Middle Class Rut
Encyclopedia
Middle Class Rut, also known as MC Rut, is an American alternative rock
band consisting of vocalist/guitarist Zack Lopez and vocalist/drummer Sean Stockham. They were formed in Sacramento
, California
in December 2006. In 2010 they released their first full-length LP, No Name No Color
.
in 2000 when Lopez and Stockham were in their teens. Leisure came to an end in 2003 and, after taking a hiatus from performing, Lopez and Stockham came together again to form Middle Class Rut.
The band played its first major national tour in the fall of 2007 with Receiving End Of Sirens and Envy On The Coast
. Alternative Press reviewed MC Rut's live performance, saying “…it’s mind-blowing to witness the sheer depth and complexity of the sound these two guys are capable of unleashing on their own…but once the novelty subsides, you’re left with incendiary post-rock with visible traces of ‘90s alternative.” The Sacramento Bee, in a major feature this past spring, declared that “Middle Class Rut gives an intense spin to the adage that 'less is more.'” The band toured with Burning Brides
during July 2008 and 3
during October 2008.
In late 2007 Sacramento alternative rock station KWOD 106.5 FM (defunct) featured Middle Class Rut's "New Low" as part of its on-air local band feature. KWOD DJ/Music Director Andy Hawk received the submission direct from the band and KWOD DJ Rubin played "New Low" later that day. "New Low" reacted immediately and was quickly added to regular rotation. The song became one of the most requested of the year and KWOD developed a relationship with the band.
At the end of 2008, "New Low" was voted top song of the year by KWOD listeners in an on-line poll conducted by the station. Throughout 2008, Zack and Sean did numerous live interviews with KWOD DJs Rubin and Andy Hawk to promote local MC Rut shows. KWOD's parent company flipped the station's format in mid-2009 to an all 90s format. During a local show after the flip, Middle Class Rut singer/guitarist Zack Lopez made mention of it saying "there's been a death in Sacramento. KWOD 106.5 gave us and a lot of good local bands a chance to be heard by a much bigger audience than we could ever get on our own. So thank you KWOD, we'll miss you."
San Francisco alternative rock station Live 105 (KITS FM) and San Diego alternative rock station 91X also played "New Low."
The band released two self-titled EPs, referred to as the Red EP and the Blue EP due to their respective colors, in early 2008, as well as a limited-edition 7" in the UK on November 24, 2008 which featured "Busy Bein' Born" and "All Walks of Life."
In September 2008, the band came to the attention of BBC Radio 1
DJ, Zane Lowe
, who then featured their song, "Busy Bein' Born," as his Single of the Week during the week of October 20, 2008. In November 2008, the band was profiled in the Radar section of NME
magazine, which described them as "...epic noise alchemists...," and played a five-stop tour in London
, England
for the first time. On November 19, 2008 the band recorded a live session for BBC One in Studio Four of the BBC's Maida Vale Studios
. After this tour, Kerrang!
magazine wrote in its December 12, 2008 issue, "[Their] sound is nothing short of colossal, and one that a mere two-piece shouldn't be able to create, combining the boisterous swagger and pomp of Jane's Addiction and the feral fury of Rage Against the Machine.", and Rocksound's December 2008 Christmas issue pegged them as "Ones to Watch," saying, "Their debut double A-side single 'Busy Bein' Born'/'All Walks of Life' is a breath of fresh air in the midst of the musical stench that emo is now emitting."
On March 10, 2009, Zane Lowe of Radio 1 debuted a new song called 'I Guess You Could Say' and named it as his Hottest Record in the World. The song is featured on the new EP, 25 Years.
On May 1, 2009, Middle Class Rut performed at the 2009 Road Recovery Benefit show at the Nokia Theatre in New York.
During a concert in Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento,CA on June 19, 2009, lead singer Zack Lopez announced that Middle Class Rut would be releasing their debut album for which they had recently been recording new material. Lopez did not announce a release date.
Outside a concert in Montreal, QC on March 17, 2010, Zack said the new album was going to be out hopefully next summer.
Middle Class Rut opened for Social Distortion
at the end of 2009, and Alice In Chains
for the second half of their 2010 tour. They also opened for Them Crooked Vultures
in Los Angeles, CA on April 14, 2010 and Las Vegas, Nevada on April 17, 2010.
On October 4, 2010, Middle Class Rut released their full length album, No Name No Color
in the United States and November 22, 2010 in the UK.
On October 30, 2010, Middle Class Rut opened for Chevelle's 2nd night of the 10 Year Anniversary show at the Metro in Chicago, IL. Chevelle singer and guitarist Pete Loeffler
is a avid fan of Middle Class Rut.
