LUCA and the AMBASSADORS stick to what they know

By Kate Andrews
12/12/10

Three of the five core members of LUCA and the AMBASSADORS and their manager stood in the basement offices of Emerson College's online radio station, WECB. In jeans and sweatshirts they trudged into the studio behind Isabel Thottam, host of WECB Unplugged.

As they set up and tuned the two acoustic guitars and a drum, it was obvious to see that while they were excited to play, exhaustion crept across their faces.

After all, most college kids like the Berklee School of Music members of LUCA and the AMBASSADORS are in bed at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning. It was freezing and windy but they still came out to play, showing only a fraction of their dedication to their craft.

During some small talk before the set, drummer Danny Santos asked how they got the gig at WECB. The other two, guitarist and front man Luca Buccellati and bassist Archi Dennis answer almost in tandem, "Colin."

Colin Ramsay is the band manager and a fellow student at Berklee School of Music in Music Business/Management. The three musicians are appreciative of the gig and Ramsay's success in securing it as well as a short set at a popular Boston club, Church, a few days earlier.

"As the manager, I'm basically the guy that does the stuff that other people don't want to do," Ramsay said. "I let the rest of the guys focus on the music and I do most everything else, although obviously I talk with everyone about things and they give me input."

Ramsay maintains what he calls the band's "web presence" on Facebook, MySpace and Reverbnation. And though Ramsay has been able to garner some impressive gigs for the group, there are downfalls to having a student manager.

"This isn't my full-time job quite yet, I also have other obligations and things I have to do," Ramsay said, "While I'd love to focus 100 percent of my time on the band, I also have school work and my own musical projects. Sometimes I have my own gig that conflicts with a LatA show, which is hard because I can't be there to film or sell shirts and I have to do some remote coordinating."

But as Ramsay's professor at Berklee Peter Alhadeff said, "At an early stage of a band, any management is better than none." Alhadeff, who is a not only a professor but also founding faculty for Berklee's Music Business/ Management major and executive director of the Music Business Journal, said he thinks sometimes having a manager on the same level as the band can actually benefit the manager-band relationship.

"A student manager can take the pressure off the business end of things, allowing the musicians to focus on the music," Alhadeff said, "It's probably not the quality of management that is crucial then, but the engagement that a manager will have with the band and the belief and commitment he [or] she will bring to the band."

Ramsay agreed with his professor that being on the same level has helped more than hurt their chances at propelling the act forward.. "There's less separation between me and the band." he said.  "While this could be perceived as a disadvantage and it's definitely something to balance, it lets me be more in tune with the music and what's going on within the band because I'm around them all the time.

"I'd also say that because the target demographic of the music is mostly college-age kids. Being one myself helps me to understand what they're looking for and how to connect with them," Ramsay added..

Buccellati donned his sunglasses before launching into a run-through of the group's original song, "Places." Thottam smiled appreciatively as she listened. "You're really good," she told the group.

A slight blush appeared on Santos' face as he thanked her. Santos and Buccellati sport mohawks, though Santos is the only one to take time to gel it standing up during a break right before the band went live on WECB.

Denis said he's held out after the band pledged to give themselves mohawks if they reached 1,000 fans on Facebook, but he isn't sure how long he will go before giving into to peer pressure from his band mates. Ramsay shaved his hair into a mohawk to show his solidarity with the group.


Guitarist Lewis Robertson and keyboardist Dwight Rivera stayed behind for the acoustic performance with back-up singers Courtney Halpin and Zach Siegel.

At 9:57 a.m., three minutes before they go live on the radio, Buccellati breaks his top string.
Instead of panicking, he turned to Denis and asked to switch guitars since Denis does not use the top string. At 10 a.m. they are ready to go up and start out with a cover, "You Only Live Once."

It's this kind of laid-back attitude, camaraderie and Ramsay's support that makes LUCA and the AMBASSADORS into the creative group that it is. But the line-up has changed several times since beginning over a year ago. Ramsay has been the one to keep it organized since the beginning.

The line-up changes have brought about a evolution to hte band's sound. "I think the sound has definitely changed, or at least the vibe has," Ramsay said. "With Archi on bass the music has become a little more bass-driven probably, just because he always wants to be heard," Ramsay joked.

"Dwight also adds an interesting new texture to the band because his chops are unbelievable and you can just let him kind of do his thing and it works," he continued, "It's the overall feeling of the band that really changes though. It's not so much the style of music that changes with the line-up as much as how the band plays together and interacts in a semi-abstract way. The current line-up has a really unique dynamic together that's a lot of fun to watch."

"I like to believe the sound has changed since I've joined," said Santos. "I never try to imitate the old drummer. Don't get me wrong he's an awesome drummer and musician, but he has his own unique style and to try to imitate him would take away from any authenticity in my playing."



Denis agreed that the sound has changed. "We are now a legit party on stage," he said, "and that's what we wanted. Now we need to work hard on finding the tightness needed to become perfect."

The band members said they've never had a problem with a member leaving. "I like to think of this band as something that will always be happening, if you will," said Buccellati, "Change is something you have to deal with in life and you just have to roll with it rather than looking back at your past."

In an email, Rivera noted that the band has great rapport and enthusiasm for this music.
"Our sound could be described as pop/rock," he wrote, "but every member of the band brings a lot of different stylistic influences and different approaches to the overall product."

Bucellati noted that, "for right now, we're going to keep playing shows wherever we can, try to generate a big fan base by creating a buzz, and focus on promotion." He added, "I want to make the group a really solid package so that we're ready for the next level.

The frontman's aspirations for the band are to take it to the top. "As of now we have a lot of hardworking members who all want the same thing. With everyone's devotion and effort, I think we can make it possible, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get there," said Bucellati.

They begin to strum the opening notes of their third and final song, "She's in My Head," to end up the WECB broadcast. Ramsay sat in front of the studio door. He looked tired; worn out even. And with his duties as manager for LatA, classes at Berklee and also his role as treasurer Berklee's Music Business Club, he has every right to be exhausted. But his devotion to the band never fails.

"I'm a student like them. I'm not a separate entity from the band. I'm around and in classes with them so I'm not a distant figure. It also means that I'm in the same boat with them in terms of growth. I'm not someone they've hired to help them grow. I'm basically growing with them, which is kind of unique."