Ruby Falls

Ruby Falls originated in 1992 as a New York-based math rock quartet whose membership was drawn predominantly, and later exclusively, from female players. Their songs carried an unmistakable feminist undercurrent rooted in punk and riot grrrl attitudes, while the music itself fused punk energy with intricate, explosive structures and occasional passages of direct rock or pop. The founding lineup featured Cynthia Nelson on bass and lead vocals, guitarists and vocalists Jennifer Rogers and Letha Rodman, and drummer Andrew Bordwin. Between 1992 and 1994 the group produced three cassette-only EPs on its own imprint, supported them with extensive touring, placed several 7-inch singles on the small independents Spartadisc and Villa Villakula, and contributed tracks to various compilations. In 1994 Bordwin departed to concentrate on photography and was succeeded by Rogers’s sister Laura. That same year Nelson appeared in the cult indie-rock feature Half Cocked with Rodan bassist Tara Jane O’Neil; the pair had first crossed paths on tour in late 1993 and soon became romantically involved, after which Ruby Falls supplied the song “Dusty” to the film’s soundtrack.

Following Rodan’s dissolution at the end of 1994, Nelson and O’Neil formed the rootsy indie-pop duo Retsin, prompting Nelson to step away from Ruby Falls and relocate to Louisville. She rejoined the band in New York in 1996, during which time the remaining members had continued performing. The quartet first released the EP What She Does on Personal Favorite, then issued its debut full-length, Heroines, on Silver Girl. Nelson again paused her involvement to devote attention to Retsin and to the alt-country outfit the Naysayer, where she played drums. Ruby Falls regrouped in 2000 to record the album For the New Crop for Heartcore Records; once the record appeared the group formally disbanded. Jennifer and Laura Rogers subsequently performed together as the Rogers Sisters and released an album in 2002.