What is Power-Ska you ask? The answer when applied to Rude City Riot is “start with Ska Music and add equal parts Reggae, Punk and Hard Rock and you get “Power-Ska”.
RCR released their debut self titled EP / CD in Nov. 2008 and has released 3 digital singles on Skaspot Records in 2010 . "Nothin But Time" is now released on Stomp Records. It is RCR's first full length album and is available on iTunes, Amazon or from Stomprecords.com.
Dustin Lionhart, lead singer and primary songwriter for RCR has been writing Ska songs since age 14 and is now writing melodic anthems accessible to all those who love good music and well crafted songs.
Typical media / press reviews of Rude City Riot Music:
Ska tends to be typecast,
modeled to a great extent
on the early 80s Two Tone
look and sound from
England, which makes
Rude City Riot different.
Sure, the horn
arrangements and rhythms
that are ska trademarks are
here, but the album starts
with a rock and roll urgency
that suggests Rude City
Riot is flexible and won’t be
hemmed in by typecasting.
It even sounds like
Loverboy at times, which is
really unexpected. “Bonnie
And Clyde,” which follows,
has a punk edge. “Imposter
Man” could be Toots And
The Maytals. “Kick Me
When I’m Down” mixes Van
Halen guitar with a tough
reggae rhythm and nagging
chorus. Etc.."
- Tom Harrison, The
Province Newspaper (Sep
"If you replaced the up-strokes with
down and the horns with another guitar,
Vancouver, BC's Rude City Riot could
be Canada's next Chixdiggit ― that is to
say, creators of some incredibly well
crafted, straight-ahead, insanely catchy
pop punk. The phrasing of the verses
and the expert creation and execution of
a killer chorus (not to mention the lead
vocals of singer Dustin Lionhart III,
which are pretty similar to Chixdiggits'
K.J. Jansen) are pretty much where the
comparisons end though, because Rude
City Riot like to ska the hell out of their
stuff, and they do it impressively well ―
doubly so considering this is their debut.
The seven-piece shine on "Victoria," an
anthem about a troublesome girl (or is it
a city?), and "Rudies Don't Care." Both
open with that beloved ska brass and
continue like the best of favourite
commercial ska punks Reel Big Fish
and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. A select
group of people will treasure this, with
Rude City Riot keeping the ska dream
alive. "
- Nicole Villeneuve,
Exclaim.ca (May 31, 2011)
"Oi, There's a strong new voice in the ska scene and it
belongs to Rude City Riot. Their Nothin' But Time debut
album showcases a sound they call power-ska; it's a
harmonious blend of punk, reggae, soul and ska that files
neatly enough under ska-punk. The songwriting seems
surprisingly sophisticated for a bunch of newcomers, until
you learn that frontman Dustin Lionhart III has been
writing ska music since he was 14. Lionhart's rude-boy
lyrics tell tales of hoodlums and junkies in seedy
neighborhoods like Vancouver's downtown east side; all the
anger, exhilaration and desperation of these sad
but proud souls is brought to life through shoutout
harmonies, beefy guitar riffs and a terrific horn
section that especially shines on the rollicking
instrumental "DC Riot Stomp," the album's best
offering. This is a very fine debut from a skilled
team of musicians who clearly enjoy what they're
doing. Not every riot in Vancouver has to be bad."
- Jody McCutcheon, CHARTattack
“From the untamed wilderness that is the Pacific Northwest comes a gift…and a marvelous gift it is indeed. No, it’s not amateur video footage of Sasquatch doing the Macarena (although that would obviously rock). It’s better. Much better. Those crazy Ska-nucks, Rude City Riot, recently released a double-sided digital single as a follow up to their debut, self-titled album. With “Imposter Man” and “Same Old Story”, RCR picks up right where they left off with the their last studio offering. Brilliant! Power-Ska at its best. The melodic elements of 2 Tone meets the edginess of third wave, pulling up just short of the ska-core precipice. These cats continue to impress. - Drago" WWW.Froglix.Com
"This is seriously infectious stuff. It opens with a solid acoustic guitar ska groove and a power vocal going on about feeling ill, which conveniently rhymes with "pills". When the band kicks in they're as tight as a screw. And look out for that sax solo. iPod worthy."
