The chance encounters of everyday life shape us in more ways than we can imagine. From them spring unexpected opportunities, exciting new directions, burgeoning friendships and, quite often, great music.
Such as is the case with “Acts,” the debut album from RNDM, featuring Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, songwriter Joseph Arthur and drummer Richard Stuverud. As the project’s moniker alludes to, Ament and Arthur met randomly on a June evening in 1999, when Arthur opened a show at the late, great New York club Wetlands on a bill headlined by Ament and Stuverud’s side project Three Fish. At the time, Arthur was drawing acclaim for his solo performances, which employed a looping pedal that made the artist sound as if he was being backed by a full band.
“I’d seen people mess with a looper a little bit, but I’d never seen anybody do what Joe was doing at that time,” Ament recalls. “He made it all so seamless.” Says Arthur, “I remember meeting Jeff and being nervous to talk to him. It’s always nerve-wracking to meet someone in a band that big. But on the other hand, I met a girl there that night that I ended going out with for five years.”
The pair stayed in touch via email over the ensuing years, and reconnected in 2010 after Arthur played a KEXP-sponsored lunchtime gig in Seattle. Ament extended Arthur an invitation to come to his Montana home to jam, but before they could make plans, a song emerged unexpectedly.
“As I was finishing up my last little group of solo songs, there was one called ‘When the Fire Comes’ that just wasn’t working for me vocally,” Ament says. “I kept hearing his voice instead of mine. I sent Joe an email gauging his interest, and two days later, I got the track back from him. At that point, I knew there was something there — some sort of creative connection.”
Ament and Arthur performed “When the Fire Comes” together at Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary blowout concert last summer at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. A studio version of the song was released as a CD single to commemorate the special event, as well as on Ament’s latest solo album, “While My Heart Beats.”
Which brings us to “Acts,” and the jam session that would eventually birth it. Says Ament, “After PJ 20, Joe told me he’d never really been able to write up-tempo songs, and I said, ‘I have a slew of them. Let’s get together and make an up-tempo record.’” Thus, in April of this year, Arthur finally joined Ament and Stuverud in Montana thinking he’d just be singing over the top of instrumental tracks that had already been completed.
Instead, “I’d told Richard, but not Joe, that I just wanted to be Joe’s band for the first day or two, to see how it went,” Ament says. After some initial jamming on the first night in the studio, Arthur volunteered a song of his called “What You Can’t Control” that the trio bashed into shape within an hour, and RNDM was off and running. Later, Ament delved into his work tapes to find riffs and instrumentals that would form the basis for other new songs.
Things clicked so easily that the trio were half-jokingly discussing touring, designing t-shirts and making costumes within hours of pressing the record button. “We had six tunes after that first night and day. Everybody was just buzzed,” Ament says. “Jeff and Richard have been playing together so long and they have such a great chemistry,” Arthur adds. “To hear the songs filtered through that rock and roll style was really awesome.”
After four days with longtime Pearl Jam engineer Brett Eliason behind the boards, the group had nearly 20 finished tracks, which have been whittled down to 12 for the album “Acts.” Throughout, the songs crackle with a plug-and-play spontaneity. Pearl Jam fans will surely note Ament’s distinctive bass work on concise blasts of rock’n’roll like “Letting Go Of Will,” “Throw You To The Pack” and “Look Out,” while the trio stretches its musical muscles on blissed-out jams like “Hollow Girl” and the soulful, wah-wah guitar-tinged “Williamsburg.”
Elsewhere, the acoustic, harmonica-tinged “Cherries in the Snow” highlights Arthur’s knack for simple, effective songwriting, while the rumbling mid-tempo rocker “Darkness” and the hard-charging opener “Modern Times,” driven by a power-pop Stuverud beat, showcase how the hybrid styles of the three musicians blend together so smoothly.
“Joe’s instincts, just based on the way he plays by himself, are to layer things, especially his voice,” Ament says. “And I kept saying, ‘No, man! We’re a power trio! It’s OK if all you hear during a guitar solo is bass and drums.’ I’ve always been in bands with two guitars, so I’ve always wanted to be in a power trio where you can hear that space behind the voice.”
