Ritsche smokes out
John Yehambaram
Media
Credit: Jameson Vermaat
MC B Rukus of Leroy Smokes performed
Tuesday night before Al Franken and Patty Wetterling
spoke in Ritsche Auditorium.
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A politically driven band expressed through their lyrical content, working class struggles and the need to stand up and be heard.
The band arrived about 15 minutes late due to traffic and opened to an anxious crowd.
Frontmen B Ruckus and Buss One both delivered lyrical content and managed to give the fretful crowd something to cheer about.
Taylor Hoskin, a 23-year-old SCSU student, said it was a great opening act, especially for a political event in college.
"I almost left because of the wait, but their performance was very inspiring. And I never heard of them, but their music is good," Hoskin said.
Sheila Daniels, 34, from Sartell, said she came here to see Al Franken and to show her support for Patty Wetterling, but didn't expect an opening act from a hip hop band.
"I'm not a big fan of hip hop, but I must say that was a really good performance," Daniels said.
Harry Laurent, a 24-year-old, resident of St. Cloud, said he has seen them perform in the Twin Cities before and is impressed they are performing at political rallies expressing what they stand for.
Laurent said they are really great performers, but they are also finally moving more to the political scene and getting people to realize what they are about.
Buss One said he considers this band to be a band of the people, and wants people to come out and be more politically aware of who their politicians are and who they are voting for.
Media
Credit: Jameson Vermaat
MC Buss One of Leroy Smokes,
a Minneapolis based hip hop band, performed
Tuesday night in the Ritsche Auditorium.
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B Rukus said the band doesn't support
any specific political stance, but considers the band
to be an influence to people to take responsibility
in choosing their leaders.
One said he hopes that their music helps to deliver
this message to their fans and gain more support.
"Just like what Bob Marley
said, 'one good thing about music when it aches it feels
okay," One said.
One said if there was a political position this band
stands for, it is for the truth to be told.
"The truth meets the needs of the poor and disenfranchised,
health care and schooling," One said.
Rukus said they are performing here not because they
have any political affiliation with Al Franken, but
because they had contact with the campaigners and wanted
to see support from the public.
"We want to put out the things people actually want
to say," Rukus said.
The band's latest album has been doing well with record
sales and they want to see more people come up for shows
and the band said.
They are also in the works recording a new album, but
have no specific date on when it will be released.
Leroy Smokes will be performing at St. Cloud again this
Saturday at the Red Carpet.
They will also be performing at the Red Carpet during
homecoming weekend.