Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Getting emotional with The Realtime Digimob

By Katie Libecco

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On first listen, The Realtime Digimob is a trio that mixes live and synthesized elements to create music that's fun and great for dancing.

Well, they are that, but there's more to the songs than their surface (and dance) value. Their songs have a deeper emotional meaning, too.

The Realtime Digimob member Andrew Labedz has a heavy metal background but somewhere in that time frame, he worked at a toy warehouse. That's when he dreamed up The Realtime Digimob: a combination of real instruments, electric elements and freeform jazz.

"Digimob started as an idea because I had a lot of time on my hands to think," Labedz says of working in the factory.

That idea came to fruition in the last two years, and The Realtime Digimob has been able to record and release "The Realtime Digimob EP," a six-song album that includes instrumental songs, songs with vocals and songs that have just a slight vocal element.

The Realtime Digimob will put on a free CD release party at the Royal Oaks with Third Class and The Chemical Kids Saturday. The EP will be on sale that night.

Labedz recorded, mixed and mastered the album in his basement, with drum tracks recorded at Dragonfly Studio in Boardman.

The current lineup of The Realtime Digimob includes Dave Knowldan on saxophone and synthesized instruments, Alan Williams on drums and Labedz handling vocals and more synthesizers. Labedz says this group of musicians has been together for about six months.

When The Realtime Digimob plays live, Labedz says their songs are about 80 percent "scripted." He says that lets the band "allow for structure and allow ourselves to deviate from it."

Back to the meaning of The Realtime Digimob: It's more than what most people would expect. The EP includes "Dancing," a song Labdez says deals with death, specifically, the death of his mother.

"How do I, how do I deal with this," a pained Labedz sings over and over again in the song. He asks, "How do I deal with death?"

It's that same experience that's a part of why Labedz's wife, Terri, will shave her head during The Realtime Digimob's set at the Royal Oaks.

Another song on the album is "Entering the Podquaduct," which also has a dance that goes with it. Labedz says the podquaduct is a part of human body that remains undiscovered and encases the soul.

"Futuristic Porno," also on "The Realtime Digimob EP," is more light-hearted. Labedz says Williams came up with the name of the song that involves "humanoids and androids" reproducing to create new electronic inventions.

Onstage, The Realtime Digimob wears scrubs. Labedz says there's a couple of ideas behind that, including the idea that they are "mad scientists or doctors operating or doing a procedure."

He also says there's maybe some influence from his job in the medical field, but says he also likes the idea of theatrics and being anti-trend.

More theatrics are in the works for The Realtime Digimob. An upcoming performance at The Zou's Rock Nouveau Festival may include The Realtime Digimob's newest feat of theatrics: 3-D animation. Labedz says the band has worked with Ed Lazor to create a visual element to back-up their songs.

Labedz says every show is different for The Realtime Digimob, who just "want to create" and "share with people." Labedz says one of the most important things for him is making a difference.

He says they feed off feedback, saying that making a person "feel a certain way, making them forget their life, their problems" for any amount of time has encouraged them.