Contents
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* 1 History
o 1.1 Height of career
o 1.2 Breakup
o 1.3 Compilation
* 2 Musical style
* 3 Trivia
* 4 Members
* 5 Discography
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History
In August of 1989, vocalist Dennis Owens, guitarist Jake Kline, keyboardist Rodi DelGadillo, bassist Deryke Cardenaz, and drummer Christine Tasche formed a band called The Silent Invasion. After a few months of rehearsal, the band played their one and only show just after Christmas in Tasche's back house in front of a few friends. Shortly after, Tasche left the band.
Several months later, John Gamba responded to their "Drummer Wanted" flyer and was soon added to the band roster. The band soon decided to change their name to Suburban Rhythm. Kline hated the name, but due to him having missed that particular meeting in which the name was changed, the others decided Kline would have no say in the matter. Eight months later and after playing several shows, Gamba was ousted due to "personality conflicts", leaving the band once again without a drummer.
Carlos De La Garza, drummer for another O.C. band, The Trenchtown Invaders, took Gamba's spot as drummer. One month later, Cardenaz quit for unknown reasons. Through an "acquaintance of an acquaintance", the band found Ed Kampwirth to replace Cardenaz. With the addition of Kampwirth, the band's sound began to solidify.
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Height of career
In October of 1992, the band released their first (and only) demo, Hose. After this, the size of Suburban Rhythm's fanbase grew dramatically.
In April of 1993, Kline quit the band for reasons known only to him. Kline's departure left the band with Dennis Owens and Rodi DelGadillo as the only two original members remaining. The band vowed to break up if any more of the core members (including Kampwirth and De La Garza) decided to quit, fearing replacing any more members might "water things down to the point of embarrassment."
Despite depression within the band, they decided they would stick together and find a new guitarist. After several try-outs, the band "settled" with Scott Moran. Soon after this, Chris Siglin was hired as the band's manager.
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Breakup
In late October or early November of 1993, Suburban Rhythm started to record their first album. At this point, band member relations were becoming unstable. According to Owens, more and more arguments ensued between band members about "this-that-and-the-other's problem with this-that-and-the-other"
The initial recording sessions proved unsatisfactory. After several more arguments, it was decided to re-record the album at another studio. Friction among the band members grew worse as the band continued to argue. Finally, in the middle of the sessions, Kampwirth and Moran announced they were quitting the band.
The band kept the promise they made after Kline left and put the band to rest. S.R. played its last show on April 2, 1994 in Costa Mesa, CA.
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Compilation
In 1997, three years after the band's breakup, a 16-song "obituary" CD was released from Long Beach record label Solid Recordings. The album contains all three tracks from the Hose demo cassette, all four tracks from the Almost There 7" vinyl, plus nine previously unreleased tracks. The album also includes five tracks recorded live from the Big Black Room in Santa Ana, CA in 1993, as well as a hidden garage-recorded track entitled "Uniform of Destruction".
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Musical style
Suburban Rhythm ran the gamut of musical styles. While primarily labeled a ska/punk band, some of their recordings displayed styles from funk (e.g. "18 Inch Ruler"), to metal, jazz, blues, and even country (e.g. "Blue Hawaii"). Their tone also had range, from dark and moody styles, such as "Coming Out Of The Woodwork" and "Tension", to playful, fast-driven songs like "Game Show", "Bixville" and their cover of Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting".
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Trivia
Popular O.C. ska band Reel Big Fish has paid homage to Suburban Rhythm on many occasions. Their debut CD, Turn the Radio Off, includes a tribute song to Suburban Rhythm entitled "S.R". They also covered Suburban Rhythm's "Uniform of Destruction" for the Ska Parade's compilation album, Runnin' Naked thru the Cornfield. (Suburban Rhythm's "Coming out of the Woodwork" is featured on the same album.)
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Members
* Dennis Owens (vocals)
* Rodi DelGadillo (keyboard)
* Deryke Cardenaz (bass guitar) (1990–1992)
* Ed Kempwirth (bass guitar (1992–1994)
* Jake Kline (guitar) (1990–1993)
* Scott Moran (guitar) (1993–1994)
* Christine Tasche (drums) (1990, with The Silent Invasion)
* John Gamba (drums) (1990–1991)
* Carlos de la Garza (drums) (1991–1994)
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Discography
Year Title Format Details
1992 Hose Cassette Out of print
1994 Almost There 7″ Vinyl Out of print
1997 Suburban Rhythm CD 16-song compilation released through Solid Recordings
18 Inch Ruler
Suburban Rhythm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, wooden discipline, was smacked on my behind. Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler! Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, my father, was tanning my behind. Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler!
