San Antonio born-and-raised rockers Ready Revolution have returned from hiatus with their brand new, heavy-hitting record, Let It Out. I sat down with Diego, Emilio, Matt, Kevin, and Shane over Zoom to talk about the record and their upcoming show in San Antonio this Saturday (3/25/23). We talked about the process of getting Let It Out into the world, our favorite tracks from the record, and how excited they are for their first show back in 5 years!
I found my way to Ready Revolution because of their close proximity to another of my favorite bands, The Last Bandoleros, who I’ve written about several times for Banded. Brothers Diego and Emilio Navaira are the connecting pieces, and together with their friends Shane Gamboa, Kevin Diaz de Leon, and Matt Zavala, they put together this kickass rock band before TLB was a solid thing, and they’ve been rocking all over San Antonio ever since.
photo credit: Josh Huskin
With their last release, Ready Revolution, out in 2015, and their last live show in 2018, the release of Let It Out and their upcoming live show in San Antonio feels like a rebirth for the band. Let It Out really feels like a record for the fans. All of the sounds we’ve known and loved from the band since their inception still remain, but you can hear the growth in musicianship and brotherhood among the band when you listen; it truly feels like the second coming of Ready Revolution in a way. This music has more-or-less sat in the vault for years until recently, when the band decided to get back together to finish things up and make final cuts. Vocals were re-recorded, little bits were added and changed, and seemingly out of nowhere, Let It Out was here and in our ears before we even knew what hit us.
The record feels incredibly cohesive despite its general pieced-togetherness, and I think that can only be attributed to the strong brotherhood this band embodies, a sentiment that was echoed by guitarist/vocalist Emilio during our interview. It’s clear upon first listen that these are more than just musicians placed together in a studio, these are the best of friends who know each other better than anyone else. They know how to get the best out of each other and out of the band as a unit, and that’s evident in the overall production – Let It Out is incredibly well-produced. That’s not something you find very often in self-made bands like this one.
Let It Out is addictive. As I sit here listening to it while writing this review, I find myself jamming (and getting distracted by said jamming!) and wanting to start every song over for another listen. It’s a record that amps you up and leaves you feeling good. Starting and ending you on such high notes without a single filler track, it’s impossible to put down. Not to mention the phenomenal musicianship that shines through on every track; these are five of Texas’ absolute best musicians. It’s never even a question that they know exactly what a track needs and how to lay it down. They’re masters of their craft.
Deserving a paragraph all his own is lead vocalist Diego Navaira. I’ve long been hyping up his vocal prowess, but never has that been more deserved than with his work on this record. He has complete control over his range and tone, and he demonstrates all levels of the spectrum on Let It Out. He leaves nothing to be desired; if anyone was born to lend their voice to rock ‘n’ roll, it’s Diego.
Let It Out is everything you want from a modern rock record. It ebbs and flows heaviness and anger, softness and emotion, and everything in between. Rich with brilliant guitar tone, strong lead vocals and perfectly executed harmonies, and relatable lyrics to tie the whole thing together, the only complaint I could have about the record is that it just isn’t long enough! The thirty minutes of rock magic the band does give us though? Very much worth the aching for more. Give it a listen – you’ll thank me.
If you’re local to San Antonio and the surrounding areas, check at their show at the 502 Bar this Saturday (3/25) night, and if you’re listening from afar, be on the lookout – they might be hitting the road soon!