|
LUDO |
 |
|
|
|
|||
FEATURE
PEGGED AS THE NEXT BIG THING
LUDO “Hum Along” To Success
by Corine Jurgerson
In December 2004, this up-and-coming band from St. Louis were the recipients of Fuse TV’s “Next Big Thing” award, joining such previous “Next Big Thing” winners as Yellowcard, Story of the Year, Modest Mouse and The Killers.
The video for Ludo’s, “Hum Along”, was voted #1 by viewers of Fuse TV, and Fuse recently debuted another fun-filled video for the single, “Good Will Hunting By Myself”. That video was shot in L.A. and was directed by Scott Culver (Yellowcard, MXPX).
Ludo have performed
gigs with Hawthorne Heights, Lucky Boys Confusion, Something Corporate
and Holden. This Fall, they will release the follow-up to their
self-titled album.
Indeed, Ludo are definitely on the road to stardom. You may have already caught them heating up Chicagoland this summer, when in June they hit stage at The Wheaton Grand Theater and made such an impression on Suburban Chicago rock fans that their first headlining show in the city, held on a Monday night at Schuba’s, unexpectedly sold out.
Ludo is Andrew Volpe on vocals and rhythm guitar, Tim Ferrell on lead guitar and backing vocals, Tim Convy on moog and backing vocals, Marshall Fanciullo on bass and Matt Palermo on drums.
The band (yes, they are named after the burly giant from David Bowie’s ‘80s fantasy motion picture, Labyrinth…) began its formation several years back while Volpe and Ferrell were still in college.
According to Convy, Volpe and Ferrell met like many bands do, through posted ads and the local music scene. After finishing school, the two began touring the country together, performing an acoustic set.
Ferrell and Convy had known each other from playing together in bands in high school, and Convy gradually began goin along on tours.
Auditions were soon held for a drummer and bassist, and before they knew it, the guys were in the studio recording their self-titled first album.
“We’re a rock ‘n’ roll band. We write pop songs, it’s fun, it’s high energy. Definitely, we have unique lyrics,” explained Convy when asked about the overall sound of the band. “We’re doing something different, in a different way. It’s some exciting stuff – the music will make you laugh and hopefully make you think.”
Ludo draws inspiration from a variety of bands.
“We all are into completely different types of music, we’re kind of all over the place,” mused Convy. “Andrew listens to a lot of oldies and a lot of ‘80s and early ‘90s radio. Chuck Berry was the biggest influence for all of us. Tim is way more metal – Gun ‘N Roses, Pantera and Mötley Crue are his big thing. Matt our drummer was in a hardcore band before joining us didn’t listen too much else. We all like bands like Weezer, we’re all big fans of 311, and the classics like The Police. We hear something new every day [from fans and critics] as far as who we sound like.
Ludo’s lyrics explore
themes like girls and relationships, usually with a humorous twist.
Take for example, the lyrics to “Good Will Hunting By Myself”: ‘Listen you tanning-bed-baked, broke-ass, goat-faced, oompa-loompa monkey problem/ I am proud to shop at Target, I’ll wear warm-up pants any day of the week/ Yes, your ass did look fat in those jeans, your mom’s a M.I.L.F./ And I plan to get on your little sister just as soon as I give her a call back, oh and you know what else?/ You can watch Good Will Hunting by yourself (you bitch, please die)’
Such lyrics are written in jest and simply add to the comical persona of the band. “Andrew is the primary songwriter, though everyone is involved in the arrangements,” noted Convy.
Ludo’s upcoming release, The Broken Bride EP, promises more one-of-a-kind Ludo tunes.
“Its five songs that basically tell one story,” said Convy. “I guess you can kind of say a rock opera, a concept album or whatever. It’s all about a guy whose wife dies in a car accident. He spends the next fifteen years trying to invent a time machine, invents a time machine, goes back in time but goes too far back and ends up in the Jurassic period surrounded by dinosaurs. He has to find a way to escape, does so, and then goes too far into the future. He gets to the end of the world, the Apocalypse, and has to save humanity. In doing so he’s granted a wish. He chooses to go back to that morning and attempt to save his wife. Things unfold from there.”
The guys are currently gearing up to record with St. Louis-based producer Jason McIntyre. The EP will be released this fall on Redbird Records. In the meantime and directly after, the guys will continue to tour, spreading the magic that is Ludo.
Ludo visit the windy city again August 20th, performing at the Lakefront Pavilion at Northerly Island.
For more info on the band, visit their official website at: www.ludorock.com or check in at: www.myspace.com/ludorock .
Appearance Tag Line
|
|||
|
Web
Design By: All Rights Reserved © Hungry Mind Design 2005 |
|||
Imprint
their name into your brain, because this band is ready to explode.
