In May 2007, Tony McNaboe, Spencer Albee, and Dave Gutter made a surprise announcement on Portland's WCYY that they planned to reunite, and were in the process of scheduling local reunion shows. On May 29th, they announced that they would play two reunion shows at Portland club "The Asylum," one on July 28th, 2007 and another on July 29th. They also performed at the Maine Lobster Festival on August 2nd. In addition, after a month of rumors and gossip, the band also announced that they have been working on a new album of previously unreleased material and newly written music, which will be released coinciding with the two reunion shows. The album will be released independently, due to the band's past frustration with dealing with record labels. While initially rumored that these two shows would be the only Rustic Overtones reunion, Dave Gutter has confirmed that the band is "here to stay." In August 2008, it was announced that Spencer Albee had officially left the band and had been replaced by Sean Morin.
Members:
Dave Gutter - Guitar and Vocals
Jon Roods - Bass
Sean Morin - Keyboards/Vocals
Tony McNaboe - Drums
Dave Noyes - Trombone
Jason Ward - Baritone Sax
Kyan Zoidis - Alto Sax
Albums:
Shish Boom Bam (1993)
Long Division (1994)
My Dirt (1996)
Rooms By The Hour (1998)
Volume Up (Promo) (1999)
¡Viva Nueva! (2001)
Light at the End (2007)
New Way Out(2009
Gutter and Roods grew up together, beginning their musical journey in a family basement along with other future Overtones (all friends from high-school). Following their first independent release in 1994, Albee joined the mix, rounding out what would become the distinctive Rustic Overtones sound.
Many of the former members have new bands including Gutter and Roods in Paranoid Social Club and Albee's band As Fast As.
Carnival
Rustic Overtones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the carnival, today
She loved the chimpanzees, she always loved flying trapeze
She loved the carnival more then she loved me
I can not hold her like the strongest man alive
I can not get her high, she rides the ferris wheel all night
I start to cry and the moonlight in my tears looks like the midway lights
I think she ran away she must have ran away
When the circus was in town, today
I thought we got along, I thought nothing was wrong
She was the happiest I've seen her in days
I can't sleep when I dream of 3 legged man
We had a lovely house, now it's the big top tent, give me a chance
I can love you more than those elephants
But she wants the clowns that make the horses dance
Your with the carnival I guess
Your with the carnival I guess
Your with the carnival I guess
Your with the carnival I guess
I think she ran away, she must have ran away
With the carnival, today
I thought I smelled her cotton-candy breathe in those balloons
I can't see her face now, it's all covered with tattoos
Can not hold her like the strongest man alive
I can not get her high, she rides the ferris wheel all night
I start to cry and the moonlight in my tears looks like the midway lights
I think she's with the carnival tonight
She must be with the carnival tonight
I think she's with the carnival tonight
The song “Carnival” by Rustic Overtones tells the story of a man who believes his lover has left him for the excitement and thrill of the carnival. The lyrics suggest that his lover is attracted to the wild and carefree nature of the carnival and its performers, including the chimpanzees and flying trapeze act. The man is heartbroken and feels powerless to compete with the carnival’s allure. He cannot hold her like the strongest man alive or provide her with the high she seeks on the ferris wheel.
The man’s sadness is palpable as he describes his dreams of a three-legged man and the memories of their happy life together in their former home, now replaced by the big top tent. He pleads with her to give him a chance and choose his love over the clowns that make the horses dance. However, in the end, he accepts that she has truly left him for the carnival.
The song is a melancholic commentary on the human desire for excitement and the dangers of being consumed by it. It also touches on the loss and pain of unrequited love. Rustic Overtones delivers the song with a mix of rock and jazz sounds, adding to the emotional depth of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I think she ran away, she must have ran away
I suspect that she left, she must have left
With the carnival, today
She left with the carnival today
She loved the chimpanzees, she always loved flying trapeze
She had a particular love for chimpanzees and flying trapeze acts
She loved the carnival more then she loved me
She loved the carnival more than she loved me, her partner
I can not hold her like the strongest man alive
I can't keep her here with me as much as I try, despite my strength
I can not get her high, she rides the ferris wheel all night
Even if I were to give her drugs, she prefers to spend her time all night riding the ferris wheel
I start to cry and the moonlight in my tears looks like the midway lights
I cry and from the reflection of the moon in my tears, it looks like the lights at the carnival
I think she's with the carnival tonight
I believe that she is with the carnival tonight
When the circus was in town, today
Today, while the circus was in town, she may have left
I thought we got along, I thought nothing was wrong
I believed we had a good relationship, and I didn't see any issues
She was the happiest I've seen her in days
She was happier around the carnival than she had been for several days beforehand
I can't sleep when I dream of 3 legged man
When I dream of a man with three legs, it keeps me awake
We had a lovely house, now it's the big top tent, give me a chance
We used to live in a beautiful house, but now it's just a circus tent. Please give me a chance to make things better
I can love you more than those elephants
I can love you more than even the elephants at the carnival
But she wants the clowns that make the horses dance
However, she desires the clowns that make the horses dance
Your with the carnival I guess
I suppose you have joined the carnival
I thought I smelled her cotton-candy breathe in those balloons
I had a feeling of smelling her breath after she went missing when I approached the balloons
I can't see her face now, it's all covered with tattoos
She has tattoos that cover her face, and I can't see her the way I used to
She must be with the carnival tonight
It seems like she is with the carnival tonight
I think she's with the carnival tonight
I believe that she is with the carnival tonight
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind