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Discography: Ludo Highlights: Hum Along Good Will Hunting By Myself
Broken Bride Highlights: Part 1: Broke Bride Save Our City
You're Awful, I Love You Highlight: Love Me Dead
Pterodactyls, "Good Will Hunting" and girls on trampolines are not average fare for song topics, but Ludo is not your average band. These St. Louis natives (lead singer Andrew Volpe went to Wash. U.) were recently signed to Island Records, home to the likes of Fall Out Boy and The Killers. For years Ludo has been basking in the glow of local fame but this fall will bring with it the release of Ludo's third album, "You're Awful, I Love You," their first backed by a major label.
Ludo's style is one of power pop with a healthy sprinkling of humor. Songs off of their first, self-titled album tend to focus on unrequited love and heartbreak. "Hum Along," one of Ludo's first singles received local airplay and helped them gain a strong local following. In 2005 Ludo released their second album, "Broke Bride," which showed tremendous growth and garnered the band a wider cult audience. The musical stylings of "Broken Bride" were complex and layered, with vocals, synth and guitar producing an operatic masterpiece which quickly propelled Ludo into the national spotlight.
"Broke Bride" is a five part rock opera following one man's misadventures in time travel while trying to save his wife. When explained in words and without the help of Andrew Volpe's storytelling abilities the concept sounds lame. Let me assure you nothing but the contrary could be truer. In 2006, students at University of Chicago contacted Ludo with an odd request: re-record the album without vocals. The students desired to adapt the concept album into a live stage performance.
"We canceled a date so we could go see it. It was really cool." said Tim Convy, synth player. "It was really, really wild and surreal to see, not only the characters…but to see this whole group of people, the actors and crew and everything else that had put just as much into this thing as we did making it."
In the last two years Ludo has gone from St. Louis phenomena to being asked to play on international tours. "We played last summer in Wisconsin. It was very poorly planned but we got to play with the Flaming Lips, Primus, Mike Patton and Kings of Leon." But their loyalties lay close to home, Ludo's Christmas show is becoming a sell-out Pageant staple where they not only grace the stage for a headlining performance, but also throw gifts to audience members.
Like all bands that make it big, a lot of credit is due to the fans who stood by them from the start. Ludo calls their street team members "ninjas" and they are some of the most dedicated fans in the St. Louis area.
"We've had the fans who come up after a show and say 'I skipped my prom,' 'I was grounded,' I've called people's mom's at the show to see if they could stay until 11 when the set will be over, or fans who have made their own t-shirts."
Their best ninja story? "We had a girl who worked a Walgreen's Pharmacy who made flyers for our show. By the end of the week she was running out so she had to [be more picky.] So she wouldn't give flyers out if [the prescription] was for, like, heart medicine. But if it was for Birth Control or STD pills then she would. We used to joke that our fan base was made up of [promiscuous kids]."
Their newest album returns to the same scathing views on past loves but includes some of the stylistic elements introduced on Broken Bride. "Love Me Dead," the first single from their "You're Awful, I Love You" features lyrics that make you glad you haven't dated the girl therein described. The guitar solo as well as the choir-like backing vocals demand you see this song preformed live. So that's just what had to happen.
Ludo headlined on the Ernie Ball stage at Warped Tour this summer. St. Louis proved to be one of the highlights of the day. Fans sang along to every song, even those which are unreleased, at times drowning out Volpe and the band. Playing longer than the slotted set time, Ludo blew the crowd away, even in the 104 degree weather.
Looking for a band that produces this kind of enthusiasm? Ludo may be just what you need. Their first self-titled album is available for free on Ruckus (if you don't know what Ruckus is, ask around; it can be very handy). The new single off their upcoming album is also available on their myspace.
