Rusted Root seeks Richmond inspiration

Pittsburgh-based sextet Rusted Root
is bringing its funky worldly blend to
Toad’s Place Wednesday. Rusted Root
front man and founder Michael Glabicki
will be seeking a bit more than decent
crowd response that night.

“Richmond is our last stop before we
go into the studio and record our next
record. We’re expecting a lot from you
guys,” Glabicki said, laughing.

Although the band released a live
album back in 2004, titled “Rusted Root
Live,” the band’s last studio album was
“Welcome to My Party,” which came
out in 2002.

Glabicki, who has been on tour
with the band since March 17, said the
momentum leading up to the show at
Toad’s Place is building steadily.

“(The) tour has been going great.
We’ve been playing a lot of new material
and we’ve been getting a great response
from the crowd, so we’re happy,”
Glabicki said.

The band, which debuted in 1992
with the album “Cruel Sun,” has been
touring heavily ever since-focusing on
a style of rock that is a fusion of the ’60s
revolutionary generation and the roots
styles of East Asia and Africa.

This rudimentary understanding of
rhythm is a driving force in the creativity
and stage presence of Rusted Root.

“I think African roots music is pretty
much infused in all of us right now.
We’re all very interested in listening to
African music and such,” Glabicki said.
“What we needed to have learned from
the African drumming is kind of second
nature to us now, and it’s infused in
the guitar rhythms, the percussion, the
drums and the bass.”

The ’60s revolutionary aspect of the
band has been visible since its inception
during the first Gulf War, and its pro-peace
stance has been continuously evident.

“When we were first going out and
playing, about 50 percent of our shows
were for political benefits or some kind of
benefit,” Glabicki said. “For me personally,
I’ve been more prone to anti-war campaigns
since I was in high school. I’ve been doing
a few benefits with Iraqi veterans against
the war and flew out to D.C. and Colorado
to play shows. It’s just powerful to see the
people that have the balls in this country
and those with no brains.”

That energy is still present in the band’s
creative process partly because of a recent
surge in political activity.

“It seemed like that sort of energy had
gone away for a while in this country. Now
things seem to be coming back: Barack
Obama and these grassroots campaigns.
People are starting to realize how much
power they have now. There’s a lot of
excitement there, which is a breeding
ground for creativity.”

Rusted Root will be blowing the roof off
Toad’s Place Wednesday at 8 p.m. for an
all-ages show featuring One Flew South.
Admission is $25. Visit Toadsplacerva.com
or Rustedroot.com for more information.