STARDOM is beckoning four talented musicians from Tavistock, following completion of their first ever album – alongside receiving high accolades from a BBC public vote. The Rumble Strips, which features three former Tavistock College students, is causing a stir on the live music circuit, after coming tenth in the BBC's Sounds of 2007 awards poll for bands to look out for during the year. The band consists of Charlie Waller on lead vocals and guitar, Henry Clark on keyboards and trumpet, Tom Gorbutt, saxophone and bass and Matthew Wheeler, drums. Not only are the band pleased with receiving such a great response from the public, but they are also buzzing after returning from Los Angeles where they recorded their new album — Girls and Weather. They made the debut album with producer Tony Hoffer, famous for his work with musicians Beck, The Kooks and The Fratellis. Making the album has been a dream come true for the four lads from Tavistock who had a history together long before the band was formed. Charlie and Tom met each other when they went to St Peter's Junior School, and saw Henry when he was ten, playing in his father's band. They all met again at Tavistock College where they started to play music together at the age of 13. They met drummer Matt, who went to a school in North Devon, through playing in local youth clubs. Since then, they performed with various bands, Charlie and Matt moving on to London and Tom and Henry joining them later. The band members spent some time knocking about with other groups while the future of the group was undecided. Charlie ended up committed to two bands — feeling trapped he decided to leave them both and forget the whole thing. But the Rumble Strips gave it another go and officially formed in 2002/03 — a move the band has never regretted. The band cut their debut single Motorcycle, which depicts Charlie singing on his bicycle riding around a roundabout, while the band gradually appear on foot and wheels playing their instruments. This was followed by a support tour with The Young Knives — then bigger support deals were struck, for bands including Dirty Pretty Things and The Zutons. The band has since released three singles and one EP. In a recent rave review the guys received eight out of ten for a London performance, with their music being described as a combination of soul and ska with intoxicating melodies and lyrics which will get everyone swinging. But August last year was the month the band will always remember as a turning point, as they signed to Island Records — something they had been working towards since they finally re- formed. Henry said: 'Things are all going pretty well for us at the moment. 'We went to LA to do the album last November and we were there for two months, working with a producer out there. This was a big deal as this is something we have always wanted to do. 'It seemed like a long time we were out there recording. It was all so well organised, we even had a cab waiting for us as soon as we finished the album to take us to the airport — it was that finely timed.' The band are now back performing at gigs across London but will soon be travelling to Texas for the 'South West South West Festival' to promote their new album. They will return to their roots in April this year, when they start their South West tour. Henry said: 'We especially asked if we could do this tour as none of us have played in Devon for a long time, not since we were younger. We will hopefully make it to Tavistock — we are really excited about that.' Tom's mother is the former mayor of Tavistock, Gill Gorbutt. Gill said she was 'very proud' that the band was doing so well. 'They have always been into music and have been playing since they were about 13 years old. 'We got Tom to start playing the clarinet before he was 12 but he moved on from that and branched out, as the clarinet was classical. He plays the sax and bass. 'I think they are very good, actually, they are excellent. They have just signed to this record label and I really hope they do well from it – they are brilliant and I hope they will go far,' she said. Keep your ears and eyes open for the Rumble Strips exciting and vibrant new album due to come out this summer — to find out more about this up and coming young group, go to http://www.therumblestrips.com">www.therumblestrips.com
