The Javelinas

“Many are the albums recorded by local and regional bands. Almost always these CDs are up to contemporary standards and do our East-central Illinois music scene proud. But this time Champaign-Urbana artists have collaborated on an album of original acoustic music that reaches pinnacles of excellence on a national (if not international) level. All I know about “All I know” is that it’s as addicting and easy to listen to as the original Beach Boys. It was one of my top-five picks for 2004.”

— James Walker, Iroquois County Times Republican

“John, as you can tell, has so much more experience than I do playing with bands and music,” Rummenie adds. “Some of these songs, since I’ve been living with them for 20 years, are fresh to him. It works real well. It’s nice to see how he hears it, suggests how to do it. It came out in a very different way than it might have if I did it myself. We bring out different aspects of each other in that way.”

— (Zack Adcock, The Hub Weekly

Soooooo, I was on my way to work the other day…in my car, driving down an alley.  It was early and I was draggin’.  I caught a tune from the CD I left in the night before.  It was telling me that I should carry on…that life’s rough and that no one knows what I’m going through, that fears aren’t anything new, and that I just have to be strong and find a way to carry on.  So, I looked up, saw the sun shining and thought, “It’s gonna be a great day!”  What a way to start a morning.

The CD in my car was “Javelinas” by Bruce Rummenie and John Tubbs.  Aroma will be the first place they play with the finished product!!  There are even rumors of guests that will come down and help Bruce and John with a few songs.  So, please join us this tomorrow (6/24 @ 8pm) for a fantastic show.  Seriously, there are feel good harmonies throughout the entire CD.  I’ve been humming songs like “Could you fall?” and “Look at me” all week.  And the CDs will be available at the show.

— Lissette Wells Aroma Cafe 5-04

The CD is unpretentious and cohesive.  I love the way it travels from the Mississippi Delta to the Appellachians, Chicago, Texas and the Southwest.  Over all that musical geography, you still keep the feel in a laid back mellow groove.  Nice work.

George Faber ‘04

“Man, when I ran across your page & started pokin’ tunes I had goose bumps where folks shouldn’t get goose bumps. LOL Your Dobro work had me doin’ some serious guitar face. Very nice stuff.”

— Cliff Houk