IPFW The Communicator – August 24, 2005

by Mary Allegre

This is the story of a Fort Wayne band called Rudisill, and the musical chronicle they want to openly share with the world. Scott Troyer (guitar, vocals), Nathan Hamlin (guitar, vocals), Daniel Wilton (bass, vocals), and Charles Thomas (drums, vocals) join forces to create (as their Myspace aptly says) “an angelic choir in the midst of a hurricane.”

The four members of Rudisill live in a house together and are currently adding new material to their already substantive song collection while recording an album, playing shows in the Midwest area, and getting ready for a tour to Ireland this fall. I was invited to the Recording House Studio to chat with Rudisill and observe their studio process as they recorded their debut album.

The men of Rudisill are bonded by their shared desire to create something different in the music world. Rudisill’s sound nicely combines gratifyingly edgy rock instrumentation with harmonizing, emotional vocals and a songwriting style that’s fresh and imaginative. Thomas confided that each member of the band is inspired by his fellow band mates and their unique musical perspectives and tastes. The result of this mutual admiration is a fulfilling blend of the best each musician has to offer, with ever-changing song structure and perception. All band members contribute their vocal talents: most songs have two or three lead vocal parts along with well-placed three-part harmonies.

Rudisill’s first album, entitled “Carbon Paper Treaties,” will be released in November and is the first in a series of three albums which complete a story.

Wilton says he likens the new album to the “corner of a picture, with the three completed albums being a whole piece of art.” The focus of Carbon Paper Treaties is a personal realization of what life’s about. The title makes reference to easily made promises and private conflicts. Troyer disclosed that the songs weren’t written with the whole piece of art concept as the original intention; the biggest challenge the band faced was deciding how to arrange the songs so the message and aural structure were concurrent.

I tried my best while at the studio to lay low and allow the musicians to concentrate on the recording process, happy to sit in the back of the studio and quietly observe. The band took time to connect with me and involve me throughout the process by asking about my musical opinions while in a fast-paced studio environment. As I left the studio, (after several times attempting to leave and then being happily drawn back in because “You just have to hear the all-out jam on this song, Mary.”) I felt glad that I was a part of the process in some way. It was a unique experience to witness the band as they recorded their first album and shared their passion for music and stories with me.

Now is an excellent time to catch this band live, as they are high-energy, full of hope and excitement, and on the brink of something fantastic. Rudisill will be performing at the televised Project Rockstar show at Birdy’s Bar & Grill in Indianapolis on August 25th and will also play here in Fort Wayne at Seeker’s Coffeehouse on September 9th.
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