MUSIC

Shakespeare Pub presents Chris Ruest Band.

Chris Ruest belongs to the impressive class of serious Texas blues guitarists in their thirties, a group that includes Johnny Moeller, Shawn Pittman, and Nick Curran. While the others may have wider name recognition, Ruest has quietly built a reputation of excellence that is spreading beyond his Austin home base.

A veteran with nearly two decades’ experience on the bandstand, Ruest’s passion for classic blues (jump, Chicago, and Gulf Coast) and roots rock forms comes through in an original voice that combines immediacy and authenticity. Dead-on songwriting and savvy selection of covers provide a platform for his unaffected, honest vocals and tough guitar. The Connecticut native’s interest in guitar was encouraged by his father and his uncle, jazz musician Louis Mastrobattisto.

Ruest began taking lessons at 15, hoping, rather typically, to emulate blues-based rock guitarists Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page, but soon discovered the artists who inspired them. After a brief stay in Austin, where he held down a night at the storied Joe’s Generic Bar, Ruest moved to Dallas at the suggestion of Brian “Hash Brown” Calway, another transplanted Northeasterner who is at the heart of the Dallas-Ft. Worth blues scene.

Ruest credits his occasional gigs with Hash Brown as important steps in his development – “He taught Johnny and Jay Moeller and Paul Size and Shawn Pittman - all those guys came through him, and Nick Curran played with him for a while, and Elliot Sowell - some of the best guys came through his band” – and gained valuable experience backing singers Robin Banks and Wanda King (Freddie King’s daughter).