The look Born Ruffians frontman Luke Lalonde gives at the end of the band's latest video says it all: Things are rarely as awesome as you think they'll be. Or, more to the point, it's best to be careful what you wish for.
That moment comes after the four guys in the Ontario band have slogged through a monotonous routine of live shows, all-night drives, diner food and cheap hotels. "Dry eyes, blue skies, overrated / Never want to feel sedated," Lalonde sings in "Don't Live Up."
"Audiences are only privy to the 'glamorous rock star' aspects of touring," Lalonde writes via email. "But no one is really aware of the nine hours sitting in a van, the toll on your mental and physical health from no sleep, poor eating, drinking too much or indulging in other bad behaviors. It seems romantic to some, but in fact it can be pretty dark."
Regardless, Lalonde says, the band "couldn't be more excited to go on tour this fall!"
The video was conceived by director Jared Raab, who wanted to illustrate the song's themes of faded dreams, disappointment and delusion.
"Don't Live Up" is from Born Ruffians' new album RUFF, due out Oct. 2.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
