RONNIE KING KEEPS HIS POWERHOUSE PUNK
LEGACY ALIVE PRODUCING
‘ON THE WESTERN FRONT', THE NEW ALBUM BY LEGENDARY ORANGE COUNTY BAND
D.I., AND SCORING THEM A DEAL WITH
COUNTER-CULTURE LABEL SUBURBAN NOIZE
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The Veteran Keyboardist/Producer—aka “The Indie Rick Rubin”--Also Marks The First Anniversary Of His Blue Label Records;
Blue Label's First Signed Band, Ten West,
Is A Mainstay On The FMQB Charts With “Amazing”
Quickly establishing himself as “the indie Rick Rubin” for his Midas Touch with edgy artists in rock, hip-pop and punk, famed keyboardist and producer Ronnie King returns to his roots as the producer of On The Western Front , the highly anticipated first album by legendary Orange County punk band D.I. since their 2002 reunion. King unabashedly calls it “the best punk rock record of the last ten years!”
From the early 80s through the mid-90s, D.I. was a major presence on the same scene that brought the world other hardcore acts like Social Distortion, TSOL and The Adolescents. D.I. has been touring steadily since getting back together with a new lineup to promote the compilation Caseyology , named for charismatic vocalist Casey Royer. The band recently appeared on Discovery Channel's Monster Garage, and is host Jesse James' favorite band.
King scored D.I. a new label deal with Suburban Noize, the thriving SoCal label that launched the anti-establishment heroes The Kottonmouth Kings into a global phenomenon.
“I've known the guys in D.I. from being around the punk scene here for years, and about a year and a half ago, switched on by all of D.I.'s incredible energy, I decided to executive produce a new project for them,” says King, well known for his writing, recording and touring associations with The Offspring, Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise and for founding The Joykiller with former TSOL lead singer Jack Grisham.
“D.I. is well-known throughout the world, but at their core they're a street level band that speaks for the youth of Orange County that don't fit the typical rich stereotype,” he adds. “They needed the kind of guidance and direction I could bring with all of my experience, and I'm excited to be a shareholder in this record and their current sound. (Suburban Noize founder) Brad X was so excited the first time he heard the record, and he knew it would be a great addition to the label. He felt the kids of today needed to know about both Casey's past and what D.I. is up to today.”
King adds that On The Western Front is “about living in Orange County, addressing all the politically charged current events facing the country today.” One of his favorite songs is “Gutters In Paradise,” about the paradox of druggie kids living in the gutters in a place where people believe the myth about everything being so beautiful and awesome. D.I. recently shot a video for the title track.
King is also excited about the recent one-year anniversary of Blue Label Records , the indie venture he formed with partner Sean Couevas. The label's first signed band, the mainstream rock group Ten West , has been on the FMQB charts for the last six months with their first single “ Amazing ” (from their debut album of the same name). The song, for which they also shot a popular video, peaked at #19 on that chart and Ten West has toured extensively all over the U.S.
The next band Blue Label is set to launch is another hard rock outfit called Suicide Holiday. “Considering the struggles new labels face in their first year of operation,” says King, “I'm excited that it's been able to thrive the way it has and become a viable record company. I've enjoyed maturing in this business, moving from being a constantly touring musician to being a producer and label owner. It's also great to have the freedom to still produce punk rock records and become something of a big brother to newer bands on the scene. It's wonderful to have the opportunity to work with so many different styles of music.”
PHOTO CAPTION: RONNIE KING with lengendary O.C rockers D.I. (L-R: Eddie Tatar, Ronnie King, Joe Tatar , C linton Calton)
BLUE LABEL RECORDS Honors Our Presidents With An Evening Of Great Local Music At Hip Laguna Beach Nightspot Club M On Sunday February 18th Featuring Performances by Blue Label Artists TEN WEST and ANTHEMA
In honor of Presidents Day weekend, Blue Label Records is hosting an eclectic evening of indie rock, hardcore and pop by local heroes Ten West and recently signed rockers Anthema , at Laguna Beach's Club M on Sunday, February 18th. Festivities will kick off at 8 p.m with a set by Red Fox and the Standard Ox featuring guest appearances by Jon Ogden of Ten West and Don Welsher of Anthema. Ten West's mellow grooves will follow, with Anthema providing a high-octane nightcap of screeching guitars and theatrics. Best of all, you don't even have worry about calling in sick to work on Monday morning thanks to the holiday.