Wuh!
Hey!
One day I was giving trouble, to the normal baby-sitter. So she got mad and she called my dad, and he sounded really bitter. I hung up on him, right away. But much to my surprise. He came home and he whipped me good and just kicked my behind.
Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, my father, was tanning my behind. Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler! Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, wooden discipline was smacked on my behind. Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler!
Wuh!
Hey!
One day my momma made me mad so I pissed on all her flowers, I felt like I was getting even, felt like I had power! When mom found out she told my dad now I'd get it for sure. He spanked me hard he spanked me good like I'd never been spanked before!
Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, wooden discipline, was smacked on my behind. Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler! Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, my father, was tanning my behind. Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler!
Wuh!
Hey!
The song "18 Inch Ruler" by Suburban Rhythm is about the hardships of growing up as a child and the consequences of one's mischievous actions. The first verse talks about the singer's wild behavior and how they would do things that were considered wrong. The singer's parents responded by administering wooden discipline, which inspired the creation of the song. The chorus repeats the phrase "18 inch ruler" which refers to the tool used by the singer's father to administer punishment. The second verse tells the story of when the singer's normal babysitter called the father to report misbehavior, and the father responded by whipping the singer. Finally, the third verse tells the story of the singer disrespecting their mother by urinating on her flowers, leading the father to deliver another punishment.
The lyrics paint a picture of a strict household where any act of defiance is met with a harsh punishment. The singer's experiences highlight the concept of respecting authority and following the rules, or else there will be consequences. The repetition of the phrase "18 inch ruler" reinforces the idea of fear and pain at the hands of the father, which was supposed to serve as a deterrent for future misbehavior.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was young, I was a nasty little child.
As a child, I was poorly behaved and caused trouble.
I'd mess up things with no respect, my parents called me wild.
I had little regard for other people's belongings, causing my parents to consider me unruly.
But when I came home from doing things that were considered wrong.
Despite my rebellious behavior, I still went home after doing things I knew I shouldn't have done.
They gave me wooden discipline, that's why I wrote this song!
My parents would discipline me with a wooden ruler, inspiring me to write this song about it.
Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, wooden discipline, was smacked on my behind.
I experienced the pain of being hit with the wooden ruler as a form of parental discipline.
Oo-oooh I got it, oo-oooh it got me, the 18 inch ruler!
The specific item that was used for discipline was an 18 inch long ruler.
My father, was tanning my behind.
My father was striking me on my buttocks as a form of physical punishment.
One day I was giving trouble, to the normal baby-sitter.
I was causing issues for the babysitter who regularly watched over me.
So she got mad and she called my dad, and he sounded really bitter.
The babysitter called my father to complain about my behavior, causing him to become angry and irritable.
I hung up on him, right away. But much to my surprise.
When my father called me back after the babysitter had contacted him, I hung up on him immediately.
He came home and he whipped me good and just kicked my behind.
As a result of my misbehavior and disrespect towards him on the phone, my father punished me by striking me and kicking me in the buttocks.
One day my momma made me mad so I pissed on all her flowers.
I became upset with my mother and decided to urinate on her flowers to act out my anger.
I felt like I was getting even, felt like I had power!
By damaging my mother's beloved flowers, I felt like I was taking control of the situation and causing her harm in return.
When mom found out she told my dad now I'd get it for sure.
My mother informed my father of my misdeed, knowing that I would receive punishment for my actions.
He spanked me hard he spanked me good like I'd never been spanked before!
My father punished me with physical spanking as a severe form of discipline for my behavior towards my mother's flowers.
Contributed by Katherine P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nick's Colorado Channel
"Ed quit for undisclosed reasons. Scott quit, primarily, due to personal and creative conflicts with singer, Dennis Owens." -Wikipedia
Teh Slime
Such a unique and insanely talented band!
shwabity
now i can see why RBF loved these guys so much
GeneralKizENT
thank you so much for putting this up dude. i've never actually listened to them before by i know of them.
Anton Shtuchka
Thanks, you're awesome! ^_^
Jack Morgan
What ever happened to Suburban Rhythm? Why did Ed and Scott quit? Please don't go, Suburban Rhythm! All the other bands are just shit! :) Thumbs up if you get the reference.