RNDM: Acts

RNDM (pronounced simply “random”) features songwriter/artist Joseph Arthur, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, and drummer Richard Stuverud, who has performed with the Fastbacks and War Babies, and could be considered a supergroup simply because of the big names therein. But “supergroup” is just too flaky a word to be applied to these three creative, seasoned musicians. Their partnership began when the three men met at a gig over ten years ago; Ament and Stuverud were playing together in a band called Three Fish and Arthur opened for them. Arthur stayed in touch with Ament over the years and was even invited to play at Pearl Jam’s exclusive 20th anniversary concert in Alpine Valley, WI over Labor Day weekend last year.

The group’s debut “Acts” gets released on Monkeywrench Records October 30th. At first blush, the album has a fairly straightforward rock sound, absent of the loop pedals and spoken word that Arthur seems to favor on a lot of his solo recordings. Many of the tracks are upbeat and almost anthemic and actually reminds me quite a lot of those late-80s, early 90s Jeff Lynne-produced Tom Petty records. The insanely catchy “The Disappearing Ones” and some wilder tracks like “Look Out!” and “Throw You To the Pack” keep this record from getting too meandering. I really enjoyed the falsetto vocal harmonies and hand claps that snuck out from behind choruses like on the stand-out tracks “Hollow Girl” (my favorite) and “Williamsburg.” Arthur, himself, sounds relaxed; his strong, versatile voice fitting in comfortably with Ament’s clean, driving bass-lines and Stuverud’s solid, no-frills drumming.

The band starts their 18-date North American tour next month, even making a stop at the 7th Street Entry on November 15th! I (along with many others, probably) am really curious to see Jeff Ament perform original material outside his usual Pearl Jam stuff, something I’m sure he relishes seeing as how monolithic the 90s-era veterans have become. And I had the distinct pleasure of watching Joseph Arthur play a wonderful set (and paint onstage!) at the PJ20 event last year, so there is really no doubt that the RNDM show will be a unique and exciting one.