Posts Tagged ‘Dave Matthews Band’

PROFILE: The Music Man of Marietta

You’re driving down the road with the windows down and the stereo up. You’re sitting in your friend’s basement recalling the crazy stunts you’ve pulled together. You’re not worried about the time and your plans – you’re content to relax and enjoy the life you’ve been given.

This is the life of Nate DiRuzza and the mood emitted through his music. A senior at Marietta College, his music invites listeners to slow down and find where they are in life. He would classify his music as “folk rock” inspired by artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson, Brad Paisley and the Eagles. He has recorded his first album and performed at various venues throughout Northeast Ohio and the Mid-Ohio Valley, including the Izzy’s Coffeehouse Series and opening for Blessid Union of Souls.

His story begins at his first-grade Christmas play, where he portrayed Elvis and became obsessed with the performer. He could easily be found singing and dancing on the coffee table impersonating his idol.

As his love for music grew, so did his interest in becoming a musician. DiRuzza taught himself to play guitar his junior year of high school because he couldn’t afford lessons. He wrote his first song about a girl he liked, “Only a Fool,” and then wrote “The Good Ol’ Fashioned Days,” both found on his first album.

As a high school senior, DiRuzza recognized his desire to not only write music, but also perform in front of crowds. With the push of his chorus teacher, he auditioned for the school play and portrayed the Cowardly Lion in their production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“It was that play that built the confidence I have about myself,” he said.

That confidence was useful later in his first solo performance with his own music.

“I performed “The Good Ol’ Fashion Days” in front of 300-400 people for the first time. Everybody started clapping along and I got the chills,” he said.

Now a senior in college, DiRuzza is doing what he loves. He keeps a notebook with each of the 21 songs he has written, and has found that at different points in his life, he will write songs with similar lyrical vibes.

“I basically write about how I feel. I don’t make anything up, everything that I write about it true. When I get my heart broken, I write about it. When I’m in an extreme state of happiness, I write about it. I also write about experiences that I’ve had,” he said.

He hopes that others will be able to find themselves in his music.

“I want people to be able to identify with it. I want them to feel it, either with the lyrics or the beat of the song,” he said.

DiRuzza is expecting his second album to come out within the next few years. In the future, he would like to perform at the NACA (National Association for College Activities) conference. Here, he would be recruited by colleges and perform at their schools.

The glitz and glamour of a Hollywood musician is not appealing to DiRuzza, who would rather finish his college education and allow those he cares for most to take this journey with him.

“I’m not going to get in a dirty old van and just take off because I’m very family oriented and I don’t want to leave people behind. However, I would love to perform and travel on the weekends, and yet still live close to my family,” he said.

You can listen to some of DiRuzza’s music on his myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/natediruzza. You can also purchase his album from New Creation Studios in Parkersburg, W.Va., or from him personally. As we endure the hustle and bustle and craziness of life, he hopes we can all learn to live the message of his newest song, and “Take Life Slow.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:  This article is by Leyna Chovan, a Media Writing Two student at Marietta College.  If you are interested in writing for Writing on the Mall, send an e-mail to Patrick_H@writingonthemall.net.

Music in the Area

Another week, and another update.  No concerts tonight, but check out Dave Matthews Band at Blossom tomorrow night, or the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival coming to both Akron and the Burgh.

Blossom – Wednesday, July 29th
Dave Matthews Band

TWC – Wednesday, July 29th
Incubus with The Duke Spirit

HOB – Wednesday, July 29th
Sugar Ray with Fastball

PG – Thursday, July 30th
Lil’ Wayne

LCP – Thursday, July 30th
The Doobie Brothers

Blossom – Friday, July 31st
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival (Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for my Valentine, Cannibal Corpse, Trivium, Job for a Cowboy, GodForbid, Behemoth, All That Remains, WhiteChapel, and Mushroomhead)

PG – Saturday, August 1st
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival (Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for my Valentine, Cannibal Corpse, Trivium, Job for a Cowboy, GodForbid, Behemoth, All That Remains, WhiteChapel, and Mushroomhead)

Nautica – Saturday, August 1st
John Legend

12 Concerts in the Area Coming Up!

As we get deeper into the summer, more awesome shows are coming to the area.  The Jonas Brothers traveling circus invades Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena on the 25th (don’t even ask about tickets, it’s been sold out for a while I’m sure), while Dave Matthews Band comes to Blossom Music Center on the 29th.  Classic Rock more your thing?  House of Blues Cleveland has Pink Floyd tribute band Wish You Were Here playing Saturday night, and Lifestyles Community Pavilion has The Doobie Brothers (personal favorite) next Thursday.  The Marietta connection of the day goes to the George Strait concert on the 25th, which has Julianne Hough (here, here, and here) as a supporting act.

As a side note, I added more concerts from House of Blues and Lifestyles Community Pavilion last night, so check out the Regional Concert Guide for concerts further out than what’s shown here.

Mellon Arena – Wednesday, July 22nd
Green Day

Post-Gazette Pavilion – Saturday, July 25th
George Strait w/ Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough

Mellon Arena – Saturday, July 25th
The Jonas Brothers

House of Blues Cleveland – Saturday, July 25th
Wish You Were Here – The Sight & Sound of Pink Floyd

Lifestyles Community Pavilion – Tuesday, July 28th
Incubus

House of Blues Cleveland – Tuesday, July 28th
Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Amanda Blank

Blossom Music Center – Wednesday, July 29th
Dave Matthews Band

Time Warner Cable Amphitheater – Wednesday, July 29th
Incubus with The Duke Spirit

House of Blues Cleveland – Wednesday, July 29th
Sugar Ray with Fastball

Post-Gazette Pavilion – Thursday, July 30th
Lil’ Wayne

Lifestyles Community Pavilion – Thursday, July 30th
The Doobie Brothers

Blossom Music Center – Friday, July 31st
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival (Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for my Valentine, Cannibal Corpse, Trivium, Job for a Cowboy, GodForbid, Behemoth, All That Remains, WhiteChapel, and Mushroomhead)