- John McLaughlin, The Province Newspaper - review of Rude City Riot song "Shots & Pills" (Mar 23, 2010)
Please visit WWW.RUDECITYRIOT.COM
http://www.reverbnation.com/rudecityriot (RCR Profile)
for more photos and reviews or to play & download RCR songs for free - visit www.rudecityriot.com and join fan club / email list.
Skaspot Records 778 886 2747
Dan Cowan dan@skaspot.com
Rude City Riot is:
Dusty Lionhart III - Lead Vocals
Scotty Atkins - Guitars & Vocals
Luis Garzon - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Kevin Tang - Trombone & Vocals
Jonny McCormack - Sax & Vocals
Sean Kight - Drums & Vocals
Peter Bowles - Keys & Vocals
Steffen Peter - Guitar & Vocals
The Reaper
Rude City Riot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plans are gonna change tonight my services required.
Dark alley we go, they pass the envelope.
Always demand half up front, the mark owes cash for dope.
It's been a long time, since my first one.
I make a living killin people on the run.
I got no feelin except for my guns.
Target in my sight, peacefulness won't last.
Live the calm before the storm i let the tension pass.
Blank expression stare, he drops down to his knees.
Cocked and pointed at his head he grovels "mr, please!"
I am the reaper, i am the contract keeper.
Ordered to put the hit on you.
I am the reaper, standin before the weeper.
Your execution's overdue.
The lyrics of Rude City Riot's song The Reaper are written through the point of view of a hitman speaking about his job and the experiences that come along with it. The first verse is a description of the structure of the job in which he is involved. The hitman is contacted via a pre-paid cell phone and given instructions from his client. He describes how his plans will change tonight and his services are required. The mark that he is to kill owes money for drugs, and the hitman demands half the payment upfront before he carries out the job. The second verse is a more personal reflection on the hitman's experience of being a killer. He notes that it has been a long time since he started killing people for a living. He has no conscience or emotion apart from the satisfaction he gets from seeing the shock on his targets' faces. The hitman describes the peace before the storm leading up to the fatal shot he delivers. The target begs for mercy before his execution, but the hitman remains emotionless and proceeds to pull the trigger.
The overall tone of the song is dark and sinister. It highlights the consequences of living life in the fast lane and making a strings of bad choices. The song serves to illustrate that the price of bad behavior is payable and, in some cases, results in a life-ending tragedy. The lyrics manage to capture the essence of the hitman's psyche and the emotions that fuel his occupation. It is a chilling account of someone who takes joy in ending lives and the disarming emptiness that comes with that kind of profession.
Line by Line Meaning
Pre-paid cell phone rings, client's on the wire.
A burner phone rings and the client contacts the hitman for a job.
Plans are gonna change tonight my services required.
The hitman has received the new order and he is going to carry it out tonight.
Dark alley we go, they pass the envelope.
The hitman meets the client in a dark alley and receives the payment in an envelope.
Always demand half up front, the mark owes cash for dope.
The hitman always demands half the payment upfront because the target who is dealing in illegal substances already owes money.
It's been a long time, since my first one.
The hitman has been in this profession for a long time.
I make a living killin people on the run.
The hitman's profession is to kill people who are on the run.
I got no feelin except for my guns.
The hitman is devoid of any emotions except for his guns.
Get off on seein the look on the faces stunned.
The hitman enjoys seeing the surprise and shock of his targets.
Target in my sight, peacefulness won't last.
The hitman has a clear view of his target and knows that the peace isn't going to last.
Live the calm before the storm i let the tension pass.
The hitman stays calm before the big event and lets go of any tension.
Blank expression stare, he drops down to his knees.
The target stares back blankly, and drops down to his knees in fear.
Cocked and pointed at his head he grovels 'mr, please!'
The hitman has his gun pointed at the target's head, and the target pleads with him to spare his life.
I am the reaper, i am the contract keeper.
The hitman is the agent of death, and he is fulfilling his contract.
Ordered to put the hit on you.
The hitman has been ordered to kill the target.
I am the reaper, standin before the weeper.
The hitman is the reaper, standing before the target who is now crying.
Your execution's overdue.
The target has been on the hitman's list for some time now and his time is up.
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.