Baptism In Blue by Rude Dog

Having recently completed two national tours with Big Jack Johnson, Jimmi brought a new dimension to the band's chemistry, electrifying the Rhythm Revue with searing tone and dazzling guitar technique. You may recall that Jimmi was also a founding member of the Kelly Bell Band.

In 2001, Rude took the band into Invisible Sound Studios, Inc. in Baltimore to record the Rhythm Revue's debut album, "The Dog Is In The House". Released in October of 2001, the album features 7 originals and 4 cover tunes, ranging from funk, blues, and rock.

After completing their debut record, the band began to achieve greater notoriety in the Mid Atlantic Region. Local radio station WRNR 103.1 began playing the bands original tune “Crab Town Crawl” and put the song on the local artists radio play list. The song is also featured on “Damian’s Local Diner” on Thursday evenings and other cuts have been featured on WRNR’s Wednesday night blues show and the Saturday night R & B program. Rock radio station WIYY 98.1 has featured the song “They Call Me The Rude Dog” on their “Noise In The Basement” program on Sunday nights.

The band’s website, www.rudedog-network.com, launched an online jukebox that enabled web surfers everywhere to preview the songs from the album before purchasing. This has put the album in the hands of Rhythm Revue fans in 48 states and around the world.

In July of 2002, the band played the prestigious ARTSCAPE, and appeared at the Baltimore Book Festival, both sponsored by the City of Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts.

In late 2002, Rude began producing two more projects for the LaChica Records label. The first was a CD Sampler that featured a dozen or more local acts entitled "Baltimore on Tap," which was released in March of 2003. The second was an acoustic project entitled Baptism In Blue" that was finally released in 2004 and featured some of the local harmonica greats (including Mark Wenner of the Nighthawks) sitting in with Rude and the Rhythm Revue.

In 2004, Linwood Taylor began playing with Rude on a regular basis. In addition to regular club dates, the pair played the Maryland Seafood Festival and the Baltimore Book Festival and also Sundays in the Park for the Mt. Vernon Cultural District.

In September of 2004, Rude and several players from the first "Baltimore On Tap" CD got together to record a live CD entitled "Baltimore On Tap/Live at the Cat's Eye." The CD was released at a live show (fittingly at the Cat's Eye Pub") on January 20th, 2005. The CD is 70 minutes long and features Rude and his Rhythm Revue with special guests Linwood Taylor, Automatic Slim, Erik Olsen, P J Ellis, Lazy Lanny and Ursula Ricks, performing a dozen songs.

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Rude Dog pretty much sums it up in the liner notes to his album, BAPTISM IN BLUE. "This CD was recorded as a tribute to the many musicians that have influenced my playing over the years. These are the men that brought me down to the water and baptized me in the blues."

Most people will be familiar with the artists and the songs that Rude has chosen to cover. From people like Mississippi Fred McDowell, Elmore James and Slim Harpo, to more modern interpreters like the Rolling Stones, J. J. Cale and Paul Butterfield, its all tightly played and well executed with an emphasis on personal interpretation.

Armed with a guitar, bottleneck slide and a Dobro, Rude Dog and friends take you through a short history of the blues with tunes that run the gamut from the old like Howlin Wolf's, Who's Been Talkin' to the not so old, Moon Martin's Cadillac Walk. Rude Dog gets lots of help from the local blues community, with an appearance from the Nighthawks front man, Mark Wenner, who blows his usual mean harp on the Junior Wells tune, Kansas City Blues. Other folks helping out include Linwood Taylor and Automatic Slim along with 16 other sidemen who provide rock steady backing and help keep the sound varied throughout.

Originally from Chicago, Rude Dog has an obvious affinity for the sound of that city and it shows on Baptism In Blue, with that classic sound scattered about the album. Rude uses a variety of vintage instruments, so his sound at times has the quality of an old recording, very authentic and gritty. He is a capable guitarist with a range of styles. From the slow groove wah-wah on River Runs Deep to the delta slide sound of You Got To Move, and the country blues of No Expectations, Rude puts his own twist to the songs and the results are a very listenable collection of oft covered tunes. Spirited and enthusiastic, it's one man's endeavor to spread the word about the music he loves.

A side note: Rude Dog (A.K.A. Rudy Strukoff) is slowly and quietly building a small blues empire in Baltimore. As founder and president of LaChica Records, he has given a home to some great players that otherwise might have a chance to get their music widely heard.

Check out lachica-records.com for the complete LaChica Catalog and support the local blues scene.

~Michael Macey, Chesapeake Music Guide, November 2005

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"You're the man! What great tunes! You guys sound as good as anyone else we've heard and we've been to Buddy Guy's on Wabash Ave in Chi-town several times. It's great to see someone courageous enough to live their dream. My hat's off to you.

~Dr. Richard H., Berrien Springs, MI, February 2005

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"I must say your musical career is growing amazingly. One day me and a bud were waiting in a car for a dude (don't ask why), and we heard your song, The Prodigal Son on the radio. We were like, "Is that Rudy?" And were delightfully startled when the D. J. said it was."

Erik K., Baltimore, MD, June 2005

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Your BAPTISM IN BLUE is gritty, soulful, real, and in the pocket"

~Harrison Judd, Future History, April 2005

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