issue 5 || July 2015
RUBY FORCE
Introducing the LYRIC
Collection
BANDIT T OW N
www.RootsRevivalCo.com
In This Issue RUBY FORCE
BANDIT TOWN
the LYRIC collection
Featured Products • Upcoming Events
RUBY FORCE The Who
The Inspiration
My name is Erin McLaughlin and I play music under the moniker Ruby Force. I’ve been around, traveling and learning but I’ve spent most of my life in Southern California.
I can’t think of a particular noun, which has served as a singular inspiration to do this stuff. I’ve just always known (whether or not I’m totally comfortable with it at any given time) that I was meant to stand on a stage. Music gives meaning and place to that compulsion. I feel like if I work hard enough to write great material, it’s a worthy endeavor for a number of reasons.
The Why Music is another realm for me beyond the objective obvious. There are rules but not really. I get to play at creator, which is fun but ultimately humbling, and I get to meet and make stuff up with other strange and wonderful art-types. Also, singing is comforting. The sounds I make when I sing are coming straight from that alternate realm I mentioned and are expressing far more than a pseudo-intellectual rant.
The Vision I just want to keep on making stuff; songs, stories, drawings, friends, records, harmonies, memories, poems, real break-throughs etc. till I leave this world. I’ll just see where that takes me and then if anyone else can relate to what they find through me, or maybe sing along, that would be fantastic.
Favorite Place I’m trying to be most in love with the present moment presently in terms of place. So for “now” that means the guest bed at my Mom’s in Yucaipa CA, writing for an interview in a magazine that’s gonna spread the word about Ruby Force and her music. Not a bad place to be at all. It’s totally my favorite.
When You’re Not Making Music Traveling and living on the cheap… It’s good for me not to feel too comfy all the time. Dancing. Reading. Arting. Chilling. Playing catch.
Indulgence Candy. Weird candy that obsessive 8 year olds spend their entire allowance on. I’m talking, gummy cheeseburgers, Squeeze Pops and Sour Octopus stuff. That’s my jam. Oh, and pizza of course. Click the image above to listen to Ruby’s playlist “Music That’s All Up In My Mind Space Right Now” featuring Nina Simone, Beyonce, Sam Outlaw, Iris Dement and more.
Secret Weapon If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret or very effective.
Stories to Share? Indeed, several. They’re all in the music, I promise. (wink)
Find Ruby Force here: www.rubyforcemusic.com Tweets: @ruby_force Insta: @rubyforce Facebook: www.facebook.com/rubyforcemusic
BANDIT TOWN The Beginning
The Events
It was 100% accident/fate. I was in LA seeing Death Angel play at The Whiskey with my best friend and another friend of mine, Mitra from the brand Midnight Rider texted that her and Shooter Jennings were up the street at The Rainbow and to come have a drink with them.. that turned into “come up to Bodie with us in the morning at 8 am we are filming Shooters video in a ghost town”… which turned into “sure what the hell”…
The events so far are usually Holiday Weekend campouts and a few private events... Weddings etc. I try to make it an intimate place to see/hear music, sell your wares, eat yummy food and relax and hang out. I will be doing more events once we are done with a bunch of work we need to do here.
So I drove the 6 or so hours and about a third of the way there we stopped for a drink and while I was waiting outside the restaurant/bar I just happened to thumb through the local Yosemite Real Estate Guide and came across a property listed inside that read “own your own western town” which I immediately started freaking out about, especially because the whole town was about the same price as a small boring house anywhere else in California. Having zero $ in the bank stopped me from going there immediately but I couldn’t stop thinking about it, I was obsessed so months later I decided I had to see it in person. When I got there they had just dropped the price to ridiculous and I asked if they could finance me and they said yes and it all came together. It was for sale for 18 years and I have to think it was waiting for me. I’m absolutely still mind blown that I pulled it off. {Jen - Mayor, Sheriff & Janitor of Bandit Town, Owner of Bandit Brand}
The Vision It is ever evolving but mostly what I would like to do is create a place to hang out that feels a lot like life did when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s. The vibe and music and laid back style party as opposed to the crazy festival style madness. I am also big on handmade and made in the USA and meaningful work so it will also be a place where people can sell or promote their wares like they did in real old western towns. We are working on 8 guest rooms and hoping to add trailers, cabins and teepees so that people can come stay the weekend and really enjoy the area. North Fork is an awesome little town free of chain stores with lots of cool spots to swim, hike, lay around, whatever....
Click the image above to listen to Jen’s playlist featuring Merle Haggard, Stevie Nicks, Waylon Jennings and more.
Bandit Brand Tee “Good girls go to heaven Bad girls go to Bandit Town� Find Bandit Town and Bandit Brand here: www.banditbrand.com www.bandittownusa.com Facebook.com/BanditBrand Facebook.com/bandittownusa banditbrand.tumblr.com
Nikki Lane
Introducing...
The Lyric Collection Jewelry inspired by the music of our lives.
The Lyric Collection is a new collection of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces inspired by song lyrics. Lyrics are chosen from songs spanning folk and country to alternative and rock music. It may be a line or two that stands out when approaching the song from a visual perspective or something abstract that creates a spark or connection. The designs are inspired by the lyrics and music, sometimes with a clear association while others may be based more on a feeling or designed around a stone or object that seemed fitting. The pieces are created using materials such sterling silver, copper, brass, leather, gemstones and found objects. Each piece is packaged in a hand sewn leather pouch which features the song lyrics that inspired the piece.
Join the Revival The Lyric Collection are all one-of-a-kind pieces, which means no other pieces will be made just like it or made for those specific lyrics. If you would like to be notified of new pieces as they are released, before social media and before they are available to anyone else, sign up for the mailing list at: www.rootsrevivalco.com/join-the-revival
Above: “Born with the moon in Cancer Choose a name she will answer to Call her green and the winters cannot fade her” Little Green, Joni Mitchell Left: “Ain’t nothing but a stranger in this world” Astral Weeks, Van Morrison Right: “Give me the beat boys, and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock & roll and drift away” Drift Away, Dobie Gray
Featured Products
Good girls go to heaven Bad girls go to Bandit Town Racerback Tank
Bandit Town Steer Racerback Tank
Bandit Town Northfork, CA Muscle Tee
Little Green Silver & Turquoise Necklace Bandit Town Steer Men’s Tee
You’re nobody in North Fork Men’s Tee
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Click on description to purchase.
Upcoming Events Find Roots Revival Co. Here: (Click image for more info & to rsvp)
www.RootsRevivalCo.com