Ruby Dice

Take Me Back

Gitcha Records

Ruby Dice’s own story is as compelling as her music. She went from cleaning toilets in the hardware store in the small town of Gunnison, Colorado, to becoming one of Austin’s most sought-after bass players, sharing stages with legendary artists including Brian Wilson and recording early in her career alongside members of the Band of Heathens. Today, she leads her own band while continuing to collaborate with many of Austin’s most celebrated musicians.

Voted Best Bassist in Austin by the Austin Chronicle, Ruby has earned the city’s respect. She blends Colorado grit with Texas soul, creating music that is honest, heartfelt, and unmistakably Austin. Her career is rooted in fearless songwriting and exceptional musicianship, whether fronting her own band or supporting fellow artists. The album is produced by Ruby, Calloway Ritch, Jeff Sanders, and David Thacker, and tracked and mixed by Sam Patlove at Buds Recording Services in Austin.

Ruby’s touring band features her on bass and vocals; Calloway Ritch on guitar; David Thacker on keyboards; Simon Page on pedal steel; and Jeff Sanders on drums and percussion. Special guest appearances by acclaimed Austin artists include Suzanna Choffel, Shinyribs, Nakia, Jordan Matthew Young, Grey Horse, Scott Strickland, Sean McHargue, Garrett Jay Brown, and Sophia Johnson.

Ruby opens the album with “Stories,” written with Call, as she sings, “This town has got some stories to tell. It’s far too late, so I’m driving real slow. Taking South Congress into the 04, oh this town, it’s got some stories to tell. From Broken Spoke down to Sams Town Point. Talking Ramsey while smoking a joint, Oh, this town it’s got some stories to tell. A touch of country Rock ‘n’ Roll, home of the Blues, and a whole lotta Soul, the City Limits, don’t matter what night, you’ll find a real good time. Willie Nelson to Stevie Ray Vaughan, some are still with us but many are gone. Oh, this town. It’s got some stories to tell,” with some beautiful guitar from Call and pedal steel from Simon Page.

On “Grey Horse,” Ruby chimes, “ooooh, Living in the city. I’ve been here for awhile, I’ve got a couple acres that help me still feel wild. In a town of movers and shakers, money makers appear, but no matter how much it changes, I’ll still be right here. You’ll find me downtown in the eye of the Violet Crown, four feet hitting the ground. I’m the 6th Street cowboy, bringing people joy. They call me Grey Horse, but friends they call me Sam. Man I sure stick out, but I’m the one from this land.”

“Little Big Town,” written by Ruby, Call, and Nakia Reynoso, features Ruby as she chants, “Red tail lights for miles up and down i35. This little big town became a city overnight. Skylines so crowded getting hard to see that Lone Star in the sky. Roll one up, burn it down, call up the girls, for a night on the town. Tequila shots, your favorite spot. Don’t tell me this town, ain’t got no heart,” with more pedal steel from Page.

On “Come On Over Baby,” Ruby moans, “I got this feeling in my body, I got this feeling in my soul. There’s soomething that you should know about me, there’s something that I think you should know. I won’t apologize for tonight. My insistance what I need tonight is something that I’ve been missing. I, I, I just feeling myself, feeling myself tonight. I’m tired of being alone night after night. I want you to come, come on over baby…I’ve been doing a little drinking. I’ve been doing a little thinking…about you. I want you to come, come over baby.”

“Country Show” features Ruby as she declares, “You always warned me it would be way harder, than had it in my head. Those long miles, empty roads, I could be building a life instead. But mama, I’ve pushed as hard as I can, and I’m starting to move these mountains, it won’t always be empty bars someday, you’ll understand. 6 strings and this old guitar, I swear mama I won’t break your heart, I’m giving it everything I’ve got, on this lonely road, just playing this country show.”

On “The Reason,” written by Sophia Johnson, Call, and Ruby, she groans, “Here I am blowing smoke, tell myself I won’t always be this broke…working hard everyday…I spent 80 hours last week, can hardly stand my tired feet. This town can sure chew me up…making a life out of art, and I’m hooked on the feeling. If I would have known…but I ain’t complaining about the path I have taken, I don’t think about leaving.”

“Nothing in My Pocket” was written by Ruby and Sean, as she wails, “Smoking buglers with my windows down, 30 minutes outside of town, and the traffic is right where it always is. Spring breakers and broke down bums, walking shoulders with their stuck out thumbs. Racing to the pier before the sunset hits. Only thing between me and them is this beat up Subaru…One thing we all got is nothing left to loose. You can’t run out of time when you’re already too late. Down in South Padre killing time…cause I got nothing in my pocket and nothing on my mind.”

On “Cosplay Cowboy,” Ruby wails, “I wanna party like a West Lake cowboy, big hats, vintage cars, like a movie star, a stack of cash, private pool, just like a playboy. I wanna party like a West Lake cowboy,” with more great pedal steel from Page.

“Dress to Impress” was written by Call, Ruby, Kevin Russell, and Boon Carter. Ruby bursts, “Sitting here wearing black just like Johnny Cash, strutting around like a heart attack. Gator boots, Stetson hat make ’em look back, I’m as smooth as a Cadillac. I Might be a hot mess, I couldn’t care less, because I’m dressed to impress, dressed to impress.”

On the closing title track, “Take Me Back, Good Ole Days,” written by Call and Ruby, she croons, “Remember when this town was small, and those buildings weren’t quite so tall. We used to keep it wierd without fear, until it was last call. They named this town the Violet Crown. You hear the sounds when the sun goes down. The bats come out, and the people gather ’round. I know that times can really change, I hope your lucky enough to stay in this place and say, take me back, take me back, to the good ole days.”

Take Me Back is a love letter to Austin, Texas. Ruby adds, “This record became something much bigger than an album. It’s really a snapshot of the incredible music community that lifted me up over the years. Every collaboration represents a friendship, a late-night jam, or someone who believed in me along the way.”

Richard Ludmerer

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