Rumblefish

Rumblefish is not hybrid, hyphenate rock, attempting to fuse styles du jour into a provocative and ultimately perishable package. Rather, Rumblefish is an organic, unique and unexpected experience. “We're such different personalities,” begins singer Mike Ryan. “You would never expect us to get along in a room to record. But when we write music, it's like a connection within the soul, it goes beyond any conscious thing.” The music that these four Los Angelenos create is an aural and emotional experience that draws liberally from all over the Rock map, but ultimately is deftly harnessed on Exit Highland, Rumblefish's debut CD for Roadrunner Records. Produced by Mudrock (Godsmack, Powerman 5000) and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, The Vines) and Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, Hoobastank) Exit Highland is a collection of songs that are as heady as they are heavy. Solidifying their current lineup in early 2002, drummer Possum hooked up first with lead singer Ryan. The two were joined shortly thereafter by guitarist DeCosta – who, like Ryan, was already firmly entrenched in the L.A. scene. Bassist Dungis completed the equation – his calm demeanor the perfect ying to the band's musical yang. The band was shunned by everyone initially until they struck a demo deal with Roadrunner and recorded what was to become their first single, the infectiously catchy and intense “In My Head.” From there, the band built upon a musical foundation that was simple and unmeditated. “We have a little metal element, a little rock, but not too much of one thing, it's our own sound. We're not trying to reinvent the wheel - We do hard, alternative music but with melodies and a simple, memorable vibe," explains DeCosta. It's easy to understand their “kitchen sink” mentality given their disparate backgrounds. Ryan, a self-described “troublemaker” once played baseball for the Cleveland Indians scout team, but music was his true muse. “I used to be in hardcore bands – just screaming and shit. I felt comfortable in hardcore music and it took me a while to realize I could actually sing. It finally just hit me over the head that I'm a singer,” explains Ryan. In DeCosta, he's found the perfect musical partner, thanks to his own schizophrenic musical upbringing. “I've been involved in music since I could walk and talk,” he reflects. It's that eclectic background that ultimately defined Rumblefish's sound – part unbridled rock, part introspective soul-searching that led to them sharing the stage with such acts as Linkin Park, Crazy Town, Ultraspank, Mudvayne and Soulfly. From the barely controlled chaos of “Wasting Time” to the head-banging groove of the soaring “Far,” the band is intelligent, funny and politically and personally aware. Yet Exit Highland's songs lean decidedly toward the personal and cathartic. “I've spent a lot of time trying to get away from the wrong people, but always ended up in destructive situations,” Ryan confesses. “When I write a song, I never know what it's about until I've finished it. The first single, “In My Head,” is about drifting, letting the seasons change my moods, watching things fall apart all the time. It's a beautiful disaster, and I keep walking on that thin line,” he explains. ""Forget” was written when a relationship was in turmoil. I wrote the song in three minutes as I drove down the street to get away from my then-girlfriend.” Not all are as immediate or concrete. The irresistible “Stumble and Fall” could be “about a girl. Or alcohol. Or about anything you think,” grins the fast-talking Ryan. “Wait,” another winner, is about dealing with obsessive-compulsiveness. “I call that 'wait' the 'hiccup' of the mind. It's about people hesitating, being okay one minute, then you're not, and you can't control the thoughts in your head. It's about being unstable." While Rumblefish's lyrics may be open to interpretation, the band has ready answers for two of their most-asked questions. Yes, Ryan is a big fan of author S.E. Hinton, who wrote the seminal teen angst book “Rumblefish.” Then, when the vocalist saw the film, “I was like, 'if I could be in a movie or make a movie, this would be it!' It has a mystery.” And the dark name fits his mindset and the band's music perfectly. As for Exit Highland, it refers to one of Los Angeles' main arteries. “We all take the street to rehearsal and some of us live off it,” De Costa notes. “That's what we do every day—Exit Highland.” With Exit Highland ready to enter the world's consciousness, Rumblefish are eager to bring their music to the public. “We've all spent hard years trying to prove so much, to realize our potential, and with this record we feel we've gone beyond that,” believes Ryan. “While making Exit Highland there was a lot of surreal, peaceful stuff as well as teeth-pulling, but it was an overall amazing experience and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out.”