Hi Rudies, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
RuDeGiRL began and remains to this day to be about acts of friendship. When asked her secret ambition in an ice breaker session at work, Rumble Bee declared she wanted to learn to play punk guitar like The Clash, in a “girl” band like The Go Go’s. Once Candyhands caught wind of the conversation through a mutual friend and fellow founder, Denise, rehearsals were set into motion for a birthday gift to Rumble Bee : performing at the Triple Rock Social Club on Dec 22, 2007, which happened to coincide with the 5-year anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer. The show made the prestigious City Pages A-list and when the doors were opened, the line was around the corner for this “one-time only performance”. One look at the crowd and we all knew we had something special. The messages of The Clash still resonate today, so why not keep their messages alive through the lenses of American women singing, howling, screaming, playing electric guitars, bass, viola, accordion, clarinet, saxophone, drums, congas, the bucket, not to mention clapping and vibraslapping? The feedback we received was effusive and requests started trickling in for another show. We had all had so much fun, how could we refuse?
RuDeGiRL today is seven members strong and our foundation of friendship continues. The band includes:
Anne Welna (Viola Femme) – viola, vocals, cabasa (cheese grater), vibraslap, tambourine, hand clapping
BT Hanson (BT Opper)- drums
Deidre Caron (Dede Blades) – lead guitar, saxophone, clarinet, bucket
Emily Boigenzahn (RumbleBee) – rhythm guitar
Jenny Warner (Viper) – accordion, vocals, clarinet, hand drum, hand clapping
Jessie Bryan (Slampagne)- lead vocals, percussion
Jill Bartyzal (Candyhands) – bass, vocals
Some of us have known each other since high school and all of us had that little fire burning inside of us that was fueled by the idea of taking on such a challenging and fun musical project. Some of us had been playing our instruments for most of our lives and some of us were learning a new instrument just for this project, but our band culture was and still is, one of support and encouragement. At rehearsals, we’d laugh and applaud ourselves when we nailed a new song. We’d celebrate our life milestones and cry on each other’s shoulders at life’s heartbreaks. Our band was assembled as the most amazing birthday gift…one that fulfilled a friends’ dream that became a gift for all of us. We formed our band, mastered our instruments, and we get to perform powerful music that still resonates today.
So here we are, still going, nearly 18 years later. We all have a deep appreciation of The Clash’s catalog of music, for the collaborations with other local bands and the tribute scene here, and for each other.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our biggest challenge now is finding a time when all seven members are available. We all have our day jobs, and everyone in the group also performs in one or more other musical acts, mostly original music. We have evolved over time too – the RuDeGiRL family has grown: Once-single people are married, there are children and even grandchildren to juggle, but we all find a way to keep RuDeGiRL going. We’ve learned that a healthy balance in life includes honoring ourselves, showing our kids how we pursue our passions, and that you’re never too old to rock. We’ve played through the hard stuff too: Covid, divorce, break-ups and illness. We’ve learned not to sweat the small stuff in the band, and just make sure we’re having a good time and keeping our passions alive.
Another challenge we’ve experienced is sexism, in a music industry that has been long-dominated by men. Do we know how that pedal works? How to turn on the amp? Carry the amp? We’re sometimes met with surprise and delight that we can even play our instruments well, not to mention rock The Clash like no one else.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
RuDeGiRL is a tribute band performing music created by the band The Clash. Our name is a play on words of a Clash film, Rude Boy. The term Rude Boy or Rude Girl originates from Jamaica and means a lawless urban youth who likes ska or reggae music. Some tribute bands attempt to both perform note for note and dress like the original band. We instead are an interpretation of The Clash’s catalog leveraging all the different instruments we have in our arsenal. An accordion or viola might cover a lead guitar lick. Straight to Hell incorporates a bucket into the sound. The Clash’s work spans many musical genres including punk, rock, reggae and ska. We are blessed to have members that play multiple instruments including horns, so we are able to recreate some of The Clash’s reggae and ska tunes, such as Rudie Can’t Fail, This is Radio Clash and Wrong ‘Em Boyo.
What does success mean to you?
Wow, there are so many different ways to measure success. We’ve played the main room at First Avenue three times. We recorded and issued a vinyl record, RuDeGiRL: Songs of the Clash Volume One. We’ve been played on the radio in New Zealand. We’ve seen folks we don’t know wearing our merchandise out in the world. We’ve played at Roy Wilkins Auditorium for a Minnesota Roller Derby game. We’ve played many of our favorite venues around town. We even toured in France. We’re currently saving up for a tour in England. We’ll definitely have Safe European Home on that set list.
Ultimately, though, RuDeGiRL is about keeping the spirit and music of The Clash alive and watching it touch our audience. We notice when we surprise someone at our show, when folks are smiling and dancing. We’ve had grateful Clash fans tell us that they thought they’d never again hear these songs live, especially some of the deeper cuts. Fans often share their favorite Clash memories and even memorabilia with us. We’d say success is rocking our gigs and stepping off stage and feeling exhausted and like a million bucks, feeling grateful for the amazing friendships and music and energy collaboration we get to create together. And if feeling the energy of people coming out to hear our shows is success, then our cup is full.
We’ve come a long way as musicians since we first began. We’ve learned to navigate how to honor the essence of The Clash’s music while sprinkling in a little of our own souls and sometimes we still applaud ourselves when we’ve really nailed a song.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rudegirl.bandcamp.com/album/rudegirl-songs-of-the-clash-volume-1
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudegirlmpls/?locale=fr_FR
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rudegirlmpls/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYOpB3FK4cw
Image Credits
Paul Lundgren