On December 17, 2010, Middle Class Rut opened "The Night 89x Stole Christmas" show featuring Middle Class Rut, Sick Puppies
and My Chemical Romance
at the Fillmore in Detroit, MI.
In February, 2011, Middle Class Rut opened for 30 Seconds to Mars at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY.
On May 21, 2011, Middle Class Rut opened "DC101 Chili Cook-Off
" featuring Middle Class Rut, Paper Tongues
, Neon Trees
, Panic! at the Disco
, Papa Roach
, Seether
and Weezer
at RFK Stadium
grounds in Washington, D.C.
Middle Class Rut's single "Busy Being Born" was featured on EA Games NHL 12 soundtrack.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band consisting of vocalist/guitarist Zack Lopez and vocalist/drummer Sean Stockham. They were formed in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in December 2006. In 2010 they released their first full-length LP, No Name No Color
No Name No Color
No Name No Color has received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 76 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".-Track listing:#Busy Bein' Born - 4:47#USA - 3:33#New Low - 4:15...
.
Biography
Middle Class Rut was formed after the dissolution of Lopez and Stockham's previous band, Leisure, which was signed to Dreamworks RecordsDreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
in 2000 when Lopez and Stockham were in their teens. Leisure came to an end in 2003 and, after taking a hiatus from performing, Lopez and Stockham came together again to form Middle Class Rut.
The band played its first major national tour in the fall of 2007 with Receiving End Of Sirens and Envy On The Coast
Envy On The Coast
Envy on the Coast was an alternative rock band from Long Island, New York. They released their second album Lowcountry in March 2010.-History:...
. Alternative Press reviewed MC Rut's live performance, saying “…it’s mind-blowing to witness the sheer depth and complexity of the sound these two guys are capable of unleashing on their own…but once the novelty subsides, you’re left with incendiary post-rock with visible traces of ‘90s alternative.” The Sacramento Bee, in a major feature this past spring, declared that “Middle Class Rut gives an intense spin to the adage that 'less is more.'” The band toured with Burning Brides
Burning Brides
Burning Brides is an American hard rock band. They are partially known for their live performances, such as in 2000 playing selected dates as the opening band for The White Stripes...
during July 2008 and 3
Three (band)
Three was a post-hardcore band signed to Dischord Records.Originally composed of Ian Mackaye and Jeff Nelson along with Geoff Turner and Steve Niles of the band Gray Matter, Mackaye left the band quickly and was replaced by Mark Haggerty, also from Gray Matter. They formed in summer 1986 and broke...
during October 2008.
In late 2007 Sacramento alternative rock station KWOD 106.5 FM (defunct) featured Middle Class Rut's "New Low" as part of its on-air local band feature. KWOD DJ/Music Director Andy Hawk received the submission direct from the band and KWOD DJ Rubin played "New Low" later that day. "New Low" reacted immediately and was quickly added to regular rotation. The song became one of the most requested of the year and KWOD developed a relationship with the band.
At the end of 2008, "New Low" was voted top song of the year by KWOD listeners in an on-line poll conducted by the station. Throughout 2008, Zack and Sean did numerous live interviews with KWOD DJs Rubin and Andy Hawk to promote local MC Rut shows. KWOD's parent company flipped the station's format in mid-2009 to an all 90s format. During a local show after the flip, Middle Class Rut singer/guitarist Zack Lopez made mention of it saying "there's been a death in Sacramento. KWOD 106.5 gave us and a lot of good local bands a chance to be heard by a much bigger audience than we could ever get on our own. So thank you KWOD, we'll miss you."
San Francisco alternative rock station Live 105 (KITS FM) and San Diego alternative rock station 91X also played "New Low."
The band released two self-titled EPs, referred to as the Red EP and the Blue EP due to their respective colors, in early 2008, as well as a limited-edition 7" in the UK on November 24, 2008 which featured "Busy Bein' Born" and "All Walks of Life."
In September 2008, the band came to the attention of BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ, Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
, who then featured their song, "Busy Bein' Born," as his Single of the Week during the week of October 20, 2008. In November 2008, the band was profiled in the Radar section of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
magazine, which described them as "...epic noise alchemists...," and played a five-stop tour in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for the first time. On November 19, 2008 the band recorded a live session for BBC One in Studio Four of the BBC's Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios
Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
. After this tour, Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine wrote in its December 12, 2008 issue, "[Their] sound is nothing short of colossal, and one that a mere two-piece shouldn't be able to create, combining the boisterous swagger and pomp of Jane's Addiction and the feral fury of Rage Against the Machine.", and Rocksound's December 2008 Christmas issue pegged them as "Ones to Watch," saying, "Their debut double A-side single 'Busy Bein' Born'/'All Walks of Life' is a breath of fresh air in the midst of the musical stench that emo is now emitting."
