Rockin' with positive messages

MANILA, Philippines - A name sets a person apart from the rest. What defines him, however, is what he does with it.

This is perhaps why Ronnie Winter, Duke Kitchens, Joey Westwood, Jon Wilkes and Matt Carter of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus came up such an interesting band name whose only intention is to write songs and entertain everybody.

“No significance whatsoever,” says Jon of the group’s name when The STAR recently met them at Intercontinental Manila. “It means nothing. It is just a name.”

That confirms what is stated on the Internet that the guys from Jacksonville, Florida just put random words on the wall, wore a blindfold and chose a word. Honestly, they didn’t care much about their name as long as they can perform and share their alternative rock music with others.

Since then, the accommodating, unassuming all-male band hit the stage, released the debut album Don’t Fake It and received a gold award for it. The album also had a taste of Billboard Top 200.

“I think it is a little bit of everything,” replies Jon when asked why the band has won the hearts of many. To Jon, “everything” refers to the sounds, the lyrics and the music The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus represents. But the real deal with the band is its positive message. “The hope and faith in the world” as Jon puts it. That’s how the group makes good rockin’ music which is also evident in the album Lonely Road.

The guys talk about domestic violence in Face Down. They empower you in You Better Pray, and find your center in Represent and Pull Me Back. They show you the brighter side of things in Lonely Road.

“Every member of the band puts a spin to it,” shares Ronnie on how their music is different from the ones dominating the airwaves. “For instance, working with Jon on drums. There’s jazz because he came from a jazz school. Besides, there’s the theoretical musical part (we have learned in school).” He adds everybody brings in new ideas, works as a team and comes up a vision for the songs.

What also sets the band apart are its causes. It has graced charity events to raise funds for mental health, youth suicide and domestic violence awareness. The band formed the umbrella group The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Guardian Angel Foundation to also help out high school bands.

“Why are we doing it? Why not? And we don’t know,” says Jon. “There’s no real reason, the same thing with the band’s name. We don’t get money from it. Maybe God just wants us to do it. What makes us different is our doing it, instead of talking about it.”

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is in Manila to promote its music through the invitation of Ayala Malls.

What do we expect to hear from them? It’s a repertoire of selections from Don’t Fake It and Lonely Road. The boys are also open to what the audience wishes them to play just like what they did in Australia.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus recently performed in Alabang Town Center, Market! Market! and Glorietta. You can still catch the band tonight at 6 at TriNoma.