Stevie Wonder gives band a break
By David Scott Farr
fw tQngon Dt&iy f n>«*akl
After four years of selling Stevie Wonder
albums. Ricardo Ojeda may have the favor
returned.
Ojeda learned about the music industry from
working behind a record store cash register while
performing for a Portland funk hand, Rubberneck
The band, which performs n Latin and funk
hybrid it has named "L.unk," has attracted alien
tion from some industry veterans.
Wonder was impressed enough to produce and
bankroll the band's debut album.
Ojeda and his younger brother Pablo ( rented a
primitive species of Rubberneck four years ago.
after ()jeda coin meed Pablo to trade ins guitar for
a bass and some lessons
Rubberneck started booking paid performances
two years ago, surviving canceled gigs and early
lineup changes. The time the band served eventu
ally paid off.
The Mount Tabor Theater, Key Largo and the
X-Ray Cafe served as early territory for Rubber
neck. gaining it a small following and the chance
to improve its material.
The eight-member band desperately needed
larger stages at bigger venues. With the addition of
a percussionist and a four-piece horn section. Rub
berneck crowded smaller stages. The hand found
needed space on its frequent.trips to Seattle, usu
ally performing at the Phoenix Underground. This
year. Rubberneck landed at Portland's I .a Luna for
the first time, opening for Eugene's The Daddies
The band released a demo cassette, titled Sun
pie, and appeared on the compilation Northwest
Ungmnged last summer. Ojeda and the band
decided they needed to record again soon after He
reserved dates at a Portland recording studio
despite the band's lack of funds.
In oarly April. Ojeda invited a friend to a Rub
berneck performance at Mark's Hawthorne Pub
Ojeda knew Uw Garrett, a veteran songwriter, from
‘We’ve don’t have to dream
anymore because it’s here.
We’re here. Now what do we
doT
Ricardo Ojeda,
Rubberneck member
his regular v isits to the record store where Ojeda
works Garrett told Wonder about Kuhlmmn k after
attending the i.om eri
' It s perfet t, almost too perfect All the inusu
we grew up to, and it just happens that he wrote
most of it,' Ojeda said about Garrett, who wrote
Signed. Sealed. Delivered, I'm Yours" and n num
ber of other songs with Wonder
Kubbemei k awaits Wonder's production of the
\2 original songs it finished recording this week
Garrett planned on finam ing the hand's ns ordings
and having Wonder produi e the album
However, Wonder offered to produce and pnv
for the recordings after talking witfi < iarrett, ()|e
da said
It was really weird how easv it was to tell the
studio. Bill it to Stev ie,' " Ojeda said of n day of
recording
Ojeda and Pablo hope their date with Wonder
next weekend will not l>e canceled Production has
been delayed twice but has lieen resi heduled for
May 14
Rubberneck departs for its European tour May
11. regardless of the production outcome Mem
bers of the bond are quitting their day jobs and
planning to return in August Rubberneck contin
ues to perform three to four gigs a week, including
a stop at the KMU Beer Gardens on Friday
"We've spent our whole life dreaming about it,
and here's the opportunity," Ojeda said We don't
have to dream anymore because it's here We're
here Now what do we do?"
Komitsm t &scANmsi
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A1PHA rAU OMEGA. cut ruRAl fORUM AM) MOA PRESt N! THE FIRST ANNUAL
UIIIAU PAKiy
TO BENEFIT THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION
HOW TO IK) IT ALL:
I Come to the E MU Beer (tauten on May 6th, 1994 at 6 00, or
you van buy a ticket from any member of AIT) Iralcrnit)
* I ntcr to win a trip lor two lo Reno lor one dollar, enter as many i
tones as yiwi like
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