No Alibi for Westborough Drummer

“My dad played drums, my brother and one of my sisters played as well.  I started playing at 17 years old,” recalled Kurt Ramm, a day before he and his band-mates in No Alibi hit the stage at, one of 30 to 40 shows the band plays locally each year.

Since 2004, Ramm, along with four other talented musicians, has kept the beat steady and the dance floor hopping around central Massachusetts. The band frequently appears on the club scene in Worcester and the surrounding area.

No Alibi band members include vocalist Dave Keating, guitarist Mark Strapponi, bassist David Mollica and keyboardist Mark Clement, who round out the band, which is well-known for the breadth and diversity of its set list.

Their Feb. 18 show at played to a packed house, with fans dancing to well-known hits  by Dave Matthews, Beck, Eminem, Michael Jackson, 3 Doors Down and Neon Trees, to name only a few.  Songs like “Faith” by George Michael and “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson were given a rock arrangement, as Ramm and the lead vocalist bantered with the crowd between numbers.  A promotional video was also being filmed at the show.

“No Alibi is basically a combination of two bands,” Ramm told Westborough Patch.  He and vocalist Dave had played together in a band which parted ways as another rock group which included future No Alibi members were looking for a vocalist and drummer. 

The group receives more than 2,000 hits a month on their official website (www.noalibirocks.com) and is approaching 1,000 fans on their official Facebook page.

Ramm counts Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and Rush drummer Neal Pert among his greatest influences. “Fortunately or unfortunately, as a drummer, you are always in a mode  practicing...whether it is on the kit, the table, the car, the desk, it never really goes away,” Ramm told Westborough Patch.

One of Ramm’s most memorable moments on stage was a welcome home party the band played for a friend returning from military service in Iraq. “To be playing with the sole purpose of welcoming our friend and soldier home was a very humbling experience. There are honestly memorable moments at every show. Another favorite was having my boys seeing me play on stage.”

 “The biggest thing for the kids out there is to have fun with it.” Ramm pointed out. “Whether it be music, youth sports, writing, or reading your favorite books, just have fun and try your hardest. You’ll find it all comes together when you truly enjoy yourself!"

A Worcester native, Ramm is an avid hockey fan who is employed as an escalations support engineer at Imprivata. He and his wife, Jo, are parents to twin sons, who are second graders at . 

Noting that one of his sons was diagnosed last summer with Type 1 diabetes, Ramm asked Westborough Patch to refer parents to JDRF.org to ensure they are familiar with the symptoms.  
 

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