“All of the songs I contributed to the album existed in some recorded form, but they were stuck in the ‘backlog,’” Arthur says. “To give them a fresh treatment and produce them in a way that almost veers into underproduction was very uplifting.”
With “Acts” now ready for release, RNDM is preparing to hit the road for its first tour, while still savoring the rush of creativity that birthed the album. “It felt like those first bands you’re in, where the first few weeks you ate and slept and breathed the music that you were working on,” Ament says. “All you did was hum those songs until you got to the next practice. I was completely open to whatever was going to happen, and I know Joseph was too.”
Stray
RNDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sing it for me
And I won't stray
No I won't stray
Love is real
And I love you
So I won't stray
Hold, hold on
You have so much to live for
So please, don't stray
And please don't stray
Peace and love
Are not cheap ideals
So let's make love
And let's make peace
And I won't stray
No I won't stray
The lyrics to RNDM's song "Stray" appear to be about the value of love and the importance of staying true to it. The opening two lines suggest that the singer is asking someone to sing their song, perhaps as a symbol of sharing one's soul and the unique qualities that make them who they are. The repeated phrase "And I won't stray, no I won't stray" serves as a sort of mantra, a reminder to oneself to stay committed to what is important.
The verse that follows suggests that the singer is referencing a specific person in their life, expressing their love for them and their desire to remain faithful. The next few lines are a plea for someone to hold on to life and to not stray from what is meaningful. The final stanza speaks to the universal ideals of peace and love and their importance in today's world. The final line, "And I won't stray, no I won't stray", serves as a firm commitment to these values.
Overall, the song conveys a message of fidelity to love, life, and the larger ideals that we hold dear. It's an uplifting and positive anthem that encourages listeners to stay committed to what matters most.
Line by Line Meaning
Sing your song
Please share your thoughts and feelings with me through music
And sing it for me
Direct your music towards me and let me experience your emotions
And I won't stray
I will not be unfaithful to you emotionally or physically
No I won't stray
I promise to stay committed to you and our relationship
Love is real
We share an authentic and genuine love for one another
And I love you
I have a deep affection and care for you
So I won't stray
Our love is enough to keep me loyal and devoted
No I won't stray
I am determined to remain faithful to you
Hold, hold on
Take a moment to pause and listen
You have so much to live for
There is so much life and opportunities ahead of you
So please, don't stray
Please do not lose sight of what truly matters in life and remain committed to your goals
And please don't stray
Stay focused and don't let distractions deter you from your path
Peace and love
Valuable concepts that embody harmonious coexistence and compassion
Are not cheap ideals
These values are meaningful and must be actively pursued
So let's make love
Let's cultivate our love and affection for one another
And let's make peace
Let's create a peaceful and harmonious environment in our relationship and beyond
And I won't stray
I will remain committed to pursuing love and peace in our relationship and beyond
No I won't stray
I am determined to stay true to my values and commitments
Contributed by Leah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rockpants
Love the atmosphere in this tune ... teeters on the shoegazey edge there. Can't wait for this album. RNDM ROCKS!
Denise P
This is so so so so SO good! Great song and video...I can't stop playing it!
ROBOTWORKMAN
Nice!!! I LOVE your NYC FREAKS song too...both have an incredible (and different) style. REFRESHING TO HEAR!!!!
acoaxley
Got my tickets for March 13th in Toronto. Seriously Out of Hand Good Band.
Gina Childs
I love this band. I only wish they'd do a UK date. I'm not even bothered which city. Just a UK date. Any date.
losangeleslovesyou
Woah, look at this supergroup.
LuakiNi
Oha Batu mesaj atmamış o zaman ben atıyorum. Şarkı çok sağlam. Böyle ilerlemeye devam edin müzisyen kardeşlerim!
Batuhan Eren
+Nocturnal Warrior lol ben vevo kanalına bakmıyom ki kendi kanallarından takip ediyorum. orda daha güzel şeyler var
Chris Weiss
Boston's ready for you!
Tammy Sargent
Sounds like Peter Gabriel