Blue Label Records is an up and coming Independent label founded by legendary keyboardist producer Ronnie King , and veteran manager Sean Couevas , in order to capture the magic taking place in Orange County's blossoming homegrown music scene. The duo met while Couevas was recording tracks for Ten West's self-titled debut album. Ronnie just happened to be recording in the booth next door, and fell in love with Ten West's signature sound. Soon after Blue Label records was launched, and two more acts, Anthema and In Silence, have already been signed to the rooster.
Ten West have been off to a successful start since signing with Blue Label Records. The quartet recently released their self-titled debut album, and dropped their single “amazing” to Triple AAA and Pop/Rock Radio Outlets. Earlier this year, Ten West won the regional for Best Pop Band in San Diego at the L.A. Music Awards. They are also regulars on the Orange County club circuit, playing such venues as The Sandpiper Lounge in Laguna Beach, Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest and Hogue Barmichael's in Newport Beach. Tour plans are in the works for 2007.
Over the past two years, the three piece Anthema—lead vocalist and guitarist Don Welsher, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Chas Trowbridge, and drummer Matthew Longstreth—has become something of an institution in the O.C., drawing a loyal following of fans to venues including The Galaxy in Santa Ana, Detroit, the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa, as well as The Troubadour, El Rey Theater, and Viper Room in Los Angeles. Anthema is currently in the process of mastering their as yet untitled debut album, which is set to be released to online and brick and mortar outlets later this year.
Click here to be added to BLUE LABEL RECORDS Complimentary Music Industry VIP/Media Guest list - Just type your name and affiliation and you will receive an Email confirmation. Or call Luck Media & Marketing, Inc. at (310) 860-9170 to be added to the list.
CONCERT RECAP :
WHO: Blue Label Records' Ten West , Anthema as well as Red Fox and the Standard Ox
WHERE: Club M - 680 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, California 92651
WHEN: Sunday, February 18th, 2007 @ 8pm
DETAILS: $10 cover; all ages till 10pm
INTRODUCING THE BAD BOYS OF BLUE LABEL :
FAMED POP, HIP-HOP AND MODERN PUNK KEYBOARDIST/PRODUCER RONNIE KING AND HIS PARTNER, VETERAN MANAGER SEAN COUEVAS, GO HARDCORE WITH THE SIGNING OF SOCAL BASED HEAVY METAL POWERHOUSE IN SILENCE
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Getting Ready To Go Into The Studio With King To Record Their Debut,
In Silence Has Played L.A. Hotspots The Key Club, The Whiskey And The Roxy, And Has Opened Shows For Warrant, LA Guns And Thrash Metal Legends GWAR
Ronnie King and Sean Couevas , principals of the fast-growing independent Blue Label Records , make their boldest, most hardcore move yet by signing In Silence , the heavy metal powerhouse that's taken SoCal by storm since gelling with their current lineup two years ago.
While quickly achieving near-legendary local hero status on their home turf of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the raucous Hemet, California based fivesome have also played all the cool L.A. hotspots (Key Club, The Roxy, The Whiskey) and the Morongo Casino out near Palm Springs. In Silence, who count as their chief influences classic metal bands like Shadows Fall, Kill, Switch, Engage, Metallica and Pantera, have already opened big venues for superstar acts like Warrant, LA Guns and thrash metal icons GWAR.
Lead singer Damien Gates first met King a few years ago when he and bassist Mike Hamilton were part of the well-known Inland Empire band Troubled Minority. Troubled Minority beat out over 20 other bands from around Southern California to win M 95.5's Battle of the Bands Competition; one of the prizes was recording a single song demo with King.
When King launched The Blue Label last fall, he remembered the song “Losing Control” and wondered what Gates was up to. By that time, Gates and Hamilton were helping the multi-racial In Silence develop the fiery, hard driving sound they finally committed to a four song EP after countless live gigs.
King immediately loved the songs, including “Invincible,” “Half-Breed” and “Nabahe”; the last title is a Native American word meaning “warrior,” reflecting the heritage of brothers Wes (guitar) and Toby Hatmaker (lead guitar). Gates is African American, Hamilton is white and drummer D. Austin Alvarado is half white/half Mexican.
“We're definitely the bad boys of The Blue Label, and are excited about getting in the studio with Ronnie next month and starting work on our first full length album,” says Gates. “We work really hard and have a great chemistry, and I know Ronnie's strengths are in getting the best sound out of the bands he works with. It's great to be on his label and to have the opportunity he's giving us.”
