The Tripod

Issue date: 9/17/02 Section: Arts

Media Credit: Eliza Sayward Rusted Root jams in the Field House for enthusiastic Trinity crowd.

Last Saturday afternoon I began my job as arts editor by taking on an entirely new task: interviewing the lead singer of Rusted Root, Michael Glabicki, prior to the show he was to give that night in Ferris Athletic Center. Any nerves I had instantly vanished upon meeting Glabicki, whose demenor was friendly and relaxed. He chose the locale of the interview - the men's locker room - the uniqueness of which seemed fitting for such an eccentric musician. Rusted Root performed following opening performances by Zox and special guest Mike Dougherty as part of this year's "Volkswagen Music Education Tour." Rusted Root was founded in Pittsburgh, PA and consists of six members. Rusted Root has experience on the road as the opening act for such bands as The Grateful Dead, Santana and The Dave Matthews Band. Their blends influences from many cultures and defies the boundaries of traditional genre.



Tripod: Thank you for doing this.

Michael: Sure

T: I guess the first question is how did you guys get your name?

M: Well we were just sitting in our room. Trying to hurry and come up with a name for a gig that we had booked and um, then it just sort of like came out, you know somebody said rust somebody said root then somebody said Rusted Root.

T: Who are your musical inspirations?

M: Well, growing up you know the Beatles, the Stones, Cat Stevens and then I started listening to a lot of hard rock, some heavy metals stuff, you know Black Sabbath. Then I started to write music, and I listened to a lot of Peter Gabriel and U2. But when I first started to write music, I always tried to write music that didn't sound like anyone else. As soon as I said "that sounds pretty cool, that sounds like so and so, I would throw away the song."

T: How would you describe your music, do you put it in a particular genre?

M: I don't really know how to describe my music, sort of, I let other people do that, you know?

T: It is unique.

M: Yeah.

T: Specifically, what's the story behind Blue Diamonds?

M: Well, when I was two and a half years old, I was run over by a car and I was living in Florida and I was knocked unconscious. It was sort of in my unconsciousness that (I met this) celestial being; this angel, she comforted me and told me if I go back she'll stick around for the rest of my life and you know I came back.

Continued...

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