Central Maine: Ukulele Russ to perform
Russ plays the axe (or, as he refers to the diminutive instrument, the hatchet) and he does some innovative stuff with a loop pedal and a bass ukulele that he secures to a stand with DeWalt clamps. Also, he’s an engaging storyteller.
Daily News-Minder, Fairbanks: Alaska musician takes the ukulele to entertaining heights
With a stage name like Ukulele Russ, one might imagine Hawaiian shirts and inoffensive luau music or maybe a bunch of kid-friendly songs espousing the benefits of making friends and learning to tie shoes. But that’s about as far away from reality as possible.
KAMUKE: Talk Story Ukulele Russ
When you think of the ukulele, you immediately think of... Alaska? Hailing from The Last Frontier, one-man band Ukulele Russ plays everything from rock'n'roll to funk, bluegrass and hip-hop. We caught up with the Wild Man Of Uke between moose hunts (no, really).
Central Maine: Maine native returns to uke it up.
Everybody has this preconceived notion that I’m going to be singing songs about beaches and rainbows and playing all happy songs. That’s really what people think about when they think ukulele — ‘Aww, it’s that cute little guitar from Hawaii.' Instead, he brings rock, blues, tongue-in-cheek and a catalog as varied as “You’re the One,†a sweet song to his wife, Dixmont native Lindsey, to “Two Ply,†a Stevie Wonder-ish ode to toilet paper.
KUAC: Ukulele Russ and the Fairbanks All Stars
Funky and fun, Ukulele Russ and the Fairbanks All Stars entertain and lay down some serious grooves. The first half of the set list was dominated by animal-themed originals, including a useful song to know when out in the wilds of Alaska "Bear Safety".