Spookey Ruben

Spookey Ruben plays The Government Center on Saturday, October 24, with his live band The Miracle Babies. He's a Los Angeles-based prog pop artist born in Ottawa, Canada, who spent his childhood in Germany, Holland, and Washington D.C. His parents pushed him toward an instrument and he chose classical guitar; by 13 he'd switched to electric and spent his teens in hardcore and speed metal bands, most notably TRANSILIENCE, which earned him the nickname 'Spooky'.

At 19 he moved to Toronto, studied film at York University, and kept writing on a 4-track recorder, developing a pop sound that mixes keyboards with distorted guitars. His solo debut was Modes of Transportation Vol. 1, followed by the simultaneous release of Bed and Breakfast on Hi-Hat/Zomba. Later came the independent album ALONE AT THE ZOO, co-produced by John McEntire of Tortoise and The Sea and Cake. He now tours with The Miracle Babies, fronted on keys by Mike Boito, formerly of Beck.

It's a long way from the speed metal of his teenage years to the prog pop he's known for now, and that distance shows in the records. Modes of Transportation Vol. 1 set the stage, and the double release of Bed and Breakfast expanded on it. ALONE AT THE ZOO brought in McEntire's touch, and the live band fills out the sound for the stage. The Miracle Babies bring the keys and the rhythm to the songs he built on a 4-track, and Boito's presence on keyboards puts the melodic, keyboard-heavy side of his sound front and center.

The show is at The Government Center in Pittsburgh, starting at 7:30 PM on Saturday, October 24.