Spookey Ruben Alive And Performing

11/08/07 5:00pm

by Sarah Kurchak (CHARTattack)

In the mid-'90s, he charmed MuchMusic viewers with his awesome "These Days Are Old" video and a chorus that sounded something like "doot a loop ee-ay-ay, oh ooh yay." He was "Canada's answer to Beck." He toured with a very fine list of international artists like The Flaming Lips and Ben Folds Five. In 2001, he resurfaced with a critically acclaimed double album called Bed And Breakfast and toured Canada the following year. And then Spookey Ruben vanished. There have been some sasquatch-like sightings of the eccentric musician since those days. He's received the occasional ChartAttack Rock 'n' Roll report card for appearances at North By Northeast and Canadian Music Week over the years. He was even nominated for The Greatest Canadian during that CBC campaign awhile back. But Ruben continued to be an elusive creature... until now. After five years in L.A., working as a film composer, Ruben is returning to the great white north. "I just really missed Canada," he says. "In L.A. I was working lots and making good money, but felt lonely. When you live in a place where you don't have any family you feel a little out of place." Ruben is currently putting the finishing touches on his follow-up to Bed And Breakfast, which should be in stores early next year. In the meantime, he's doing a handful of shows with his brand new Toronto-based band, The Young Coconuts. If you want to be one of the first to welcome Ruben home, you can do so on the following dates:
Nov. 30 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
Dec. 8 Montreal, QC @ L'Absynthe
Dec. 10 Toronto, ON @ Mitzi's Sister