Front Row - Runner Runner
Separate Band Members Unite to Beat Odds as Runner Runner
Lead Singer Ryan Ogren Speaks Out About the Band's Music, Tennis and Even David Letterman
Lead Singer Ryan Ogren Speaks Out About the Band's Music, Tennis and Even David Letterman
By: Jaclyn Lattanza, Senior Comsewogue H.S., Port Jefferson Station, NY
TeenNewsNet Entertainment Editor
After their smaller, separate bands started to break up, Ryan Ogren, Peter Munters, Nick Bailey, Jon Berry, and James Ulrich joined as a “super group” and “put together a new band” expressed Ogren, which is hitting the airwaves as Runner Runner. The formation of the group started in early 2008 and two years later the guys have a hit single “So Obvious” and will be performing in front of millions as guest musicians on Late Show with David Letterman. The group has come a long way in such a short period of time. They were each in different bands and as they toured the country, they all became friends.
During the process of growing up, maturing if you will, many people change their points of interest in life; however, these five guys shared the “same vision and the same goal,” which was to continue their musical careers. Knowing that making it big in the music industry is very rare the guys adopted the name Runner Runner. So, what does it mean? Adapted from Orgren’s and bassist Berry’s love for Poker, Runner Runner is a term meaning, as Ogren explains, “beating the odds. It is like I’m getting lucky to beat you. There are so many good bands out now and we feel that you need a little luck to be successful.”
All in their mid-20s, Ogren is from New Jersey; Munters and Bailey, both guitarists, are from the Washington D.C./Virginia area as well as drummer Ulrich; and bassist Berry is from California. Music has been a part of each one of their lives for a while; “It is what we love to do. It developed over time and became a huge, huge passion” reflects Ogren. Not only do they love music, they do “regular stuff” too! Ulrich has a motorcycle and enjoys fantasy football; Berry and Bailey surf; Munters is into photography and riding bikes; Ogren is a fan of tennis; and they all enjoy basketball.
Being a tennis fan myself, and since this interview took place in the middle of the U.S. Open, I had to dig deeper into Ogren’s love of the sport. Being a fan of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, he said, “When I had long hair, everyone said I looked like Nadal, he informs me. Like a sports analyst he continues by giving me a break down of the Open: “Wozniacki is a great player.” Unfortunately, she lost her match to Vera Zvonareva prior to the interview. Confident that Kim Clijsters was going to fall to Venus Williams in their match he emphasized, “The Williams sisters are just so good.” But another unfortunate event, Venus fell to Clijsters that night. Not only is poker, in a sense, associated with the band, there are many other influences that help them create their sound and style. They include top 40 radio, classic rock, pop, country, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, Goo Goo Dolls, The Killers, and Lady Gaga. This December they will release their self-titled debut album. Ogren shares, “It is super exciting and we are super fired up. The fans are so great; we have been working on this for a while.”
The album will be 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. Their fans are not the only people who support them, “We feel really lucky that our families are 1000% supportive. I dropped out of college to play music and although my parents were not too happy at the time, they came around full circle. Our friends also always came to support…I love my life,” says Ogren with much enthusiasm.
Now, after completing a 6 week tour with The White Tie Affair and Second Hand Serenade, Runner Runner is visiting radio stations, performing smaller shows at clubs, and even making a September 29th appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman’s new label, Worldwide Pants Inc. found Runner Runner and Ogren is excited to have an association with the late night icon. “He [Letterman] is such a class guy and loves music.” The group hopes this performance helps them gain more recognition. Additionally, after their album releases in December, RR is confident they will build a huge audience through international tours, radio, and more! “We want to spread our music to everyone and meet all the fans on the way! We love what we do and we want to get that love in return,” stresses Ogren.
Press play below to view the official video to Runner Runner's So Obvious
