If you’re familiar with the Storrs music scene, you’ll almost certainly be aware of Ruby Leftstep, the four-piece group who have taken the scene by storm over the past year with their bright, energetic brand of alternative rock. One of the hallmarks of the band’s sound is the contribution of UConn’s own Thom Busemeyer.
As the group’s lead guitarist, Busemeyer’s playing is at the forefront of their sound. Inspired by J Mascis and Jerry Garcia, his guitar parts feature smooth, natural movement across the fretboard, injecting an extra burst of light into an already bright sound.
Photo taken over the summer performing with his band Ruby Leftstep. Photo by Thom Busemeyer/The Daily Campus
Busemeyer first picked up the guitar at the age of nine, influenced by his father, who also played guitar. He recalled trying to learn Alex Lifeson’s guitar parts to Rush songs like “Limelight” and “La Villa Strangiato,” the latter noting that “when I was a kid, It was a bit impossible to do that.”
From there, he began taking lessons at Downlight Music in Collinsville, Connecticut, where he also had the opportunity to perform with other children learning instruments. He then returned there to teach lessons, sending the money to the next generation of young guitarists. For him, teaching guitar is “really fun because you get to jam with kids and develop an interest in the instrument.”
Buesemeyer joined Ruby Left Step in late 2021 after playing bass in a band in high school. He had known two of the band members, singer/guitarist Dylan Flinda and drummer Eddie Darhill, since high school and began jamming with them, quickly establishing a musical connection. Since then, it has grown to a high pitch.
In the band’s early years, he recalls, “We spent a lot of time just sitting down and writing songs together, so a lot of our early songs were group efforts.” Now that he’s in college and away from the other members of the band in the northwestern corner of the state, he said it’s more difficult to participate in the songwriting process.
Although he doesn’t compose as much anymore, he said writing and developing the group’s songs is still a collaborative process. He explained that the process consists of members, most recently Dahir, bringing in ideas and the band expanding, with each member putting their own spin on their parts.
“Eddie usually writes a guitar part and a vocal melody or something, and then I add some little parts to it,” he said. “It’s usually a really cool guitar part, but I’ll add embellishments here and there and change things up a little bit to give it a little bit of a personal touch.”
He said that some of his favorite songs to perform are “Remaining” and the soon-to-be-released “The Comedown,” stressing that these songs feature guitar parts that he particularly enjoys. .
His guitar parts worked well on stage, especially once the band started playing in the Storrs scene. The band’s first show in Storrs was hosted by SOS Booking at Storrs Congregational Church last fall. Since then, they have become one of the most popular artists on the scene. Busemeyer and the band have performed at local venues and on campus, most notably taking first place in last year’s WHUS Radio’s Battle of the Bands contest.
Busemeyer spoke positively about the show he performed with Ruby Leftstep in Storrs, noting that the crowds in that area were more enthusiastic and lively than the crowds at previous shows he played.
“The crowd at UW is very good,” he said. “Everyone’s so receptive, so excited. When you give energy to a crowd, they give it right back to you, and it feels so good. And not all crowds are like that. .”
And some of the most vibrant moments of their shows occur during Busemeyer’s solos, when he captivates the crowd with his sharp, soaring style, leading the band to the frenzied energy of the Storrs crowd. lead to the peak.