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Mark Rubin didn’t expect to be playing guitar and singing again.
After more than 12 years as part of Texas band Bad Livers, Rubin found his calling while writing an article for the Austin Chronicle.
“I was asked to write a story on old-time music,” he said during a recent interview from Austin. “Living here, I noticed that all my contacts were around my age. I hadn’t got the chance to meet any younger musicians in Austin. I went out and met mandolin player Silas Lowe, who blew me away with his talent.”
After their initial meeting, Lowe and Rubin made a bet to see if they could make a living performing as a duo and formed The Atomic Duo.
“We really wanted to make music with a message,” he said. “I think we’ve accomplished that.”
Rubin explained that Lowe has grown into a great songwriter.
“Silas is a smart cookie,” he said. “He’s very educated and knows a lot about music. Silas says he’s ethnically hippie and culturally Yankee.”
Rubin said the duo sticks to old-time American music. He said they incorporate a lot of Americana, blues, jazz and rhythm and blues in their music.
“American music encompasses all of the cultures that exist here,” he said. “We are always looking to branch out but still keep the integrity of our music.”
Rubin said he wants to make a good living with music, but also not to compromise its message.
“We’re not writing about our girlfriends or wives,” he said. “We’re singing about history and issues we’re dealing with today, all with an old-time swing.”
Rubin said that Lowe is the primary songwriter and the two just sit around and jam together.
“Silas will have an idea, and we’ll hammer it out until it sounds right,” he said. “Sometimes we’re playing for hours and other times the song just forms organically.”
Rubin said some people see their songs as very political.
“There’s really no agenda besides starting conversation,” he said. “It’s our goal to drum up that conversation and get people thinking.”
Over the past two years, Rubin said, the relationship between the two has grown tremendously.
“Being on tour for months at a time, I have to like the person I’m going to be next to,” he said.
The Atomic Duo goes on tour for months at a time. On their last leg, Rubin said, they traveled both coasts.
“We drove from Austin out to California and Washington,” he said. “Spent some time at home and then head out towards Vermont, New York and back through New Orleans. It was a long trip, but we met a lot of people.”
Rubin said this will be The Atomic Duo’s second trip to Albuquerque. He said during the last show in the Duke City, there was a good turnout.
“Albuquerque is this burgeoning music area,” he said. “There are a lot of people who like all kinds of music and support nightlife. We like performing in cities like show us the love.”
The Atomic Duo
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2
WHERE: Low Spirits, 2823 Second NW
HOW MUCH: $7 available at www.holdmyticket.com
