The Old Men Are Alright

The scene is Shelton resident Dave Broder's garage.

It is a Sunday afternoon, and Old Man Noises are rehearsing new material. The band is also working on a new stage configuration, in which keyboardist Rich Mealey gets to stand out front with guitarists Mike Ruscoe and Dave, while I am taking the place Rich left behind next to Anthony Riskalla on the drums. As I watch the band from a new corner of the garage, (and the squirrels outside through a nearby window) I think about how far we have come in just over a year since our formation.

In August of 2009, I was working one day at . Dave, who co-owns the shop with his wife, Dorothy, told me he was getting some friends together (via reuniting with them through Facebook) to reform an old band from high school. They needed a bassist and he asked if I played. I told him I had a bass, but I hadn't really given it any thought. I'd been playing drums since I was 9 years old, and guitar since I was 17, but the newly acquired bass I'd gotten at the turn of the year was just sitting in my room. He told me the guys were going to practice soon, and that I should come by with the sorry instrument and "have a bash" as Dave put it. 

So, one early September evening I ventured up to the garage with my black and white Fender P-Bass and a 10 watt amp. I learned a few songs Dave gave me a head's up about, and was eager to meet the other guys. It didn't even dawn on me the age difference between us all, being that I was still in college and these guys had mortgages and kids. I set up my barely audible amp and poked along as best I could. 

By March 2010 we had developed a good musical chemistry and word was getting out about us. After our first show at the in Shelton, we felt confident that we were on the right path to rocking the roof off any building we entered. Over the next few months, we saw many stages, did photo shoots, had articles written about us in various papers and built quite a following. We've become a fun and lively act, playing the best songs of the 1960's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Our shows are a dancing good time and everyone leaves with a smile. 

It has been an awesome year playing music with these guys. We have our debut single coming out soon, and will be at Rowley's in Norwalk on Dec. 3. I've been a member of plenty of bands, but the uniqueness and humor of Old Man Noises gives us a character not many others have. We are here to entertain and we are here to keep great music alive. These old men are alright. 

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