Readymade Breakup makes its own breaks
The power-pop band returns to the Mahoning Valley this weekend.
Readymade Breakup realized one of its goals when it was invited to play at the SXSW Festival earlier this year.
But when the band members got to the Austin, Texas, festival — which is sort of a Super Bowl for unsigned rock acts — their elation evaporated. The Asbury Park, N.J.-based power-pop quartet found out its gig was at noon.
“We figured nobody would be there because everyone would be hung over or still sleeping from the night before,” said Paul Rosevear, the band’s singer and lead guitarist. “What we didn’t know is that the venue put out a free barbecue lunch. They brought it out right as we started playing, and the place instantly filled up. Everyone was happy, and the barbecue was the best I ever tasted.”
The rock gods smiled on Readymade that day, saving the day with shredded pork.
But as Rosevear will tell you, good karma starts with doing things for yourself.
“We tried other ways, like hiring a manager or doing demos that we thought would lead to a record deal, but we found that the only thing that works is just building it ourselves, and making music that we’re happy with,” said Rosevear in a phone interview. “We’ll get a foothold in a town and stay in touch, coming back to it to build it up.”
Take Youngstown, for example, where Readymade has been implementing its strategy with effectiveness.
It has already played the city twice in the past few months, including a spot in the International Pop Overthrow, which drew healthy crowds to Cedars late last year. The IPO is a traveling rock festival for punchy-sounding power poppers such as Readymade.
“People who like that kind of rock like the IPO,” said Rosevear, adding, “In every city, there is a certain demographic that digs what we do.”
Readymade’s latest recording, “Alive on the Vine,” is a solid 10-song effort replete with Beatle-esque songwriting and harmonies.
The act returns to the Mahoning Valley on Saturday for a show at One-Eyed Willie’s, which is on Four Mile Run Road in Austintown, near Meridian Road.