Published: 12:00 AM, Thu Sep 03, 2009
Music: Rookie of the Year touches home base
By Brian Dukes
Staff writer
Rookie of the Year, Fayetteville's own homegrown indie rockers, will be performing Friday night at Jesters Pub with Cartel.
The evening's lineup includes performances by CashMoneyCapital and Amely.
Ryan Dunson, the lead vocalist and a founding member of the band, is one half of the band's Fayetteville connection. Dunson, son of Russ and Joy Dunson of Fayetteville, played three sports - baseball, basketball and soccer - at Fayetteville Christian School. He graduated in 2000.
Another longtime Fayetteville resident, T.J. Holt, used to play drums for Rookie of the Year from 2004-2006.
Weekender caught up with Dunson while he was in New York City. Dunson spoke about the show, returning to Fayetteville and what the band has in the works for the rest of the year.
Weekender: Where are you, and what are you up to right now?
Dunson: We're in New York City. We're doing an industry showcase.
Weekender: How's it feel to be returning home?
Dunson: I love it. I grew up there and always tried to help the music scene.
Weekender : Do you play here as often as you'd like?
Dunson: No. Not as much. Every so often. We're always touring or overseas. When we can, we try to get there.
Weekender: What can people expect at the show?
Dunson: Cartel is awesome. They were that band in the bubble. We toured with them before they were signed. It's sort of a reunion for us. We played with them a few years ago at Jesters. Both bands are really hitting our stride. We're all super excited.
Weekender: What do you know you have to play, or fans will riot?
Dunson: We always play the single we have going on right now. "Sooner or Later" is out right now. VH1 just picked it up. It's more of a chill song, compared to most of our record. It's an older side of Rookie that we've strayed away from. It's us on the road, and our lives living out of a bus.
Weekender: What's that like?
Dunson: Touring's not as fun. You've got to do interviews, radio. It's a job. Even partying. You've got to meet people and hang out with them. It's a blast, but it's still work, and you don't get a lot of sleep.
Weekender: What do you have coming up?
Dunson: We head to Atlanta to record an EP exclusively for iTunes with a lot of great guests - big names from bands we enjoy. Then we're back on the road until Christmas. It's crazy. And then from there, it's pretty booked. We'll be swinging back through the East Coast later around November.
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.