Former Punk/Hardcore Frontman, Podcaster & Stand-up Comedian Neil Rubenstein Discusses Career Ahead of Motion City Soundtrack Tour (The Witzard Interview)
Neil Rubenstein has worn many hats throughout his career: musician, frontman, talent manager, pick-up baseball player, label co-owner, tour manager, podcaster, reviewer/critic, and stand-up comedian. Rubenstein was once a member of Punk/Hardcore bands Irony of Lightfoot, Sons of Abraham, Tetsuo, These Enzymes, and thisyearsmodel. He acted as tour manager for Motion City Soundtrack, Kittie, and RIVAL SCHOOLS and briefly operated his own artist management agency, Sons Modern. Neil Rubenstein co-owned, operated, and revived Fadeaway Records along with fellow Long Islander, scene photographer, and long-time friend Michael Dubin. Fadeaway issued note-worthy releases from The Movielife, Brand New / Safety In Numbers, a split from Rubenstein's own thisyearsmodel & Hot Rod Circuit, Kevin Devine's The Miracle of '86, and a 2017 compilation EP entitled Between The Bars (The Songs of Elliott Smith.)
Neil Rubenstein has created a pseudo-podcast network with his own shows In Traffic with Neil Rubenstein, WANT BEEF, and Neil Rubenstein Gets Worse, as well as a regularly-updated YouTube film review show, Neil Reviews It. Rubenstein has previously opened up for Taking Back Sunday doing his stand-up comedy routines and will do something similar when his hits the road this June/July with Motion City Soundtarck for their oft-delayed Commit This to Memory
I. How and why did you decide to transition from playing in Punk/Hardcore bands, such as Irony of Lightfoot, Tetsuo, thisyearsmodel, These Enzymes, and Sons of Abraham and co-owning Fadeaway Records to start doing stand-up comedy in recent years?
Neil Rubenstein: It wasn't really a transition... I did that stuff and it wasn't 'til years later that I found my love for performing stand-up... and I, honestly, would hesitate to say "decision" either... as lame or cliché as it might sound, it chose me... ya know?
II. Who are some of the bands and artists you've been fortunate enough to serve as an "opening act" for doing stand-up comedy?
Rubenstein: Comedy world: Chelcie Lynn AKA Trailer Trash Tammy, Ashley Gavin, [and] Liz Miele. Bands: [Taking Back Sunday] & Motion City Soundtrack, so far... but I imagine there will be more on that front.
III. How long have you known Justin Pierre, Joshua Cain, Jesse Johnson, Matt Taylor & Tony Thaxton (Motion City Soundtrack) and when did your working relationship begin?
Rubenstein: I met those guys in early 2000's at some festival on Long Island. Just saw it, was blown away, and wanted to know how we could have a working relationship. I ended up tour managing them for a little while and stayed buds with them forever.
IV. How does it feel to have been hand-selected as one of the openers for Motion City Soundtrack's upcoming Commit This to Memory
Rubenstein: Stoked. Honored. You know... they coulda picked anybody, any band... it's not lost on me at all. It's not like I'm the only comedian they are friends with either.
V. Do you have any immediate plans to record and release a follow-up to your 2020 comedy EP, Live at Side Splitters?
Rubenstein: Nothing immediate... I'd like to do a 10-inch, but I know it's expensive and plants are backed up and all the other bullsh*t.
VI. In addition to touring the nation doing your stand-up, running Neil Reviews It, and your three podcasts, In Traffic with Neil Rubenstein, WANT BEEF, and Neil Rubenstein Gets Worse. Do you have any aspirations to get back into recording, making, and releasing music of your own?
Rubenstein: Man, I am such a slacker and a total failure when it comes to podcasts... I so rarely release a Gets Worse [episode]... I haven't done an In Traffic [episode] since the [beginning] of [The] Pandemic. WANT BEEF is every other week, if I'm lucky... [dammit]. All I do is stand-up. It's a disease at this point. It's my singular focus. I just wanna be great at stand-up. If something interesting comes up, I'm always down to [collaborate] or try new things... but my focus is to be the best stand-up comedian I can be.
VII. What are some of the greatest, most long-lasting lessons you learned while tour managing Motion City Soundtrack, RIVAL SCHOOLS, and Kittie?
Rubenstein: Everyone is different. You need to treat each scenario differently... just because this tactic or measure worked with this person or this situation, doesn't mean it will work next time.
VIII. Who would you readily cite as some of your favorite comedians and greatest courses of personal inspiration and influence on your delivery and style as a comic?
Rubenstein: Sarah Silverman is probably the number one influence on me as a comedian. And Nate Bargatze is a favorite of mine. And Norm MacDonald would be up there, as well... all for different reasons and for different things.
IX. Which band(s) or artist(s) are you most proud you were about to discover, find, etc. and sign to Fadeaway Records?
Rubenstein: I love that we were on the ground floor for [The] Movielife & Kevin Devine; but, personally, I'm super-proud to have been there at the beginning for bands like Taking Back Sunday & Sainthood Reps. I like to take credit for discovering Northstar, as well.
X. What can you tell us about the formation and rather swift disbandment of These Enzymes with Mike Kennerty, Chris Gaylor (The All-American Rejects,) Andy Palmer, and Matt Taylor (Motion City Soundtrack) around 2004-05?
Rubenstein: It was just a little side thing while The Rejects had some downtime. Matt only played on the demo and Derrick Sherman of Sainthood Reps & Brand New was our touring guitarist. It was fun to share something so permanent with those guys.
XI. How did it feel putting together thisyearsmodel's Overkill: An Anthology and writing the accompanying liner notes for release on Fadeaway Records a few years ago?
Rubenstein: Are there liner notes? Jeez, I gotta go look and see what the Hell I must have written. As far as putting it together, I think [Michael] Dubin did most of that. I just wanted it out and complete. Here's who we were and what we did. I like that there is a record of my output. Feels nice to be recognized for a thing or two.
XII. How did you initially get involved with and end up singing background vocals on Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends (2002) and Where You Want to Be (2004)?
Rubenstein: Just knew those guys from scene stuff. Always friendly and mutual respect. And we would write together sometimes. And when they went in to record, they gave me the opportunity to do [background vocals on] some of the stuff that I helped with that ended up on the album.
XIII. What are you listening to these days; happen to have any Hardcore, Punk (or otherwise) recommendations for our readers?
Rubenstein: My tastes are all over the place. Bands I'm big upping now include: Playing Dead (NY,) Internal Bleeding, Incendiary, Edict, Red City Radio, Bear Mace, A Vultures Wake, Tony Slippaz, Local Nomad, Cognitive, Dead Friends, [and] Child Of.