RISE AND SING A NEW ANTHEMA :
FAMED POP, HIP-HOP AND MODERN PUNK KEYBOARDIST/PRODUCER RONNIE KING AND HIS PARTNER, VETERAN MANAGER SEAN COUEVAS, ADD POPULAR ORANGE COUNTY BASED ALT-ROCKERS
TO THEIR GROWING BLUE LABEL RECORDS ROSTER
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Currently Readying Their Debut Album For Release Later This Year, Anthema Has Opened Shows For Hard Rockers Queens Of The Stone Age And Built A Monstrous Following In O.C. Via “Intense Sweat Fests” At Hotspots Like The Galaxy, Coach House, Detroit and the Tiki Bar
Ronnie King and Sean Couevas , principals of the growing new independent Blue Label Records , launched what is shaping up to be a busy 2007 with the January 3 signing of popular Orange County based alternative rock band Anthema .
King, a legendary keyboardist producer famed for his work in pop, hip-hop and modern punk circles, and veteran manager Couevas launched Blue Label this past fall with the release of the self-titled debut from Ten West and that group's first single “Amazing.”
Over the past two years, the four piece Anthema—lead vocalist and guitarist Don Welsher, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Chas Trowbridge, bassist Eric Monteleone and drummer Matthew Longstreth—has become something of an institution in the O.C., building a devoted regional following via “intense sweat fests” (Longstreth's description of the energy of their live shows) at hotspots like The Galaxy in Santa Ana, Detroit, the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa and The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.
In addition, the band has played L.A. clubs like The Viper Room and has opened shows for modern heavy metal/hard rockers Queens Of The Stone Age at the El Rey Theatre and The Troubadour.
“United by our love of rock music,” says Longstreth, “we set out to make music that didn't need to fit into any ‘scene' or category. We chose to make music that we feel proud to stand behind without compromise, and we believe our new songs reflect that. Our live shows inevitably turn into euphoria inducing sweat fests, as all good rock shows do. Intense drumming, tight rhythms, screaming guitars and soaring choruses meet with all out emotion to make this happen. We feel it's our job to help everyone have a good time all the time! Our songs are about life, death and the ups and downs that come in between.”
Anthema is currently in the process of mastering their as yet untitled debut album, which is set to be released to online and brick and mortar outlets later this year; the potential first single, the fiery rocker “I'm Closer God,” has received over 1,200 plays on the band's MySpace page ( myspace.com/anthema ).
Tracks for the album were recorded at The Basement, a popular Costa Mesa-based studio owned by lead singer Welsher; an historic room that has undergone many name changes over the past thirty years, it has hosted sessions for everyone from pop icons like Donny Osmond and Glenn Frey to (most recently) Keleo from the band Pepper and legendary O.C. punk band DI. The project was engineered by Grammy winning engineer Keith Armstrong (Green Day, My Chemical Romance).
King has been a mentor to Longstreth for many years, dating back to when Longstreth was a kid growing up in Palm Desert (where King lived) and King was a close friend of the family. “Ronnie has always believed in my drumming, and he's encouraged and even played a time or two with all of my band endeavors over the years,” says Longstreth. “So when he started his label, he was happy to have an opportunity to bring us into his fold. He's used our studio a lot and has been a huge fan of Anthema since the beginning. In many ways, our association with Blue Label Records is a match made in heaven.”
FAMED POP, HIP-HOP AND MODERN PUNK PRODUCER/KEYBOARDIST RONNIE KING
LAUNCHES BLUE LABEL RECORDS ,
AN ECLECTIC INDIE LABEL DEDICATED TO BOTH QUIRKY AND MAINSTREAM ROCK ACTS
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“The Billy Preston Of His Generation,” Who Has Produced, Recorded or Toured With Mariah Carey, KC & JoJo, 2Pac, Rancid, Joykiller and Offspring,
Partners on Exciting New Venture with Veteran Band Manager Sean Couevas, Publisher Jay Warner, and Omni Entertainment
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“Amazing,” The First Single and Title Track From Laguna Beach, California Based Mainstream Rockers (and L.A. Music Awards Regional Award Winner) Ten West,
Drops To Triple AAA Radio on Halloween; The Album Hits Brick and Mortar and Digital Outlets November 14
One of the busiest, most requested (and bootlegged!) keyboardists and producers in pop, hip-hop, alternative and modern punk over the past 15 years, Ronnie King —co-founder of the currently launching L.A. based independent Blue Label Records --somewhat understates himself when he says, “Sometimes I feel like this generation's Billy Preston. Just as he was called The Fifth Beatle, I've always been the fifth guy in every band, the icing on the cake, the secret sauce, the guy who's less famous but who puts the sounds together.”
King's ever-expanding resume runs wildly eclectic, from the most mainstream of pop artists (Mariah Carey, KC & JoJo, Tyrese) to the hottest pop-thugs (2Pac, Thug Law, Coolio, Snoop Dogg protégés Eastsidaz) and the metal inflected punk of The Offspring, whom he toured with from 2003-2005. Known for his trademark sound on Analog Mini-Moog, he also toured with Rancid and was a member of L.A. punk supergroup The Joykiller.
