Five distinct personalities joining forces to make one mighty sound — that’s “Runner Runner.” The SoCal band’s self-titled debut album — released through a new partnership with Capitol Records, C.E. Music (a new label formed by David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants Inc.) and Jack Ponti’s MRV label — combines skillful songwriting and musicianship, punk-infused intensity and humungous pop hooks. The entrance that Runner Runner – front man Ryan Ogren, guitarists Nick Bailey and Peter Munters, bassist Jon Berry and drummer James Ulrich – is making on an unsuspecting music scene is in keeping with its name that has its origins in Ogren and Berry’s love of poker: “runner runner” is a poker term that, loosely defined, means “coming out of nowhere and pulling off a winning hand at the last possible moment.”
Veterans to the music industry, bassist Berry was a founding member of the SoCal pop-punk band, Rufio, Ogren was the vocalist/guitarist for New Jersey’s Don’t Look Down, and Munters, Bailey & Ulrich were members of OC’s Over It. They all came together in 2008 to create what is now Runner Runner. The five members are a combination of skillful songwriting and musicianship, punk-infused intensity and songs with humongous hooks with tremendous potential. Having admired each other’s talents and enjoyed each other’s company on numerous occasions as their bands crisscrossed the country on various van tours, the five musicians snapped together like Lego pieces when serendipity presented them with the opportunity to form a band together.
Runner Runner has over eight-million plays on their MySpace, were named a 2009 Band to Watch by Alternative Press, and has performed more than 175 shows on bills with such prominent left-offcenter acts as Fall Out Boy, All Time Low, Gym Class Heroes, Angels & Airwaves, The Higher, The Audition and The White Tie Affair. They�re also veterans of the festival circuit, appearing in 2009 on the Vans Warped Tour, Bamboozle and Tokyo�s Punkspring Festival, as well as the Night of Lights Festival and the L.A. Ink Fest during the previous year. The band is currently recording their self-titled debut album in Los Angeles with producer Dave Darling (Stray Cats, Brian Setzer, Soulive), and plan to tour extensively after their album drops later this summer. Their first single, “So Obvious,” will be released to radio on June 15. (Check out “So Obvious” here ) Runner Runner kicked off the first leg of an extensive tour beginning in mid-May, and are currently on tour with Amber Pacific before joining up with Cartel.
I had the chance to speak with Jon about the bands goals, influences, and hobbies. You can read that below.
When did you first realize you had an interest in music and what sparked that interest?
Well for me, my family tells me about that first interest. It was on a family vacation in San Diego when I was 7, watching the bands play on the campground. They say I was intent on watching them. I’ve always been into music. I can remember listening to Michael Jackson, singing to his songs on the radio. I guess in high school is when it really picked up for me, when I started playing music. Its always been a huge passion of mine.
How did you break into the music industry?
Well, we all come from different bands. We used to tour together in Japan and through the states. A few years ago I moved in with Ryan and we started writing and doing songs together.
How would you describe the sound of your music, and what makes you feel like your music is different from other artists in your genre?
I think when you hear it, you’ll know its Runner Runner. The way it sounds it stands out more because our songs are personal. They are lyrically engaging and instrumentally, too. We just like to have fun with our music, but at the same time we draw from personal experiences.
What are some of your plans for promoting your music?
We are all huge internet nerds, so getting our music out that way is one. Another is touring and playing plenty of shows.
Musically speaking,w hat are some of your short term and long term goals?
Short term, to play David Letterman. Long term, just always making and writing music, and promoting it. I also want to have a house in Hawaii. It’d be awesome to make a record there – Go surfing in the morning and writing music in the evening.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Lady Gaga and Tom Petty.
Who are some artist you’d like to work with?
Everybody. It’d be cool to work with some songwriters. Working with Ryan Tedder would be sick. And Coldplay would be sick, too.
How did you come up with the name “Runner Runner?”
‘Runner Runner’ was the surviving name on a dry erase board in the house. We wanted a big name, and we came up with some fun names, like ‘The Boys Team.’ But ‘Runner Runner’ just always stood out.
Where do you get your song inspirations from, lyrically speaking?
The only place you can get them from, through life and personal experiences. We draw from everything around us.
Besides music, what are some of your hobbies and interests?
Nick and I love surfing. We’ve surfed in Japan, Hawaii, California, the East Coast. Just love the beach life, the atmosphere. Other than that, I’d have to say watching movies and coming up with our own comedy skits.
Tell Ryan, Peter, Nick, Jon & James what you think about their music and to find out more about them, head to their MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter pages.
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