Get ready to rock-out and have a wicked good time with the grungy sounds of “Rust”, an up-and-coming garage band formed in January of 2014. These rock stars in the making are grabbing the attentions of middle/high school students in love with the infectious wave of raw energy that the band exudes. Dylan Rex (vocals & lead guitar), Alessandro Consuelos (lead guitar), Zachary McDonald (bass), and Michael Mazzucco (Drums) round out the four-piece garage/post-punk band hailing from Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their song “Hello Darling”, featured on a recently released EP entitled “Basement Tapes”, is recorded and engineered by Aaron Long who delivers on a clean mix that juxtaposes the dirty-grit Jack-White-like feel of the track. This genre of music inherently embodies an amateurish element of rawness but these guys are far from shabby when it comes to the execution of their talents and abilities!
On the header of their Bandcamp page “Rust” can be seen in ‘their element’, practicing in the garage. Practice does indeed make perfect but such perfection is predicated on the type of chemistry and communication that the collective has honed in their short two-year span as an organized band. These guys gel so well that it’s sure to take the average ear multiple listens to realize the perfect timing of each instrumental element, which rhythmically sustains the driving vocal. It’s no doubt that these guys have put in hours of practice in the garage. All throughout the song you can feel the in-step unification of each band mate.
“Hello Darling” feels like a rollercoaster traveling at light speed through a galaxy of grunge only making momentary pit stops to slow and take in the atmosphere. The song begins with a 2-bar anthemic rift and a drum percussive hop that subtly lulls you into an easy drift before leading into the core groove of the song, which instantly gets the adrenaline pumping! You’ll be at full tilt by the time you reach the chorus where a dead drop and a rad drum roll enters you into a psychedelic sway. The intensity of the percussion eases up on the bridge to make way for a crisp guitar solo that adds a unique flare and character to the song. Albeit and enjoyable experience to ‘listen’ to “Rust”, this is definitely a band that you’ll want to experience live and in-person!
By Kyle Williams – Exposed Vocals Music Reviewer
I’m an all-around music lover with an expansive music taste pallet and writer/lyricist in love with the art form of rhythm-and-poetry (rap). I have an extensive background in marketing and as of June 2015 I am an Internet Marketing (B.A.) Graduate. I’ve hosted live music events in the Metro Detroit Area and have worked with some of the best independent music artist that my birthplace has to offer.
Exclusive Interview:
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Rust: We’re all from Allentown, PA. We met in high school through different means. I (Dylan Rex) started writing songs in ’13 and wanted to get a band together. The first person I thought of was Michael Mazzucco on drums. Next I got Patrick Strobel on bass and Daniel Masetti on saxophone. These were both close high school friends. We called ourselves Rust. We had a few practices in my dad’s garage, but nothing ever pushed through. We needed a lead guitarist. I found out that Michael was a member of another band called The Noise on 309. They were a classic punk group. The Noise on 309 consisted of Alessandro Consuelos on guitar, Zachary McDonald on vocals, Nick Smith on bass, and Michael on drums. I first saw them live at the Party in the Park festival in Ontelaunee Park. I asked Alec soon after to play guitar for Rust. He agreed. After a few months of simply playing in my garage, and one single show at a friend’s birthday party, we decided that we needed to go in a different direction. We decided that we were going to mesh the blues/folk rock style of Rust, and the hard, rebellious punky side of The Noise on 309. In this change of style we needed to change the bands lineup. Rust is now Dylan Rex on vocals and rhythm guitar, Alessandro Consuelos on lead guitar, Zachary McDonald on bass, and Michael Mazzucco on drums.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Rust: In Rust’s early form we were trying to find a name, and I suggested Dylan Rex and the Rust Belt Band. I wanted to have some reference to the Rust Belt region that we lived in. After little discussion we decided to name our group Rust. Our name Rust is a reflection of where we grew up. Allentown is very close to the city of Bethlehem, and Bethlehem is the city that housed the great Bethlehem Steel before its closure. The factories remains still stand over the city with a shadow of abandonment, decay, and heartache.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Rust: We have spent the past month giving our music away for free. At this stage, money is nice but it is more important to me that people download and enjoy our music and that it moves someone emotionally.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Rust: You have to get yourself out there. That’s really the biggest thing. People aren’t going to stumble upon your music. You have to offer it to them.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Rust: We have yet to make a mistake.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Rust: We do not tour.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Rust: We gather most of our inspiration from other bands, film, literature, and other forms of art. All songs are written by the entire band. One of us will come in with some lyrics and chords, then the rest of the band will flush the song out. We don’t really have a complex way of doing things.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Rust: We don’t have a legit website, but we are on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and Dreammy.org.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Rust: We currently have no equipment of our own. Our mixer has basic recording equipment. No upgrades though.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Rust: We just shoot our music out there. We’ve submitted our EP to more places than we can remember. It seems to be working so far.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Rust: We are all large Doors and Beatles fans. So I’ll have to go with The Doors at Hollywood Bowl, and The Beatles on the rooftop of Abbey Road studios.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Rust: We are hopefully releasing a live album with a music video in the near future. It’ll probably be dropped in early 2016.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Rust: I am currently a Film Production major at Hofstra University, Alessandro is an Economics major at Pennsylvania University, Zachary is a senior in high school, and Michael works a few jobs.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Rust: Alessandro: I actually bought two: DSOTM – Floyd and Paranoid – Black Sabbath (CDs). First vinyl record was Ramones S/T. They remain important to me. Dylan: My first vinyl LP was Dion and the Belmonts’ greatest hits. I got it from an antique shop near my house. I don’t remember the first album I ever purchased. I do remember raiding Target of all their Beatles albums in middle school though.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Rust: We all know when it’s time for the band to take the backseat. We’ve never really struggled with that aspect.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
Rust: We don’t have anything planned for 2015, but in early 2016 we are planning on releasing a live album and a music video to go along with it. Please keep your eyes and ears open.
