Rudy & the Pacè Family Orchestra have just released their first EP, but you’d never be able to tell. There’s a sense of musical maturity present on Vanguard that cleverly disguises this fact. Frontman Rudy Pacè sings about these trials with the conviction of someone who carries the weight of experience. Even if that isn’t true, it just means he’s found a talent in making anything sound believable. The instrumentation from the fellow band members seriously meshes, each part fitting together to form a well-polished puzzle. All in all, an impressive feat for a group who only has a handful of years under their belt.
The EP consists of five tracks, though two of them, “Greyhound” and “Sudden Changes”, were previously released as singles. These tracks bookend the record, easing us in with a sense of familiarity before similarly sending us off in the end.
Leaving things behind is a major theme the band touches on throughout the EP. “Greyhound”, as you might glean from the title, laments the loss of home, while “Sour Taste” laments the loss of time, of joy. Both are handled with great insight and care. They’re feelings everyone can relate to, and the group does a good job of getting that fact across.
The group takes a moment to explore more political territory as well. “Broken Bones” is a heavy track that breaks down the prejudice that’s sadly still all too common in our society. The instrumentation sounds like something out of a gun fight in the wild west, especially when combined with Pacè’s gruff and impassioned vocals. The language is jarring in its realism, which only succeeds in driving the morals of the song home.
It isn’t all doom and gloom. With “One For You”, the group manages to throw an upbeat love song our way, singing the praises of a girl with rock and roll in her soul. It’s a refreshing addition in the midst of tracks majoritively dealing with cutting ties with your past and the heaviness that life can throw at you.
The EP feels over in the blink of an eye, but a lot of ground is covered from start to finish. Pacè and company are very careful and deliberate with their use of the time, with no room for fluff. The result is five, polished tracks that would make a great beginning to any band’s discography.
Tour Dates:
11.01.19 – Halifax, NS @ The Carleton EP Release
11.02.19 – Moncton, NB @ Tide & Boar
11.16.19 – Sydney, NS @ Governor’s Pub