On March 10, 2009, Zane Lowe of Radio 1 debuted a new song called 'I Guess You Could Say' and named it as his Hottest Record in the World. The song is featured on the new EP, 25 Years.
On May 1, 2009, Middle Class Rut performed at the 2009 Road Recovery Benefit show at the Nokia Theatre in New York.
During a concert in Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento,CA on June 19, 2009, lead singer Zack Lopez announced that Middle Class Rut would be releasing their debut album for which they had recently been recording new material. Lopez did not announce a release date.
Outside a concert in Montreal, QC on March 17, 2010, Zack said the new album was going to be out hopefully next summer.
Middle Class Rut opened for Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
at the end of 2009, and Alice In Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
for the second half of their 2010 tour. They also opened for Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
in Los Angeles, CA on April 14, 2010 and Las Vegas, Nevada on April 17, 2010.
On October 4, 2010, Middle Class Rut released their full length album, No Name No Color
No Name No Color
No Name No Color has received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 76 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".-Track listing:#Busy Bein' Born - 4:47#USA - 3:33#New Low - 4:15...
in the United States and November 22, 2010 in the UK.
On October 30, 2010, Middle Class Rut opened for Chevelle's 2nd night of the 10 Year Anniversary show at the Metro in Chicago, IL. Chevelle singer and guitarist Pete Loeffler
Pete Loeffler
Pete Loeffler is the lead guitarist and lead singer for the Chicago alternative metal band Chevelle. His vocal delivery varies from clean melodic singing to a gut-wrenching scream....
is a avid fan of Middle Class Rut.
On December 17, 2010, Middle Class Rut opened "The Night 89x Stole Christmas" show featuring Middle Class Rut, Sick Puppies
Sick Puppies
Sick Puppies is an Australian rock band, formed in 1997. The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Shimon Moore, bassist Emma Anzai and drummer Mark Goodwin....
and My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
at the Fillmore in Detroit, MI.
In February, 2011, Middle Class Rut opened for 30 Seconds to Mars at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY.
On May 21, 2011, Middle Class Rut opened "DC101 Chili Cook-Off
DC101 Chili Cook-Off
The DC101 Chili Cook-Off is an annual chili cookoff and rock concert sponsored by Washington, D.C. / Baltimore, Maryland radio station WWDC . Proceeds from the cookoff, traditionally held in Washington, D.C...
" featuring Middle Class Rut, Paper Tongues
Paper Tongues
Paper Tongues is an American rap rock band from Charlotte, North Carolina. The band consists of Aswan North , Devin Forbes , Joey Signa , Daniel Santell , Luke Anderson , Clayton Simon , and Cody Blackler...
, Neon Trees
Neon Trees
Neon Trees is an American alternative rock band from Provo, Utah, with origins in Murrieta, California. The band received nationwide exposure in late 2008 when they opened several North American tour dates for the rock band The Killers. Not long after, the band was signed by Mercury Records and...
, Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
, Seether
Seether
Seether is a post-grunge/alternative metal band from Pretoria, South Africa, formed in 1999. The band is currently signed to Wind-up Records...
and Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
at RFK Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
grounds in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Middle Class Rut's single "Busy Being Born" was featured on EA Games NHL 12 soundtrack.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart |
|---|---|---|
| US Heat |
||
| 2010 | No Name No Color No Name No Color No Name No Color has received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 76 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".-Track listing:#Busy Bein' Born - 4:47#USA - 3:33#New Low - 4:15...
|
22 |
Extended plays
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Middle Class Rut: Blue EP
|
| Middle Class Rut: Red EP
|
|
| Busy Bein' Born/All Walks of Life
Bright Antenna Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo... |
|
| 2009 | Busy Bein' Born/Start to Run
Bright Antenna Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo... |
| 25 Years
Bright Antenna Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo... |
|
| 2011 | Hurricane Hurricane (Middle Class Rut album) Hurricane is a 2011 10" Vinyl EP by Middle Class Rut, released June 23rd, 2011 under exclusive Worldwide license to Bright Antenna. The release features a cover of the 1975 Dylan/Levy song Hurricane as well as two live sessions of tracks off of the band's debut LP No Name No Color.-Track listing:A1... Bright Antenna Bright Antenna is a record label founded in 2007 and based in Oakland, California. One of the founders is author and filmmaker Tiffanie DeBartolo... |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Alt. |
US Main. |
US Rock Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
|||
| 2010 | "New Low" | 5 | 38 | 12 | No Name No Color No Name No Color No Name No Color has received generally positive reviews. On the review aggregate site Metacritic, the album has a score of 76 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".-Track listing:#Busy Bein' Born - 4:47#USA - 3:33#New Low - 4:15... |
| "Busy Bein' Born" | 21 | — | 47 |