Rule of Thump
We are a four-piece band, playing original compositions in a variety of rhythm-heavy, dance-friendly musical styles, ranging from funk and jazz, to reggae, african, eastern, soul, electronica, and groove. Featuring bassist Ryan Hughes, guitarist Chris Leva, drummer Eric Stassen, and percussionist Matt Wyatt. We are only a few months old, and hail from Charlottesville, VA. These are tunes from our demo CD.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
RYAN HUGHES holds down the low-end duties on bass. He has played with Chris in a number of bands over the years (Buttr, Token Jones), and also plays with the Trouble with Harry, and the electronica project Mixed Bag. Ryan listens to all kinds of music, and his songs range from funk and jazz to drum-n-bass and trip-hop. With six-string and fretless basses, and a few effects, Ryan is able to match his tone to the flavor of the song. When hes not playing (or dreaming of) bass, Ryan works as a designer and builder for local architects.
CHRIS LEVA has been professionally playing guitar and singing his songs in Virginia and beyond for decades. A founding member of the Guano Boys, Chris also plays with Greenhouse, Faster than Walking, Taint, and Token Jones, amongst others. His songs and playing reflect his love of all types of music--african, caribbean, motown, funk, rock--its all in there. He has shared stages with many great bands--from sitting in with Leftover Salmon and Modereko, to opening for the Meters, the Itals, ...........
MATT WYATT is Mr. Rythym--a great kit player, Matt also plays a slew of different percussion instruments with Rule of Thump, including congas, cowbells, shakers, guiros, etc. Matt too has a love for all styles of music, and has been involved with countless bands in the Charlottesville area over the years, including Lua, The Impossible Trio, and John Dearth and Friends, and his solo project Rythym, to name a few. He teaches drum kit and percussion when not on the stage or in the studio.
ERIC STASSEN is The Professor on our Isle of Thump. Eric is a very gifted musician with perfect pitch (we should start making him tune our guitars!) and enough music degrees to make you sick. He has played drum kit with a number of projects, including Token Jones and John Dearth and Friends. He also plays in the Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra, is a professor at UVA where he also conducts an opera chorus, and a drum and precussion mentor throughout the state. He also plays vibraphones and steel pans, and is reviving his steel pan chops to lend some Caribbean flavor to the Rule of Thump.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
yes, in and around Charlottesville, VA.
Your musical influences
everything