“When I was on tour with The Offspring, I spent a lot of time talking business with (lead singer) Bryan (aka Dexter) Holland, who also owns Nitro Records,” says King. “I realized that I was giving so much away by finding and producing bands, then letting them go and hit the streets to find their fame and fortune. The idea of running a label was always in the back of my mind, and things came together quickly when I met Sean Couevas , I started producing the band Ten West , which he manages, and we decided to form the label.”
Their co-venture, Blue Label Records, launches this fall with Amazing , the first release by the Orange County, California based pop/rock band Ten West. Earlier this year, Ten West won the regional for Best Pop Band in San Diego at the L.A. Music Awards; they are currently up for Best Indie Artist of the Year for the entire competition.
Described spiritedly by Couevas, who is also their manager, as “what might happen if Dave Matthews, Matchbox 20 and Jack Johnson had a love child,” Ten West's debut will be available on download sites (via Select-O-Hits Distribution) and in stores November 14. The debut single “Amazing” ships to Triple AAA radio stations nationwide on October 31; on October 14, the band, led by lead singer Jon Ogden, is shooting a video for the song in Laguna Beach.
Prior to his involvement with King, Couevas was a five-year Air Force veteran who worked in various capacities (first selling merchandise, then tour managing, finally managing and sometimes producing) for bands like Baltimore's Can't Hang, and Long Beach's Bargain Music. While in the military, Couevas—who grew up in a very musical environment with a mother who was pals with legendary icons like Patch Adams and Wavy Gravy—created a makeshift studio in his barracks and recorded tracks for his fellow servicemen.
He first met King when King was playing keyboards for Pepper and Couevas was tour manager for their opening act, Bargain Music. They didn't collaborate, however, until Couevas was in a studio at Laguna School of Music, getting ready to record the popular Orange County based pop/rock band Ten West. King was next door, working with Nick Hernandez of Common Sense, and the sound engineer for both projects suggested that Ten West bring in an outside producer for the album.
“Ronnie loved the few tracks he heard, and our initial plan was to only do one song,” says Couevas. “But he got so into it that he immediately wanted to do the whole album. He realized Ten West would be easy to find a big audience for, so we started talking about pooling our resources and starting a label that we could launch with Ten West. Ronnie is a talented and versatile musician and producer, and he was happy to learn of my strong ear for talent, plus my ability to secure financial backing.
“Breaking Ten West is our major focus as we launch the label,” he adds. “The key to longterm success will be signing great artists and building a small core of them to give our full attention to. We want to give really good bands a good chance to get out there and do well on an independent level. The idea is to be a one stop shop for bands and musicians, taking care of everything for them, from promotion and distribution to music videos, an in-house publishing company, and of course, full scale production services by Ronnie himself.”
King's longtime publisher, Jay Warner , President of National League Music, has signed on to be Blue Label Records' resident publishing company. Quarterbacking the distribution, radio promotion and marketing efforts is Omni Entertainment, who set up the distribution deal with Select-O-Hits. Steve Pina , CEO of Omni, says, “We're looking for big things from the label and their first artist, Ten West. Ronnie King's track record in the business is unique, and we're big fans of his work with everyone from 2Pac to Offspring. We're excited to partner with such an exciting creative force. We also think that Ten West's music taps into a growing resurgence in interest in what people used to call ‘soft rock,' a trend profiled in Spin Magazine recently as a fascinating ‘Rebirth of the Uncool.' We're doing heavy radio promotion as well as interactive marketing with myspace.”
For King, who will also use Blue Label Records as a platform to release his own solo projects (his last was The Muse in 2004), the new label presents another unique challenge right off the bat: producing and marketing a band whose sound is more mainstream pop than almost all of the others he has ever worked with.
“After so many years behind the scenes, I'm really excited to be a businessman in the music business,” he says, “and I'm looking forward to using the resources I've acquired over the years to help make it happen. It's a great opportunity to finally be a player on the independent scene. It's a great idea to launch with Ten West because their appeal is so broad and their sound so strong and viable, but as the label becomes more established, who knows? I can bring in my punks and thugs, too. I love my street level music, and believe that punk and hardcore are different sides of the same coin. But we're willing to work with all sorts of artists and be as eclectic as possible.
“People like us start indie labels to create an environment where artists have the opportunity to make the music they want to make,” King adds. “We plan to bring our expertise to the entire process, from making the recordings to marketing them and sharing them with the world. I want Blue Label Records to be known as a company that deals with the music industry in an honest and integrity-driven manner.”
