The ROmantic Ruffians

Delivering the Drama

The Romantic Ruffians are a thoughtful, stylistically diverse Rhode Island-based art rock act. Founded in 2017, the band draws on classical, roots, jazz, experimental music, and various literary sources to create harmonically rich, dramatic, dreamlike songs with vividly descriptive, witty lyrics. With a kaleidoscopic penchant for shifting colors and moods, each song inhabits a distinctive emotional world and sonic landscape. While they tonally run the gamut from atmospheric to angular, there is remarkable cohesion to their work--a thematic unity and underlying tunefulness that might be described as “progressive pop.” 

The Romantic Ruffians create their expansive sound with economy, featuring Aaron Wade on lead vocals and keyboards, Don Farias on guitars, Sean Walsh on bass and vocals, and Mike Cahill on drums. Though piano is his preferred keyboard, Mr. Wade visits vintage synths, electric pianos, gospel organs, and even the harpsichord to evoke the desired harmonic texture. Vocally, he makes use of his natural bass-baritone and takes a conversational approach reminiscent of Paul Simon, Jeff Tweedy, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Cave. Mr. Farias offers a guitar voice informed by such disparate sources as Bill Frisell, Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), and late 70’s post-punk; though his is a voice rich in subtlety and understatement, it can also cut with surprising ferocity. Mr. Walsh provides a classic feel on the bass, with a steady, melodic style that puts the listener in mind of Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones, Roger Waters, and Berry Oakley. On drums, Mr. Cahill prefers an organic approach, delivering drum-line patterns, swirling 6/8 rhythms, Afro-Cuban montuno, straight-ahead backbeats, and creative grooves of his own devising with dexterity and dynamics. 

Their songs have been praised as "impeccably crafted and seriously fun," and reminiscent of a "dark carnival." Listeners have compared their sound to Wilco, David Bowie, The Doors, Steely Dan, King Crimson, and Radiohead. They recorded a six song demo in November of 2018, and have plans to record an LP within the next year and a half.