Top of the Mornin' to Rum Rebellion

Rum Rebellion is an Irish folk/street punk band from Portland, OR that started in early March of 2005. They started out playing mostly acoustic Celtic instruments and busking at the Portland Saturday Market and outside of punk shows to pay for entry and drinks. Eventually, they took on a drummer and bass player and plugged in to play shows. Rum Rebellion has played with some big bands, like Broken Bones, The Tossers and The Real McKenzies. In the fall of 2006, they released Cruisin’ for a Boozin’. In 2008, they released a split album with Hammered Grunts: Pick Yer Poison. Recently, they put out a full length release called Blackwater. They are also working on another full length album for release this year. Since their first album, Rum Rebellion has toured extensively throughout the West Coast and a few times around the U.S.

    Rum Rebellion is set to play at Tempe Tavern on Wednesday, August 14th at 8 PM. The show is free and for the 21 or older crowd. Also playing are Darrow Chemical Company, a New Jersey-based pop-punk band. Also playing are local Celtic rockers Cockswain, Cottonwood’s Hardcore punkers Unstable Youth and local Irish folk/punk band Whiskey and the Barrels. Check out Rum Rebellion at Rumrebellion.net. Here’s an interview I did with them:

I’m sure you all get asked about your name frequently. Obviously, y’all support that rebellion. How do you feel about the IRA, past and/or present?

Historically the English were oppressive to the Irish, and the IRA served an important function for Irish unification. It's more complicated today. Having never been to Northern Ireland, it's hard to have a truly informed opinion, but overall we're for it - people fighting for their homes and their rights.

Some might also be aware that Rum Rebellion is the name of an album released by one of your influences: Mutiny (Australia). Have any of you had the pleasure of seeing them live?

We've never seen Mutiny perform, they have never been to the US and we've never been to Australia. Hopefully if we can tour there in the future we can set up some shows with them.

So, y’all started out acoustic before plugging in. Obviously, there are advantages to playing acoustic and plugged when it comes to punk. Which do you prefer?

We pretty much only play plugged in these days. Drums, bass, and electric guitar have become an integral part of the band. Personally I enjoy both, but without a lot of traditional instruments performing with us it's hard to play acoustic.

Where did you get the idea to start out acoustic?

We started out acoustic because those were the instruments we had at the time - fiddle, tin whistle, bouzouki, and acoustic guitar. The whole idea was to bring a punk sound out of traditional instruments. Since then, the project has evolved.

You also started out busking, which can be VERY helpful, especially on tour. Do y’all still busk?

We generally don't busk on tour these days because the whole group can't participate - when we tour the only acoustic instruments we have are tin whistle and guitar.

I just watched your video on Blank TV. Did you expect this popularity in the punk community or has it been a long time coming?

The band's popularity has picked up over time. So far 2013 has been a great year for the band, starting with an awesome tour of Oregon and California, followed by the video, and now a larger summer tour of 10 states.

So, y’all have played with Celtic and oi bands, among others. Has there been much connection with modern folk/punk?

Rum Rebellion has a different approach to folk punk than the more Appalachian / Klezmer / Zydeco sound that gypsy folk punk bands and travelers tend to play. We currently do not have as many traditional instruments as we would like - it's been very difficult to find really solid players who have both the technical and stylistic abilities we're looking for and also the availability to practice and perform regularly.

Now, traditional Celtic music has definitely had an impact on your style. I’m sure that the Northwest is a fairly large hub for Celtic folk. Is there much of a good community for it in PDX and is Rum Rebellion appreciated by it?

Rum Rebellion has an amazing following in Oregon. A lot of street punk kids come to our shows. When the band started in 2005, there were a lot of celtic and folk punk bands in the Northwest. Now almost every one of them has broken up, so these days it's hard for us to find groups with similar styles to share bills with in the NW.

Have any of you, individually or as a band, got to play in Ireland?

We're planning to tour Europe next summer, but at this point none of us have ever been to Ireland.

Of course, bands like The Pogues, The Clash and Mutiny are influences. What are some other influences for Rum Rebellion?

McDermott's Two Hours is a more obscure celtic band that all of us listen to a lot. We're also big fans of The Zydepunks from New Orleans. Generally though our influences are more punk and oi, bands like Street Dogs, Oxymoron, The Business, and Cocksparrer.

With more incorporation of traditional instrumentation, do you see more involvement in the folk/punk community or do you maybe see it as setting you apart from the street punk community?

Rum Rebellion has a different approach to folk punk than the more Appalachian / Klezmer / Zydeco sound that gypsy folk punk bands and travelers tend to play. We currently do not have as many traditional instruments as we would like - it's been very difficult to find really solid players who have both the technical and stylistic abilities we're looking for and also the availability to practice and perform regularly.

We see ourselves as offering something unique to the street punk community more so than involvement in the folk/punk community. Most of our fans are street punk kids - mohawks and spiky jackets or anti-racist/trad skinheads, and that's how most of us grew up as well.

What’s your impression of mainstream versus underground music?

Most mainstream music is overproduced - there's not a lot of musical substance. We all have our few guilty pleasures, but the underground scene is just so much more real.

If you could pick any bands to play a show with, past and/or present, what would your dream line-up be?

Playing with Cocksparrer would be a dream come true. Perkele and Greenland Whalefishers as well.

Where do y’all see yourselves evolving as a band?

We want more traditional instruments in the band to fill out that part of the sound. Ultimately we want a sound that is dynamic, expressive, and layered. Every musician should have their chance to shine, and listeners should get to hear changing volumes, feels, styles, and  combinations of instruments throughout an album or a live set - that's part of what makes good music interesting and fun to play.

Touring is really the best way to get out there as a band, so we are looking into the East Coast, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, and SE Asia.

~Garyn Klasek