Forward, Shipping News, Transcend, Eleven Eleven and Chamberlain.
The Metroschifter has operated in innovative ways starting with their very first record. The band is from Louisville, Kentucky, but their members originally lived in different cities across the United States. Because of this, they learned their first set of songs from demo tapes that singer/songwriter Scott Ritcher mailed out to the other members. As a result, their first tour in 1994 was booked before they had even played together. Regardless, a few intensive practice sessions before the trip solidified their sound and their debut album was recorded the following week.
In a similar fashion, that album, "The Metroschifter Capsule," went on sale before it was even finished. The band members and Ritcher's label, Slamdek, ran advertisements announcing the new group was releasing a record that could be ordered in advance. Fans purchased the album before it was completed, then each copy was personalized with the buyer's name on the cover and home-delivered.
The Metroschifter's sound is loud, distorted, thunderous, and blazing, yet sometimes stops on impossible points to become complete silence, before diving headlong back into a mathematical, emotional storm.
Reviewing the "Fort Saint Metroschifter" album, Toledo Entertainment magazine said the Metroschifter put "more curveball dynamics in 1/3 of an hour than most of their contemporaries would put in a friggin’ box set."
Impact Press describes a sound that can "fly from rage to softness to downright discordant... both spacious and gracious." Mega Music said "they almost never look or sound the same way twice" and Over The Shoulder called them "so damn inventive." A reviewer at Ignition chimed, "like nothing I’ve heard before," and Outback Magazine echoed, "One of the most unique and interesting bands."
Maybe Punk Planet made Metroschifter proudest: "There are very few bands that are putting out such challenging albums. It's incredible. Three cheers for the Metroschifter!"
Early on, the band decided to stretch their sound, to never make the same record twice, and to make a conscious effort to test their audience. In 1996, they briefly departed from their ultra-distorted, full-throttle sound, and released an even more demanding record, the all-acoustic, country album "Generation Rx." Teleport City observed, "I've always admired Metroschifter's willingness to fuck with people," but Second Nature wasn't as smitten and barked, "After this record, Metroschifter should rename their band to something more suiting, like for instance, Crap!"
Metroschifter released "Encapsulated" in 2000 which pushed the band deeper into uncharted territory. On this unique record, they assembled a cast of some of their favorite bands who each learned and recorded a new, unreleased Metroschifter song. The result was an album of new Metroschifter songs on which each song was performed by a different artist. Participants included Elliott, The Get Up Kids, Ink & Dagger, The Promise Ring, Refused, Burning Airlines, and Rye Coalition. Manatee Bound announced, "this has never been done before," while Pitchfork comically wondered if the aging members of Metroschifter were too lazy to play their own songs.
All three members of Metroschifter have collaborated with each other on a variety of other projects in the time since the band was regularly active. And all members are also currently in other groups; Chris Reinstatler performs in Brett Ralph's Kentucky Chrome Revue; Scott Ritcher is in the group Best Actress; Pat McClimans leads Lafayette, Indiana's Root Hog. Ritcher also ran in the 1998 election for Louisville mayor and was a 2008 candidate for Kentucky's state senate.
After taking about six years off between 1999 and 2005, they returned to the stage for a series of exciting sold-out shows in Louisville. Always trying to keep it interesting, the opening act for the first return performance was a spelling bee in which audience members competed against bassist Pat McClimans. He lost. Upon their return, they picked tiny, ridiculous ticket prices ranging from $1.79 to $2.44 in their hometown to dispel rumors they were reuniting to make money.
The Metroschifter has played over 200 shows, across 14 countries, including five tours of Europe and five tours in the United States. Scott Ritcher also recorded and toured as a solo artist in the US and Europe.
The bulk of Metroschifter's and Scott Ritcher's music was issued on Doghouse Records and is available from that label or from the Apple iTunes Music Store. Many tracks are available directly from www.metroschifter.com.
The band's sixth full-length recording was released in July 2009, on the Louisville label Noise Pollution.
My old Kentucky home
Metroschifter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In summer, the people are gay.
The corn cobs are ripe and the meadow's in bloom,
While the birds make music all day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright.
By and by, hard times come knocking at the door,
Until my old Kentucky home, good night.
Oh weep no more today.
We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home,
For my old Kentucky home far away.
The song "My Old Kentucky Home" by Metroschifter is a poignant ode to the state of Kentucky, with a nostalgic tone that reflects the bittersweet memories of youth and the harsh realities of life. The opening lines convey a sense of warmth and happiness, with the singer describing the sunshine and the joy of summer in the state. The imagery of the "ripe corn cobs" and the "blooming meadows" paint a picture of a verdant, vibrant landscape, where nature thrives and inspires the people.
The second verse introduces the theme of youth and innocence, with the singer describing the young folks "rolling on the little cabin floor," enjoying each other's company and reveling in the lightheartedness of youth. However, the last line of this verse hints at the impending tragedy and hardship that will come later in life, with the metaphor of "hard times knocking at the door" signaling that the idyllic moments of youth will not last forever.
The song's chorus emphasizes the importance of holding on to memories and honoring the past, as the singer urges his "lady" to stop weeping and instead join him in singing "one song for my old Kentucky home." This final line reinforces the theme of nostalgia and appreciation for the state's history and culture, even in the face of life's challenges and uncertainties.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home.
The weather is pleasant in Kentucky, and the sun rays illuminate the state.
In summer, the people are gay.
In summertime, the residents of Kentucky are happy and lively.
The corn cobs are ripe and the meadow's in bloom,
The corn crops have matured, and the meadows are blossoming with flowers.
While the birds make music all day.
The birds chirp melodiously throughout the day, creating musical symphonies.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
The young people of Kentucky dance and play on the small cabin floor they have.
All merry, all happy and bright.
They are all in lively spirits, joyful and radiant.
By and by, hard times come knocking at the door,
Eventually, tough times kick in, and difficulties arise.
Until my old Kentucky home, good night.
Until then, the good times have ended and it's time to say farewell to the old Kentucky home.
Weep no more, my lady.
Do not shed any more tears, my lady.
Oh weep no more today.
There is no need to cry anymore on this day.
We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home,
We will reminisce with one song about my old Kentucky home
For my old Kentucky home far away.
For my old Kentucky home, which is now distant and far away from us.
Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.