You definitely have heard Rusted Root before. You may not recognize the name, but within seconds of listening to the song "Send Me on My Way," your mind will swell with images of your youth and flashes of movies such as Matilda or, more recently, Ice Age. So what is it about Rusted Root, the seemingly one-hit-wonder band from our childhood, that inspires this article? Well, after watching the group live at The Jefferson last week, it turns out that despite its deep roots in the history of the music industry, there is no rust in sight for these talented musicians.
Founded in Pittsburgh in 1988 by lead singer and guitarist Michael Glabicki, Rusted Root has maintained its distinct sound throughout the past three decades, clearly feeling no pressure to change as it continues to crank out great music. The group's sound is genuinely its own as it embodies a distinctive fusion of rock, acoustic and eclectic tunes with hints of musical styles from across the globe. To put it simply, Rusted Root is the epitome of a good, old-fashioned jam band.
At last week's show, Rusted Root shook up Charlottesville as it played to a large, excited crowd downtown at The Jefferson. The night was full of bouncing and bumping to the range of instruments which the band whipped out throughout the show. The instrumentation ranged from banjos to maracas to bongos, and I cannot forget the moment when female vocalist and percussionist Liz Berlin wore and played a metal washboard on her chest. This band seriously rocks.
Not one song failed to bring the whole audience to its feet, bouncing to the beat. Fan favorites were staples among the set list, including "Ecstasy," and of course "Send Me on My Way," to which the whole audience chimed in to mumble along the words which - let's be honest - nobody actually knows. Toward the end of the night, the band even spiced up a cover of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." After teasing the crowd by exiting the stage, the band returned for a short encore, then finally ended the night with a classy bow.
Without a doubt, the highlight of my night came soon afterward while the crowd was shuffling out. I had the honor of hopping onto the tour bus behind the venue to chat briefly with Glabicki and instrumentalist Colter Harper. Given this opportunity, I asked the two a question I always have wondered about bands which seem to have just one hit: "Do you ever get sick of playing 'Send Me on My Way?'" After a pause, Glabicki confidently responded, "I don't... I don't think I do, no."
I then asked another question that I couldn't help but think about throughout the entirety of the show as I found myself surrounded by a mix of hippies, businessmen, moms and more dreadlocked persons per capita than I ever had encountered: "What do you think when you see such a diverse crowd?" Glabicki's response was a heartfelt and unpredictably authentic one: "I think it's great. We're all kind of the same no matter how you dress us up. Music is the equalizer."
Overall, the night was fantastic, and the same can be said about the band. Rusted Root is an all-embracing, gifted, and satisfying band that anyone can enjoy. Have a listen or two - to something other than "Send Me on My Way" - and I bet you'll agree.
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