Rubens on the road

So, I’m pretty sure I’ve ruined my only chance with the Rubens.

Having only started playing together last year, the Sydney boys are very quickly making a name for themselves.

Heavy rotation on Triple J after being unearthed by the station early on has led to a strong relationship with Ivy League Records and casual overseas recording trips.

The Rubens have recently returned from New York where, under the guidance of David Khane (Regina Spektor, Paul McCartney, The Strokes), their debut album began to take shape.

Addressing the crowd, their manager was extremely enthusiastic about the band, dubbing them the most exciting prospect he’s worked with since The Temper Trap.

The Rubens are talented, popular and seemingly destined for continued success.

They’re also really, really, really good looking.

While they were setting up, I kind of just stood at the side of the stage, with all the other people being all classy and convivial around me.

I didn’t know I was staring until the lead singer, Sam (swoon!) shot me a sort of half-pained grimace and a nod. I blushed and tripped over a cord.

And just like that, the dream was over.

Halfway through the set he smiled in my direction, eyes glittering with love and affection, and I thought I might have won a chance at reconciliation.

Then I realised his girlfriend was standing behind me.

It was hard to get over, but I was totally only there for the music anyway, so, you know, no big deal.

At all, really. Not even bothered. I just don’t want to talk about it.

The truth remained, however, that I fell in love with them before I was aware of their chiseled features, so while they played, I was more than ok.

Boasting a truly classic rock n’ roll sound, with rollicking drum beats and Sam’s smoky voice, I seriously felt like I should be swilling something about in a glass or partaking in an act of class war-fare.

With more up-beat songs like their most recent single, ‘Don’t Ever Want to be Found’ and ‘My Gun’, the occasional ballad-style, dim-the-lights offerings were perfectly offset.

And, of course, during ‘Lay it Down’, their shiver-inducing, lilting waltz-like opener, every single female in the establishment had to work very hard to fend off becoming automatically pregnant.

With the album coming out in September, the Rubens look set to expand on their career’s brilliant beginning and continue to bring some delicious rock n’ roll to the masses.

But no matter how famous they get, I’ll just be here waiting. In a totally dignified, non-stalker-ish way. Ok, Sam?